Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR)

Job Summary :

The Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) will work closely with the leadership team to identify, evaluate, build, and scale new business opportunities for the Saboo RKS Group. The role is designed for someone with a strong entrepreneurial mindset who is comfortable taking an idea from initial evaluation through business planning, validation, launch, and early-stage execution.

The EIR will take ownership of selected new ventures and strategic projects, including conducting market research, building business models, evaluating unit economics, developing go-to-market plans, setting up operating processes, identifying and managing teams and partners, and monitoring performance after launch. The role will also work across existing Group businesses where an entrepreneurial approach can help solve problems, launch new revenue streams, or improve performance.

We are particularly interested in former founders and operators who have previously built businesses, with a strong preference for candidates who have experience in cloud kitchens, food & beverage, hospitality, consumer businesses, or other operationally intensive businesses. Experience having raised external capital, worked with investors, built teams, and scaled a business from an early stage will be highly valued.

Role & responsibilities :

A. New Business Identification & Evaluation:

• Identify and evaluate new business opportunities aligned with the Groups capabilities, assets, and long-term objectives.
• Conduct market research, competitive analysis, customer research, and industry benchmarking.
• Evaluate market size, business models, revenue opportunities, competitive positioning, and scalability.
• Develop initial business cases and recommendations for opportunities being considered by leadership.
• Identify opportunities where existing Group assets, infrastructure, relationships, or capabilities can be leveraged to create new businesses.

B. Business Planning & Financial Modelling :

• Develop detailed business plans covering revenue models, operating structures, capital requirements, and go-to-market strategies.
• Build financial models covering revenue, margins, unit economics, operating costs, cash flows, break-even periods, and return on investment.
• Develop base-case, upside, and downside scenarios to evaluate opportunities before capital deployment.
• Establish clear milestones and KPIs against which new ventures can be evaluated.

C. Venture Building & Execution :

• Take ownership of selected projects from concept through launch and early-stage operations.
• Translate business plans into practical execution plans with defined timelines, responsibilities, budgets, and milestones.
• Set up operating processes, vendors, partnerships, technology requirements, and other infrastructure required for launch.
• Work hands-on during the early stages of a venture and solve operational issues as they arise.
• Build processes and teams that allow successful ventures to transition into independently managed businesses.

D. Cloud Kitchen, F&B & Consumer Business Development :

• Evaluate opportunities within cloud kitchens, food & beverage, hospitality, consumer services, and related business models where relevant.
• Understand and analyse customer acquisition, order economics, pricing, food costs, contribution margins, delivery economics, repeat behaviour, and store/kitchen-level profitability.
• Evaluate locations, formats, brands, menus, partnerships, aggregators, and expansion opportunities where applicable.
• Develop scalable operating models while maintaining strong control over customer experience, quality, and unit economics.

E. Fundraising, Capital & Investor Understanding :

• Prepare business plans, financial models, presentations, and investment materials for new ventures where required.
• Evaluate capital requirements and recommend appropriate funding strategies for different stages of a business.
• Support discussions with investors, strategic partners, financial institutions, and potential joint venture partners.
• Bring an understanding of how investors evaluate businesses, including growth, unit economics, capital efficiency, scalability, governance, and exit potential.

F. Performance Monitoring & Business Improvement :

• Establish financial and operational KPIs for ventures under development.
• Monitor actual performance against business plans, budgets, and milestones.
• Identify gaps in revenue, margins, customer acquisition, operations, or execution and recommend corrective actions.
• Conduct periodic business reviews and provide leadership with clear insights on what is working, what is not, and what needs to change.
• Step into existing Group businesses or projects where focused intervention can help improve performance or build a new revenue opportunity.

G. Team Building & Cross-Functional Coordination:

• Identify and help recruit the initial teams required for new ventures.
• Work closely with Group Finance, Investments, HR, Legal, Marketing, Operations, and other functions during the development of new businesses.
• Coordinate with external consultants, agencies, vendors, technology providers, and strategic partners as required.
• Create clear ownership structures and operating rhythms as ventures move from incubation to regular operations.

H. Strategic Projects & Special Situations :

• Work on strategic projects identified by the CEO and leadership team that require entrepreneurial ownership and cross-functional execution.
• Evaluate partnerships, acquisitions, joint ventures, new formats, and adjacent business opportunities.
• Step into projects where there are execution gaps and take ownership until the required structure, team, or process is established.
• Bring an entrepreneurial and problem-solving approach to opportunities and challenges across the Group.

Qualifications & Requirements :

• Strong academic or professional background in business, finance, entrepreneurship, operations, or related fields.
• MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification preferred.
• 5-10 years of relevant entrepreneurial, operating, consulting, investment, or business-building experience.
• Prior experience as a founder, co-founder, early-stage employee, or business operator strongly preferred
• Experience building and scaling a cloud kitchen, F&B, hospitality, consumer, or operationally intensive business will be given higher preference.
• Experience raising institutional, angel, venture, or other external capital is highly valued.
• Demonstrated experience taking initiatives from idea to execution and managing teams, budgets, and business outcomes.

Technical Skills :

• Strong financial modelling, business planning, and unit economics capabilities
• Ability to understand P&L, cash flows, capital requirements, and business KPIs
• Strong market research, competitive analysis, and presentation skills
• High proficiency in Excel / Google Sheets and PowerPoint / Google Slides
• Comfort using technology, analytics, AI tools, and other platforms to research, build, and operate businesses efficiently

What We Are Looking For

We are seeking someone who is:

• Entrepreneurial and comfortable building something from the ground up
• A strong operator who is willing to get hands-on rather than only develop strategies
• Commercially sharp with a strong understanding of numbers and unit economics
• Experienced in dealing with the ambiguity and changing priorities that come with building new businesses
• Able to move comfortably between strategy, financial analysis, and on-ground execution
• Resourceful and capable of solving problems without requiring large teams or established systems
• Strong in ownership and accountability for outcomes
• Comfortable working directly with senior leadership and independently driving projects
• Someone who has experienced the realities of building a business including customers, hiring, operations, capital, and execution
• Aligned with Saboo RKS Groups values of integrity, responsibility, entrepreneurship, and long-term value creation