Co-Founder in Residence (Commercial), Reinventing Crop Nutrition & Weed Control

Deep Science Ventures • San Diego, CA

7d • $4,166 • Remote

About The Position

Deep Science Ventures is seeking a Commercial Co-Founder to co-create a venture focused on revolutionizing weed control through crop nutrient delivery. This role involves partnering with a technical founder to guide the venture from pre-incorporation/pre-seed stages through Series A and beyond. Key responsibilities include establishing relationships with major agri-input companies to secure commercial agreements, developing strategies for farmer adoption, and raising capital for scaling. The Commercial Co-Founder will be instrumental in building the commercial infrastructure necessary to transform a breakthrough technology into a sustainable business. This is a ground-floor opportunity where the founding team will collectively hold a majority equity stake. The exact leadership responsibilities will be tailored to the founding team's strengths, with potential for the role to evolve into a CEO or other C-suite position. The position is full-time, initially remote, and aims for venture incorporation and spin-out in early Q2 2027.

Requirements

• Motivated by ambitious, unsolved challenges and the opportunity to challenge the status quo in agrochemicals
• Entrepreneurial, impact-driven, and comfortable taking initiative in ambiguous, fast-moving environments, using first-principles thinking
• Collaborative with patience and an open mind, willing to adapt to the company's evolving needs
• Significant commercial leadership experience in agri-inputs, biologicals, crop protection, or adjacent science-led/regulated industries, with a strong preference for direct agricultural experience
• Track record of navigating the ag ecosystem and taking crop inputs to market through retail or direct to farmers
• Track record of personally negotiating and closing material licensing, distribution, supply, or other strategic commercial agreements
• Experience co-founding or commercially leading an early-stage startup, raising funding, and closing early deals
• Successfully sourced non-dilutive funding in the form of grants
• Strong financial literacy - able to build, interrogate, and communicate financial models
• Excellent stakeholder communication - credible with customers, investors, and a technical co-founder
• Direct experience taking crop inputs through retail, agronomist/adviser, or farmer channels is highly desirable
• Exposure to the fertiliser industry would be a significant advantage

Nice To Haves

• Direct experience taking crop inputs through retail, agronomist/adviser or farmer channels
• Exposure to the fertiliser industry

Responsibilities

• Develop and convert relationships with major fertiliser and agri-input companies into commercial partnerships
• Develop and execute the route-to-market strategy, including how manufacturer partnerships translate into farmer adoption
• Develop and validate the techno-economic model and commercial business model
• Secure funding from investors - leading commercial due diligence, building investor relationships and closing rounds
• Develop company strategy as a core member of the founding team
• Build and lead the commercial team as the company scales

Benefits

• Guaranteed income of £4,166 per month, paid as a consultancy fee until company launch
• Venture spins out with £250k in inception capital from DSV and the Grantham Foundation
• Founding team collectively holds a majority equity stake
• Salary negotiated as part of the spin-out
• Continuous portfolio support post-launch from DSV (fundraising, partnerships, recruitment)
• Remote-first, open globally
• On-site presence in San Diego California post spin-out

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed