Executive Assistant to Co-Founders at YC-Backed Healthcare Startup

YC-backed healthcare startup building personalized research programs for cancer patients is looking for an Executive Assistant to support its two Co-Founders. This is an incredible opportunity to be the first EA to a mission-driven founding team and join a small, kind, collaborative team of PhD scientists. In this role, you’ll own both founders’ inboxes and the company’s general inbox, writing thoughtful, warm responses to patients and clinicians on their behalf. You’ll also manage calendars, scheduling, follow-ups, and conference and international travel. Beyond executive support, you’ll run the new SF office, from supplies and team lunches to hosting investors and events, and help shape how the team uses AI tools. Someone who is an exceptional communicator with a human touch, highly responsive, calm under pressure and brings a can-do, “we’re in this together” attitude. This is a hybrid role, 3 days/week in office (Mon/Wed/Fri), based in San Francisco’s South Park neighborhood. 140-180K DOE + equity, 100% covered medical for employees, and flexible PTO.

Responsibilities:

• Own and manage both co-founders’ inboxes and the company’s general inbox, flagging priorities and drafting and sending responses on their behalf.


• Respond to patients, clinicians and partners quickly and with empathy, aiming to reply to every message within the hour.


• Manage calendars, scheduling and follow-ups for both founders.


• Coordinate work-related travel, including flights, hotels, reservations and logistics for conferences and international trips.


• Own office operations for a new SF office, including supplies, snacks, setting up team lunches and keeping the space welcoming.


• Host investor and patient visits, and help plan and run company events throughout the year.


• Partner with the founders to build out AI and agent workflows, and recommend the tools and systems that make the role most effective.


• Support communications projects as needed, such as first drafts of patient-facing materials.


• Teach the founders how to get the most out of an EA as the partnership grows.

• Previous 3+ years of experience supporting a founder, CEO or C-suite executive, including managing an inbox and drafting communications on their behalf.


• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to write quick, warm, human responses rather than overly polished or AI-generated ones.


• Highly responsive and Type A, staying on top of communications and willing to check email outside of core hours when urgent needs come up.


• Empathy and emotional intelligence, with the ability to communicate warmly with patients and clinicians in sensitive situations.


• Trustworthy, mature and discreet when handling highly sensitive information.


• Self-driven and proactive, anticipating needs and following through without being reminded.


• A calm, steady presence with a can-do attitude and a collaborative, team-first mindset.


• Comfortable in a fast-moving, early-stage environment where the playbook is still being written.


• Proficient with Google Workspace, Slack and productivity tools. Experience with AI tools is strongly preferred, and Superhuman experience is a plus.