Harper

Founding Content Lead

San Francisco, US Full-time

We're on the frontier of building an AI-native professional services company. We're building the best AI commercial insurance distribution engine for scale.

The Problem

36 million businesses in America need insurance. It's not optional—regulations require it, contracts demand it, landlords won't lease without it. Yet the industry is broken.

77% of small businesses are underinsured. 40% have no coverage at all. Most don't even understand what their policies cover. They're running with risk because the distribution system failed them—too slow, too opaque, too confusing to navigate.

Commercial insurance is a $100B+ market with zero consumer brand. Geico has a gecko. Progressive has Flo. Small business insurance has... nothing. It's a sea of sameness—commoditized, forgettable, invisible. Nobody speaks for these businesses.

We're building an AI-native brokerage that actually works. But we're not trying to be another faceless insurance company. We want to become the voice of small business in America—and show the world what happens when AI and humans work together seamlessly.

The Thesis

The companies that win the next decade will own their narrative. Founder-led content is the highest-leverage motion—it compounds, it's defensible, and it filters for the exact candidates and customers who belong here.

But this isn't just about the founder talking to a camera. We're going to be in the field with business owners. We're going to show what AI-powered service actually looks like from the inside. We're going to build something people watch, share, and remember.

Short-form. Long-form. YouTube. Whatever the format, wherever the platform—we need someone who can develop the entire strategy and own execution end-to-end.

We have real operational receipts, a sharp point of view, and stories worth telling. What we don't have is someone to bring that to life across every format, everywhere.

The Role

You'll build Harper's content engine from zero. Strategy, production, distribution—all of it. You're not managing a process; you're creating a media arm for a company that wants to define a category.

This is a builder role, not a manager role. A producer who can also be the talent. Someone who thinks in systems but ships like a creator. You'll work directly with the founders. There's no committee. No approval chain. You create it, you ship it, you measure the outcome.

What You'll Do

Own the entire content strategy. Develop Harper's content vision across all formats: short-form (TikTok/Reels/Shorts), long-form (YouTube), LinkedIn, X, and whatever's next. Build the editorial calendar, content pillars, and distribution playbook. Make Harper the voice of small business owners—not just an insurance company with a social presence.

Produce content everywhere. Run founder-led production: direct shoots, manage recording blocks, turn raw footage into polished content. Get in the field—shoot with real business owners, capture their stories, show the human side of what we do. Create content that shows how AI and humans blend seamlessly at Harper.

Execute at every level. Record, edit on the fly, post, iterate—you can do the whole thing yourself. Know the creator ecosystem: tools, trends, formats, what's working right now. Set up contractors and editors as needed, but never lose the ability to ship solo.

Build toward scale. As this grows, you'll build a team. Create the systems, playbooks, and standards that let Harper's content operation scale without losing quality or voice.

Measure what matters. Tie content to outcomes: recruiting inbound, investor/operator engagement, brand perception, and eventually demand. Weekly review rhythm: what worked, why, what we double down on.

You Might Be a Fit If…

You're a builder, not a manager. You've built content that actually performed—not just posted, but moved numbers. You can develop strategy AND execute it yourself. Today, not after you hire someone.

You can do it all. Pick up a camera, record, edit, and post. Direct talent and pull great performances out of busy people. Write hooks that stop scroll. You work fast without making things feel cheap.

You know the creator ecosystem. Platforms, tools, trends, algorithms—you're fluent in all of it. You understand what's working right now and why. You've shipped short-form, long-form, or both.

You have strong storytelling instincts. You see narratives others miss. You know how to make insurance—yes, insurance—interesting. You can take a founder with five minutes between meetings and turn it into content people actually watch.

You thrive in ambiguity. You take full ownership. You don't wait for briefs or approval. You see what needs to happen and you make it happen.

Requirements

  • 3+ years in content production or creative ops (or equivalent body of work that speaks for itself)

  • Portfolio that shows range: short-form, long-form, ability to build an audience or drive outcomes

  • Ability to shoot, edit, and ship content independently

  • Strong understanding of platform algorithms and distribution

  • Experience directing talent or managing founder-led content

  • Based in San Francisco or willing to relocate

Nice to Have

  • Built content functions for startups, creators, or high-growth companies

  • Experience with employer brand or B2B content that doesn't feel like B2B

  • Understanding of regulated categories (finance/insurance) and how to stay compliant without becoming boring

  • Produced long-form content (YouTube, documentary-style, podcasts)

Compensation

Salary: $80,0000 - $110,000

Equity: Meaningful

Location: San Francisco, in-office. We build together.

The Process

  1. Founder screen — Initial fit and alignment

  2. Portfolio review — Walk us through your best work

  3. Super day — See how you create in real time

How to apply

We're building a vertically integrated AI platform that connects go-to-market, sales operations, customer service, and retention under one architectural roof. That integration creates compounding through feedback loops—every interaction makes the system smarter. Thousands of businesses already trust us.

Most content roles are about maintaining a presence. Post the thing, check the box, move on. At Harper, you'll build a media operation from scratch. Your content will shape how the world sees AI-native services. Your work will be the reason candidates apply, investors pay attention, and customers remember us.

If you want to build something people actually watch, define a category that has no voice, and work with people who show up with the same intensity every day, send the following to founders@harperinsure.com:

  1. Your portfolio

  2. A video telling me why you're the person to bring this to life

We're a championship-minded team. We push each other. We move fast. We care about craft. If that sounds like where you belong, let's talk.

🚀 Y Combinator Company Info

Y Combinator Batch: W25
Team Size: 25 employees
Industry: Financial Technology and Services -> Insurance
Company Description: AI-native commercial insurance brokerage

💰 Compensation

Salary Range: $80,000 - $100,000
Equity Range: 0.01% - 0.1%

📋 Job Details

Job Type: Full-time
Experience Level: 3+ years