Looking for a technical co-founder to build an AI-powered training SaaS that will transform how 300M hospitality employees learn. Significant equity (15-25%), full technical autonomy, modern stack, 10 beta hotels already committed.
👋 Hey Dev.to community!
I'm building SmartHost - an AI-powered training platform for the hospitality industry, and I'm looking for a CTO/technical co-founder who wants to build something meaningful from the ground up.
This isn't a job posting. This is an invitation to co-found a company that can impact 300 million people.
🏨 The Problem (Validated)
The hotel industry has a massive training problem:
300M employees globally
73% annual turnover (vs 30% in other sectors)
Training is boring, generic, delivered via PDFs and 2-hour videos
Hotels spend $5K-15K per employee on re-training every year
Zero personalization, zero engagement, zero impact measurement
Result: Demotivated employees, mediocre service, unhappy guests, hotels losing millions.
💡 Our Solution: SmartHost
A B2B SaaS platform that uses AI to revolutionize hospitality training:
AI Content Generation: Personalized courses by role, hotel, brand in minutes (not months)
Addictive Micro-learning: 30-90 second modules, TikTok-style (not 50-page PDFs)
Real Gamification: Points, rankings, certifications that matter
Impact Measurement: Dashboards connecting training → performance → revenue
Native Multilingual: 15+ languages from day 1 (crucial in hospitality)
📊 Market & Opportunity
Global market: $8B (growing 12% annually)
TAM: 700K+ hotels worldwide
Initial ICP: 50-500 room hotels in Europe
Competition: Legacy LMS (boring) or generic platforms (not hospitality-specialized)
Our edge: AI + micro-learning + deep hospitality expertise
🎯 Traction & Validation
✅ 10 beta hotels committed (50% lifetime discount)
✅ Founder with 15 years in hospitality + network of 500+ hotels
✅ Problem validated with 50+ interviews (GMs, HR, Training Managers)
✅ Pricing validated: €3-8 per employee/month (LTV: €1,080-2,880)
✅ Complete technical roadmap + stack defined
🛠️ Tech Stack (Already Defined)
Frontend: Next.js 14, TypeScript, Tailwind, shadcn/ui
Backend: Next.js API Routes + Supabase (PostgreSQL + Auth + Storage)
AI: OpenAI GPT-4, Whisper, embeddings + RAG for content
Hosting: Vercel (frontend) + Supabase (backend/DB)
Payments: Stripe
Analytics: Mixpanel + custom dashboards
Modular, scalable, serverless architecture. Initial costs: ~$200/month.
👤 Who Am I (Founder & CEO)
15 years in hospitality (operations, training, management)
Network of 500+ hotels across Europe
Obsessed with product, UX, and solving real problems
Completing intensive 6-month program (business, SaaS, fundraising, AI)
Clear vision: SmartHost as global leader in hospitality training within 5 years
🔍 What I'm Looking For (CTO/Co-founder)
Must-have:
✅ Experience building and shipping SaaS (3+ years)
✅ Fullstack with product focus (not just backend)
✅ Obsessed with UX, performance, and clean code
✅ Want significant equity > high salary
✅ Long-term vision: this is YOUR startup, not a job
✅ Can execute fast: MVP in 90 days
✅ Clear communication (fluent English, Spanish bonus)
Nice-to-have:
🎯 Experience with AI/ML (OpenAI, embeddings, RAG)
🎯 Background in EdTech or content platforms
🎯 Been a founder before (success or failure, both count)
🎯 Based in Europe (time zone overlap)
💰 What I'm Offering
Equity:
10-20% co-founder equity (negotiable based on experience and fit)
4-year vesting with 1-year cliff (standard)
Participation in strategic decisions as co-founder
Salary:
€40-60K annually (adjustable based on location and experience)
Philosophy: equity > cash in early stage
Progressive increase based on funding and revenue
Autonomy:
100% technical autonomy: you define stack, architecture, processes
You hire your team when needed
Remote-first, async-friendly, results-oriented
Clear Roadmap:
Month 1-3: MVP beta with 10 hotels
Month 4-6: Iteration + first 20 paying customers
Month 7-12: €50K MRR + seed fundraising
Year 2-3: Scale to 500+ hotels, €500K MRR, Series A
🚀 Next Steps
If this resonates with you:
Comment below or DM me with:
Why SmartHost interests you (2-3 lines)
Your relevant technical experience
LinkedIn or portfolio
When you could start
30-min virtual coffee to get to know each other
If there's fit: 1-2h technical session to discuss architecture, roadmap, vision
If we're both convinced: co-founder agreement and let's build
🎯 Why This Matters
We're not building another SaaS. We're building a platform that will help 300M people learn better, perform better, and build better careers in hospitality.
I'm not looking for a CTO employee. I'm looking for a co-founder who wants to build this with me and change an entire industry.
Ready to build the future of hospitality training?
Let's talk. 👇
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