Founding Product Manager, Instant AI
Inception Labs
Product, Software Engineering, Data Science
San Francisco, CA, USA
Posted on Sep 28, 2025
Founding Product Manager, Instant AI
Bay Area
Engineering
In office
Full-time
About Inception
Inception stands at the forefront of a fundamental shift in artificial intelligence. We are training next-generation large language models powered by diffusion, a breakthrough approach that makes AI feel instant. Unlike today's auto-regressive models that generate one token at a time, our diffusion LLMs produce many tokens in parallel, delivering answers and code completions several times faster. This speed increase unlocks entirely new product categories, allowing users to interact with complex systems seamlessly, from real-time copilots to creative tools that feel as responsive as thought itself.
We're not just making AI faster. We're building the foundation for the next generation of products and experiences powered by instant-speed AI.
Our team brings experience from Google DeepMind, Meta AI, Microsoft AI, and OpenAI and is led by founders from Stanford, UCLA, and Cornell. We are backed by top-tier investors and have already deployed our models with Fortune 500 customers.
The Role
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and working closely with the founding team, this role provides an opportunity to define the product vision for technology that will reshape how humans interact with AI. As our first product management hire, you'll work directly with our founding team to translate breakthrough research into products that transform how millions of users work, create, and solve problems.
You'll be building products where foundational AI technologies and user needs are changing rapidly. This role requires someone comfortable driving innovation in uncharted territory, where the very nature of what's possible with AI is being redefined.
The ideal candidate is a data‑driven, customer‑centric product builder who operates comfortably at the intersection of advanced AI research and pragmatic product delivery. They have shipped 0→1 products, scaled 1→N, and are credible with highly technical teams. They bring strong judgment in fast‑changing environments, communicate crisply with executives and partners, and can translate subtle user needs into instant‑speed experiences.
Key Responsibilities
- Own end-to-end product lifecycle from strategy through launch and optimization
- Conduct user research and analyze performance metrics specific to AI model behaviors and emerging use cases
- Partner with founders to define the roadmap, identifying and prioritizing opportunities for product expansion, including new markets and features
- Lead cross‑functional execution with Research, Engineering, Infrastructure, Applied ML, Design, Developer Relations, Legal, Privacy, Security, and Go-to-Market teams.
- Build evaluation systems and live benchmarks to track and improve speed and quality in target use cases
- Translate research breakthroughs into product capabilities. Set performance targets that connect model capabilities to user needs.
- Partner with early customers to prove value in target use cases and convert pilots into repeatable product bets.
- Recruit and level up the product function. Establish rituals, evaluation standards, and working agreements with research and engineering.
Qualifications
- BS/MS in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or related field (or equivalent experience)
- 5+ years of product management experience
- Track record of driving product initiatives in rapidly changing technical landscapes
- Comfortable reading and writing code: able to prototype, explore APIs, and work closely with engineering teams
- Graduate of a top Associate Product Manager (APM) program or equivalent training
Preferred Experience
- Background in scaling products from early stage to growth phase
- Experience conducting user research and interviews
- Deep knowledge of LLMs at the modeling or application layer
Why Join Inception
- Pioneer a New Category: Define the future of instant AI and ship products that were previously impossible
- Work with World-Class Talent: Collaborate with the inventors of diffusion models and leading AI researchers
- Shape Foundational Technology: Your decisions will influence how the next generation of AI products are built and used
- Immediate Impact: Join at the ground floor where your contributions directly shape product direction and company trajectory
Perks & Benefits
- Competitive salary and equity in a rapidly growing startup
- Flexible vacation and paid time off
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Professional development opportunities (conferences, courses, etc.)
This is an exciting opportunity to join a startup at the forefront of AI development. If you're ready to make a tangible impact in the world of generative AI, apply today.
We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.
Req ID: R18