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Founder, COBOL Modernization

Forum's Venture Studio brings together ambitious people, brilliant ideas, and capital to build the best B2B SaaS businesses in the world, from 0 to 1. In addition to capital and an idea, we provide founders with access to investor networks, fundraising support, and the resources needed to build transformational companies. Our model is designed to help you move faster, develop better insights, and build companies that have a higher success rate than startups built in any other way.We are seeking a Founder/CEO to launch and run one of our next companies focused on revolutionizing the use of COBOL in today's financial infrastructure. COBOL still underpins a significant portion of the world's financial systems and accounts for processing more than 70% of business translations globally. The challenge with COBOL is twofold: new developers are often unfamiliar with it, and it is notoriously difficult to write and maintain.Most skilled COBOL programmers are ready to retire, leaving a significant talent gap to be bridged. With recent advances in generative AI, there is a significant opportunity to assist developers in working with COBOL and to facilitate the transition of legacy COBOL code into modern languages.Forum derisks and accelerates the Founder path by:• A $250K USD investment with you as majority shareholder, and an end-to-end fundraising playbook and network to raise your seed and Series A• A validation partner with proven playbooks, networks, and the systems to unlock your ICP, ignite your sales pipeline, and drive growth• The support of our experienced operating team - from business design, product development, growth, recruitment, legal and more• Executing a winning GTM strategy to get you to 50-100K ARR, and the right MVP to ensure early traction• A community full of mentors, peers, and leaders• $100K worth of business perksWhat you bring:• Significant experience navigating technology change management with enterprise sectors in banking, insurance and/or government sectors.• Prior experience building from 0 to 1.• A demonstrated commitment to technology’s ability to change the world• A desire to be a venture-backed founder• Ability to collaborate in North American time zonesPlease note, this is not an employment opportunity with Forum Ventures.About Forum VenturesForum Ventures® is the leading early-stage fund, program, and community for B2B SaaS startups based in New York, San Francisco, Toronto, and remote. Founded in 2014, we’re on a mission to make the B2B SaaS journey easier, more accessible, and more successful for early-stage founders, through pre-seed and seed-stage funding. We provide high-touch 1:1 support, programming, corporate perks and introductions, and an active SaaS community to support you through every step of your building journey.Starting a company is demanding, complex, and psychologically challenging. As former founders and early-stage operators, we understand firsthand that Founders need support, honest feedback, and someone who truly cares in their corner. Our mission is to make the journey easier and more successful for Founders, and we've achieved this by making over 350+ investments that have raised $1Bn+ in follow-on funding. Forum founders have gone on to raise from funds like Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, Uncork Capital, 8VC, Founders Fund, Menlo Ventures, Canaan, Bowery Capital, Susa Ventures, SV Angel, and more.

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What You Should Know About Founder, COBOL Modernization, Forum Ventures

Are you ready to change the game in financial technology? Forum Ventures is on the lookout for a passionate Founder to spearhead an exciting new venture focused on modernizing COBOL. Located in the vibrant city of New York, NY, this isn’t just any job; it’s an opportunity to tackle the significant challenge of legacy systems that form the backbone of many financial institutions. COBOL supports over 70% of business transactions globally, yet is often misunderstood and difficult to maintain. As the Founder/CEO, you’ll be given the tools and resources to revolutionize how COBOL can integrate with modern technologies, particularly with the rise of generative AI. Picture yourself leading a team dedicated to bridging the talent gap in this critical area while benefiting from Forum’s robust network, mentorship, and funding assistance. With a generous investment of $250K, plus additional business perks worth another $100K, you’ll have the advantage of a solid start as you take this venture from concept to reality. We’re looking for someone who isn’t just a dreamer, but someone with proven experience in tech change management in enterprise sectors like banking and insurance. If you're excited about building transformational companies and leading a charge for innovation in COBOL, you're the perfect fit for this venture. Come and make your mark with Forum Ventures, where we’re dedicated to making the startup journey easier and helping founders like you succeed at every step.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Founder, COBOL Modernization Role at Forum Ventures

What responsibilities do the Founder and CEO of COBOL Modernization at Forum Ventures have?

As the Founder and CEO of COBOL Modernization at Forum Ventures, your primary responsibility will involve leading the development and execution of a viable business model that modernizes COBOL applications in financial systems. You'll need to rally a talented team, foster relations with partners, and leverage cutting-edge technologies to address the challenges of legacy systems. Furthermore, you'll be expected to drive fundraising efforts, strategize market entry, and ensure the startup's growth trajectory while working closely with Forum's teams and resources.