Advisor, new venture: retirement tpa platform - (co-founder path available)

We are building a new venture focused on modernizing third-party administration (TPA) for US retirement plans. We’re looking to launch a new platform that leverages modern AI agents to drive modernization and efficiency in retirement TPA activities. We're looking for an advisor to help us get up to speed quickly and navigate the industry. This includes advising us on how the retirement plan administration business actually works, and on who the right people are to talk to as we build relationships across the TPA industry.

Who We Are Looking For

As an Advisor, you will bring a combination of product intuition, market understanding, and domain expertise in the retirement TPA industry. You will act as a trusted partner to the founding team, advising on where to focus, what to build, and how to position the product to win. You will collaborate closely with Diagram Ventures, offering insight and counsel on scaling the platform from 0 to 1, building the product and integrating with the retirement ecosystem.

We are looking for a paid advisor who can help us in the following ways:

• Walk us through, step by step, how a retirement plan (401(k)/DC plan) is administered, from plan setup and onboarding through annual compliance testing, Form 5500 filing, and ongoing recordkeeping.
• Introduce us to owners and operators of retirement TPA firms who may be open to a conversation about their business, their market, or a potential relationship down the line.
• Share perspective on industry dynamics including typical deal terms and common pitfalls in this space.
• Be available for a handful of working sessions or calls over the coming weeks as we build out our understanding and our network.

Background & Experience

• Industry Knowledge: Experience in the retirement plan administration or recordkeeping, ideally with extensive experience in TPAs.
• Strategic Product Thinking: Proven ability to advise early-stage teams on product-market fit, roadmap planning, and go-to-market alignment.
• Network & Commercial Acumen: Strong network within retirement TPAs or related verticals with potential to unlock early customers or partnerships.
• Communication & Collaboration: Comfortable working closely with founders and venture studios; able to articulate insights and opportunities clearly.

What You’ll Get

• An hourly advisory fee during the early stages of the venture.
• Opportunity to become a co-founder of the venture.
• Opportunity to work with a seasoned venture studio.

Please note: This is not an employment opportunity at Diagram, but an opportunity in a new company created by our venture studio.

About Diagram

Diagram’s mission is to create companies that solve meaningful problems. We match vetted ideas with proven entrepreneurs passionate about solving the problem, and partner as a co-founder to support them throughout the journey. Since 2016, Diagram has raised over $400M and has launched and invested in 40+ companies in the Fintech and ClimateTech sectors. Our ecosystem is home to 200+ angel investors and an extended global network of corporate partners, investors, and builders. Diagram is part of Sagard, a global multi-strategy alternative investment platform with over $46B in AUM. Diagram and its portfolio companies are equal-opportunity employers. Only selected applicants will be contacted for interviews.