Founder in Residence

Summary

Join Deep Science Ventures (DSV) as a Founder in Residence focused on climate and specifically, eliminating toxicity from food contact materials. This full-time, initially remote role involves creating a new company from the ground up, leveraging DSV's methodology and resources. You will work on all aspects of venture creation, from problem-solving and team building to securing pre-seed investment. Upon incorporation, you and your co-founders will hold a majority stake, with continued DSV support. The role offers a guaranteed income and significant equity in the new venture. This is an opportunity to build a high-impact, globally scalable company addressing a critical environmental and health challenge.

Requirements

• Possess deep knowledge of polymers, bioplastics, or sustainable packaging, with experience developing non-toxic additives, coatings, or alternative materials (e.g., PhD or equivalent industry R&D experience in materials science, polymer chemistry, food process engineering, biotechnology, or related fields with a focus on sustainable materials)
• Have a proven track record of bringing new materials, products, or ventures to market, ideally in sustainability, food packaging, or related fields
• Possess a strong grasp of market dynamics, consumer behaviour, and regulatory landscapes (e.g., FDA, EU food contact material standards)
• Demonstrate a relentless passion for eliminating toxicity from our food systems and the leadership to drive your own vision for venture creation in this space

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the DSV team, using their methodology, to spin-out a new company
• Work on all aspects related to venture creation, including working out the optimal approach to solve for the desired outcome
• Build a team
• Build a viable business case

Preferred Qualifications

• Be comfortable working across chemistry, engineering and biology
• Have a broad understanding of circular economy principles, life cycle assessment, and toxicology as applied to materials science
• Have experience in developing and scaling new technologies from concept to demonstration in the materials or sustainability sector
• Have experience in raising funds from early-stage investors/VC
• Have experience forging relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, or other stakeholders within the value chain

Benefits

• Access to optimised, purpose-built, proprietary tools, resources, and processes to help create high-impact ventures from scratch
• Opportunity area-specific know-how from our network of Partners and Advisors
• Up to £250k in investment to incorporate the new venture and develop early proof-of-concept data
• Guaranteed income of £4,166 per month paid as a fixed consultancy fee until the company is launched and the pre-seed investment is secured
• Majority equity stake in the new company between you and your co-founder(s)
• Continuous post-spinout support, including fundraising, commercial partnerships, recruitment, and team-building
• Collaborative support from dozens of Founders currently at DSV across sectors