Entrepreneur in Residence

You’ll work closely with our Venture Architect to identify promising markets and co-validate high-potential business opportunities. Once a validated opportunity is identified, it will be spun out into an independent company — with you stepping in as Co-Founder.

About ZNEXT

At ZNEXT, we are building the next generation of technology businesses that unlock human potential. Backed by Italy’s leading educational publishing house Zanichelli Editore, ZNEXT is a €60 million build-and-acquire initiative launched to develop world-class technology businesses in the fields of EdTech, Future of Work, Lifelong Learning, and Wellbeing Technology.

We operate through two synergistic divisions:

  • Venture Building: acting as a co-founder to entrepreneurs building new companies in EdTech, Future of Work, Lifelong Learning and Wellbeing.
  • M&A: acquiring majority stakes in high-potential companies that are ready to scale with smart capital and operational support.

🔗 More at https://www.znext.io/

Mission

We believe that the technologies reshaping how we learn, work, and live will define the next era of progress. That’s why we don’t just invest: we co-build. As co-founders, operators, and growth catalysts, we bring together patient capital, hands-on support, and an ecosystem of educators, technologists, and industry leaders to help visionary teams go further, faster.

Our approach is data-informed, human-centric, and long-term. We’re not chasing short-term wins. We’re building a European ecosystem that reimagines education and work from first principles. Our ambition goes beyond financial returns: we aim to contribute to technological, cultural, and social progress through companies that outlast hype cycles and shape generations.

Values

At ZNEXT, we act as catalysts for the companies and people that will define the future of learning, work, and human potential. We’re not here to follow playbooks. We partner with those who want to rewrite them.

Our values reflect the kind of founders, leaders, and teammates we seek to build with:

  • Knowledge hunters Relentlessly curious, always asking questions;
  • Adaptable - Learn from failure, continuously evolving, and embracing change;
  • Data-backed human instinct Blending scientific data and analytics with gut instinct;
  • Vibrant leaders Energize teams and unlock human potential;
  • Commercial conviction Unwavering in vision but commercially pragmatic, prioritising product-market-fit.

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Offer Details

  • Role: Entrepreneur in Residence
  • Location: Milan
  • Contract type: fixed-term contract
  • Start date: immediate
  • Compensation: competitive salary + benefit package

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What We're looking for

You might be:

  • An operator ready to build your own company
  • A former founder who wants to take the leap again
  • A former consultant or product/growth professional eager to focus on one big bet
  • A builder who’s already launched projects and now wants to go deeper
  • Someone with a founder mindset, even if not yet a founder by title

We care less about your exact background and more about your ability to think clearly, move fast, and build with conviction.

What you bring

  • Entrepreneurial mindset with a bias for action
  • Strong analytical and strategic thinking
  • Willingness to challenge assumptions and embrace uncertainty
  • Comfortable running customer interviews, tests, and MVPs
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills
  • Experience in product, operations, growth, strategy, or engineering

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ZNEXT is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, parental status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations.All hiring decisions are made based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We are dedicated to ensuring a respectful, supportive, and harassment-free environment for all team members.
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