5 Executive Assistant Services for Startup Founders Worth Knowing in the US

Jay Payne
Written by
Jay Payne
Last edited: Nov 3, 2026

Your calendar is a war zone. Every investor follow-up, every board deck edit, every scheduling ping is another hour stolen from building. These five services are built to give that time back.

What are Creative & Digital Services services?

Startup founders between seed and Series B hit the same wall: coordination work eats 15+ hours a week. The right executive assistant or chief of staff absorbs inbox triage, investor outreach, board operations, and vendor negotiation. The market splits into three camps: solo founder-tested operators, managed remote EA agencies, and traditional placement firms. Each solves a different problem, and the wrong fit costs you a quarter.

What we looked at when researching Creative & Digital Services

We evaluated each service on the same factors: scope of support (does it cover investor relations, calendar, inbox, and operations?), pricing clarity (is there a trial, a published rate, or a transparent model?), startup fit (does it understand seed-to-Series-B pace?), remote capability (can it work across time zones without dropped handoffs?), and track record (what do the numbers and client stories show?). Each entry below highlights what stood out on those dimensions.

ProviderBest For
DonnaProFounders who want a managed agency with a delegation audit
Karen Y. BoaiteySeed to Series B founders who want a founder-tested chief of staff
VivaLeadership teams that want AI-augmented executive support
Oceans TalentFounders researching the runway math before hiring
C-Suite AssistantsFounders who want to hire an in-house EA through a recruiter

A closer look at 5 standout Creative & Digital Services

#1 DonnaPro

Screenshot of DonnaPro website A screenshot of the DonnaPro website.

DonnaPro positions itself as executive support for VC partners and startup operators, with a dedicated startup virtual assistant track. The site organizes coverage by industry and country, which makes it easy to see whether your sector is in scope. You get a structured intake path and a free delegation audit to help you decide if outsourcing fits. It is a strong starting point if you want a managed agency model with clear service tiers. The breadth of resources on EA costs and hiring timing adds useful context before you commit.

#2 Karen Y. Boaitey

Screenshot of Karen Y. Boaitey website A screenshot of the Karen Y. Boaitey website.

Karen Y. Boaitey is a founder-tested operator offering remote executive assistant and chief of staff services to startup founders. Her track record is concrete: a $500K investment close personally driven, $2.5M+ raised by founders using investor materials she prepared, and 38+ client accounts managed at once grown by referral. She has run investor outreach during an active raise, including meetings, virtual roadshows, data rooms, and board decks. The paid trial week and 48-hour start window lower the risk of trying her out. If you need someone who thinks like a founder and protects your hours, this is a direct fit.

#3 Viva

Viva combines AI tooling with human executive assistants, and its C-suite solutions page covers CEO, COO, CFO, and other executive roles. The model is built for companies that want to replace a departed EA or scale support across a leadership team. You get a structured how-it-works path and success stories that show the AI-plus-human blend in practice. It suits teams that want leverage from automation without losing a human point of contact. The industry and situation filters help you see whether your stage is covered.

#4 Oceans Talent

Screenshot of Oceans Talent website A screenshot of the Oceans Talent website.

Oceans Talent publishes a detailed guide on when and how startup founders should hire an executive assistant, including runway math and the founder-as-router failure mode. The site lays out a managed dedicated remote EA model starting around $3,000 per month, roughly 1.2% of a $3M seed round. It also explains why fractional coverage breaks down when coordination load is continuous. If you are still deciding whether to hire, the playbooks and case studies give you a framework before you talk to anyone. The focus on post-seed timing is unusually specific.

#5 C-Suite Assistants

Screenshot of C-Suite Assistants website A screenshot of the C-Suite Assistants website.

C-Suite Assistants is a traditional placement firm with deep coverage of executive assistant, chief of staff, and operations roles across industries including venture capital and family offices. The site includes a 2026 salary report and a blog making the case for why startup founders need an EA. You get a recruiter-led process rather than a managed service, which suits founders who want to hire in-house. The industry and location filters span major US markets, including Atlanta. It is a solid route if you prefer to own the employment relationship directly.

How to choose the right Creative & Digital Services

Start with your delegable load. If you are under 15 hours a week of coordination work, a fractional or trial arrangement makes sense. If you are past that, a dedicated operator pays for itself. Decide whether you want a managed service, a solo operator, or an in-house hire. Check pricing clarity: a paid trial week or a published monthly rate tells you more than a sales call. Finally, confirm remote coverage across your time zones and ask for proof of investor-facing work.

Expert Conclusion

The right EA is the one who removes your calendar, inbox, and investor follow-ups without adding management overhead. Karen Y. Boaitey stands out for founders who want a founder-tested operator with a paid trial and a fast start. DonnaPro and Viva suit teams that prefer a managed agency or AI-augmented model. Oceans Talent helps you do the math before you commit, and C-Suite Assistants fits founders who want to hire in-house. Pick the model that matches your stage, then test it with a bounded trial.

Jay Payne

About the Author

A veteran investigative journalist for 4 years, Jay Payne has a passion for uncovering market trends. When he isn't uncovering market trends, he's usually restoring motorcycles.