Public Relations Assistant (Entry Level – Richmond, VA)

We're Hiring: Public Relations Assistant (Entry Level – Richmond, VA)

Onsite at 1717 Innovation Center Regional Travel

Melt Studio is looking for an outgoing, community-oriented Public Relations Assistant to be our presence in Virginia’s startup ecosystem. This is an entry-level, field-facing role based in Richmond, VA, with regular in-person work at Startup Virginia (1717 Innovation Center) and occasional travel to other nearby startup hubs.

If you love being in the room where it happens—at demo days, pitch nights, meetups, and founder gatherings—this is your chance to represent a growing international studio at the local level.

📍 Location & Travel

• Primary base: Richmond, VA
• Work from: 1717 Innovation Center (Startup Virginia co-working space)
• Travel: Occasional trips to nearby cities like Norfolk or Washington, DC.
• These are typically day trips to attend events or meet with partners, so reliable self-transportation is required.

💼 About the Role

This is a hybrid of brand ambassador, community builder, and early pipeline activator. You'll represent Melt Studio in the startup ecosystem, engage directly with founders, promote our pro-bono prototype program, and build long-term relationships with accelerators, investors, and ecosystem connectors.

You will be our presence on the ground, and our link to founders who are shaping what’s next.

💰 Compensation

• $36,000 – $54,000/year, depending on performance
• Plus 10% sales commission on revenue from any new customer you source

Monthly income is made up of:

• $3,000/month base pay
• Additional performance-based earnings tied to structured engagement activities
• Uncapped commissions for customer conversions you help generate

This is not a capped model—you’ll earn more as you contribute more value to the community and to our client base.

🎯 What You’ll Do

• Attend startup and tech community events in Richmond and across Virginia
• Build and maintain a presence inside Startup Virginia’s 1717 co-working space
• Introduce founders to Melt Studio’s services and pro-bono prototype program
• Book discovery calls with qualified leads and support their onboarding
• Develop strong relationships with accelerator program directors and community builders
• Log engagement activity, contacts, and conversations in our CRM
• Act as a warm, informed, and consistent voice of Melt Studio at every event and meeting

🙋‍♀️ Who You Are

• You live in Richmond, VA and are excited to be active in the local community
• You have your own transportation to travel to nearby cities for day trips to events or meetings
• You enjoy being around founders, creatives, and builders—and starting great conversations
• You’re reliable, proactive, and enjoy working independently
• You’re motivated by connection, presence, and seeing your effort convert to real outcomes
• You want to grow a career in community, partnerships, or PR—while helping startups grow too

About Melt Studio

Melt Studio is a 100% remote software and design studio supporting early-stage startups across the US. We’ve helped more than 20 founders go from idea to MVP and beyond. In Richmond, we’ve partnered with Startup Virginia to offer a pro-bono prototype program that helps first-time founders validate their ideas with real UX and working product demos.

We believe in creative autonomy, strong partnerships, and building trust through quality and follow-through.

Ready to help shape the Virginia startup scene—and your own career?

• Apply now or message us directly. We’d love to hear your story.