The CEO (Chief Executive Officer) is the highest-ranking executive of a company, responsible for strategy, capital allocation, top-level hiring, and accountability to the board. The role also owns key external relationships with investors, the board, major customers, and partners. At most venture-backed startups it is held by a founder (the "founder-CEO") during early and growth stages, sometimes transitioned to a "hired CEO" during scale-up or later stages. It is the role that anchors the company's strategic direction and the position where most operational authority concentrates in venture-backed companies.
The core responsibilities of a CEO: