Director of Entrepreneurship

DONALD DANFORTH PLANT SCIENCE CENTER•Olivette, MO

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Entrepreneurship enables the Danforth Center's Commercialization Pipeline, which drives internal discoveries toward impact. This role will be responsible for training and coaching scientist-entrepreneurs, for representing the Center externally with industry partners, and interfacing directly with the Danforth Technology Company (DTC) incubator on the financial success of portfolio startup companies. The Director of Entrepreneurship will facilitate the movement of technologies from Danforth Center laboratories to the DTC, creating commercial impact including the formation of start-up companies. This role bridges science and business, building trusted relationships with Center Principal Investigators as a hands-on internal collaborator, while providing external ventures with financial and strategic guidance as they translate research into compelling commercial opportunities.

Requirements

A genuine commitment to training, coaching, and developing scientist-entrepreneurs, including the patience and communication skills to translate business concepts for a technical audience (and vice versa)
Working knowledge of molecular biology or a demonstrated willingness and ability to quickly learn the scientific fundamentals underlying Center research
Strong network within, or ability to rapidly build relationships across, the agtech industry
Excellent presentation and pitch-development skills, with the ability to distill complex science into a compelling commercial narrative
Strong financial acumen, including budget development and forecasting for early-stage ventures
Ability to work cross-functionally with researchers, technology transfer staff, legal/IP counsel, and the DTC
Operate efficiently and with significant autonomy while keeping leadership informed of progress and risks
Bachelor's degree is required
Minimum of three years of relevant experience

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred
Ideally including exposure to the agtech or crop science industry
Prior experience with a startup environment

Responsibilities

Serve as the internal champion for entrepreneurial culture across research teams, working with Principal Investigators to identify current and future science with commercial potential.
Design and deliver training that builds entrepreneurial fluency among Danforth Center scientists — covering topics such as customer discovery and market validation.
Coach and mentor scientist-entrepreneurs one-on-one as they develop venture concepts, helping translate technical expertise into viable business propositions.
Serve as the initial point of contact between the Danforth Center and external companies and strategic partners on commercialization matters.
Support and, where appropriate, directly participate in marketing Danforth Center technologies and spinout ventures to prospective industry partners.
Represent the Center at industry conferences, forums, and entrepreneurship events to raise the visibility of Danforth-originated technologies and talent.
Develop compelling, non-technical framing of scientific innovations suitable for external audiences, pitch decks, and marketing materials.
Work closely with the DTC to provide budget development, financial forecasting, and reporting support for portfolio ventures.
Advise scientist-founders on start-up budgeting fundamentals, burn rate management, and funding milestones as ventures progress.
Track and report on program metrics (e.g., ventures launched, funding secured, licensing activity) for the DTC.
Perform other duties as assigned.