At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the charge in transforming unrecyclable plastic into valuable materials.
- Company: Join a pioneering venture focused on solving global plastic waste issues.
- Benefits: Equity stake, competitive salary, and ongoing support for your entrepreneurial journey.
- Other info: Remote-first role with a dynamic team and significant growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on climate change while building a groundbreaking business.
- Qualifications: Proven startup experience, fundraising skills, and a passion for sustainability.
The Problem Worth Solving
300 million tonnes of plastic waste are produced every year. Most of it - especially polyolefins like polypropylene - can't be meaningfully recycled. It's one of the largest unsolved problems in materials science, and no one has cracked it at scale. Until now.
The Venture
We're developing a novel electrified process that transforms polyolefin waste into high-value packaging materials - polypropylene-grade performance with dramatically better end-of-life characteristics, including solvolysis recyclability and designed-in environmental degradability. This isn't incremental improvement. It's a platform with the potential to become a global polyolefin sink. The recycled polyolefin market is worth $60B+ and accelerating. EU regulations mandate recycled polymer content in food packaging by 2030. Brand owners are scrambling for circular solutions. There's no clear winner yet.
The Role
We're looking for a Commercial Co-Founder to own everything from customer to capital. You'll partner with the technical founder to take this from pre-seed to Series A and beyond - validating markets, landing anchor customers, securing feedstock supply, and building the commercial infrastructure that turns a breakthrough technology into a durable business. This is a ground-floor co-founder role. You'll hold a majority equity stake in the company alongside your co-founder(s), with pre-seed investment and ongoing support from Deep Science Ventures.
What You'll Own
- Customer discovery and market prioritisation - from cold outreach to binding offtake agreements
- Feedstock supply partnerships with waste management companies
- Strategic partnerships with compounders, distributors, and brand owners
- Techno-economic modelling and pricing strategy alongside the technical founder
- Fundraising - leading commercial due diligence, building investor relationships, and closing rounds
- Company strategy as a core member of the founding team
- Building and leading the commercial team as you scale
Requirements
Who We're Looking For
Someone who has done the 0-to-1 journey before. You've co-founded or commercially led a startup from inception, raised VC funding, and personally closed early deals. Experience in circular economy, materials, chemicals, or sustainability is a strong differentiator - but the right founder with a different domain background and the hunger to learn is equally compelling. Above all, you thrive in ambiguity, make decisions fast with imperfect information, and are motivated by building something with genuine climate impact.
Essential:
- Experienced founder/operator, with proven commercial track record in materials, chemicals, packaging, or adjacent industrial sectors - from cold outreach to signed deals
- Experience in an early-stage or startup environment; comfortable owning outcomes with limited resources
- Strong financial literacy - able to build, interrogate, and communicate financial models
- Experience fundraising from VC
- Excellent stakeholder communication - credible with customers, investors, and a technical co-founder alike
Valuable:
- Network across plastics, packaging or waste management industries
- Familiarity with circular economy trends, recycling value chains and EU regulatory frameworks
- Experience managing application testing programmes or go-to-market strategy in materials
- Background in regulatory pathways for chemicals or materials
Benefits
The Setup
This role is structured as a Founder in Residence through Deep Science Ventures, with the venture targeting incorporation and spin-out asap. The venture spins out with £250k in inception capital from DSV and Valterra Platinum (formerly Anglo American Platinum). Majority equity stake between you and your co-founder(s) and salary is negotiated as part of the spin-out. Post-launch, DSV provides continuous support - fundraising, partnerships, recruitment. Remote-first, open globally, with a preference for UK/Europe.
About DSV
Deep Science Ventures (DSV) is on a mission to create a future in which both humans and the planet can thrive. We use our unique venture creation process to create, spin-out, and invest in science companies, combining available scientific knowledge and founder-type scientists into high-impact ventures. Operating in four sectors—Pharmaceuticals, Climate, Agriculture, and Computation—we tackle the challenges defining these areas by taking a first principles approach and partnering with leading institutions.
Commercial Co-Founder, Closing the loop on the world's unrecyclable plastic in London employer: Deep Science Ventures
At Deep Science Ventures, we are committed to tackling the world's most pressing environmental challenges, and as a Commercial Co-Founder, you will play a pivotal role in revolutionising the recycling of polyolefin waste. Our remote-first culture fosters innovation and collaboration, providing you with the unique opportunity to lead a groundbreaking venture with substantial equity stake and ongoing support from our team. Join us in creating meaningful impact while enjoying the flexibility and resources necessary for your professional growth in a rapidly evolving market.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Co-Founder, Closing the loop on the world's unrecyclable plastic in London
✨Tip Number 1
Get networking! Reach out to industry contacts and attend events related to sustainability and materials science. Building relationships can lead to valuable introductions and opportunities that might not be advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for the circular economy! When you meet potential partners or investors, share your vision for tackling plastic waste. Your enthusiasm can be contagious and help you stand out in a competitive field.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive in customer discovery. Don’t wait for leads to come to you; reach out to potential customers directly. Ask them about their needs and how your solution can fit into their operations.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’re all about making connections that matter, so don’t hesitate to submit your application. It’s a great way to get noticed and show us you’re serious about making an impact.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Co-Founder, Closing the loop on the world's unrecyclable plastic in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Authentic:When you're writing your application, let your true self shine through. We want to see your passion for tackling the plastic waste problem and how your unique experiences have shaped your journey. Don't be afraid to share your story!
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight your relevant experience in the circular economy or materials science. We’re looking for someone who understands the nuances of this field, so show us how your background aligns with our mission.
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your past roles; tell us about your accomplishments! Whether it’s closing a significant deal or leading a successful project, we want to know how you’ve made an impact in your previous positions.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates from our team. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Deep Science Ventures
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the ins and outs of the circular economy and the challenges surrounding plastic waste. Brush up on the latest trends in recycling and sustainability, especially regarding polyolefins. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also show that you're genuinely passionate about solving this pressing issue.
✨Showcase Your Journey
Be ready to share your experiences from previous startups, particularly those where you’ve taken a product from concept to market. Highlight specific examples of how you’ve navigated ambiguity and made quick decisions. This role is all about owning outcomes, so demonstrate your ability to lead and deliver results even with limited resources.
✨Build Connections
Leverage your network in the plastics, packaging, or waste management industries. If you have contacts who could be potential partners or customers, mention them during the interview. This shows that you’re proactive and already thinking about how to build the commercial infrastructure needed for success.
✨Financial Savvy is Key
Brush up on your financial literacy, especially around building and communicating financial models. Be prepared to discuss how you would approach fundraising and investor relations. Showing that you can handle the financial side of things will reassure the interviewers that you can help steer the company towards its Series A and beyond.
