Executive in Residence

An Executive in Residence (EIR) is a temporary position at a venture capital firm where an experienced executive—typically a former founder or senior operator—spends 6-18 months embedded with the firm. During the residency, EIRs contribute in several ways: evaluating deal flow using their operational expertise, advising portfolio companies on specific challenges, developing business ideas that could become the firm's next investment, and positioning themselves to become the CEO or co-founder of a startup the firm will back. EIRs provide value to the firm through industry knowledge, deal sourcing from their network, and portfolio company support. In return, they gain access to deal flow, market intelligence, the firm's network, and often financial support (salary or stipend) during the period between their last role and their next venture. EIR programs vary widely—some are highly structured with clear expectations, while others are informal arrangements.