Founder-in-Residence, Avoid emissions from end-of-life plastic(Open Application) at Deep Science Ventures

This is an open application for expressions of interest. Active recruitment for the role will begin later this year.

Join Us as a Founder in Climate

At DSV, we are always on the lookout for entrepreneurial-minded individuals with technical and commercial domain expertise to solve urgent unmet challenges through venture building. We are currently seeking passionate and driven individuals to join our Climate sector, focusing on addressing plastic waste management and reduction. You can read more about our thesis [here](link to sector thesis).

Opportunity Area: Tackling Plastic Waste

The production of virgin plastics has reached an estimated 8300 Mt, and as of 2015, around 6300 Mt of plastic waste had been generated. Of this waste, only 9% has been recycled, 12% incinerated, and a staggering 79% has accumulated in landfills or the natural environment. If current trends continue, approximately 12,000 Mt of plastic waste will be in landfills or the natural environment by 2050. This poses severe environmental risks, including significant emissions from plastic degradation to CO2 and methane, along with the release of microplastics, NOx, SOx, and other fine particulate matter.

Our Approach

Our goal is to develop innovative solutions that significantly reduce plastic waste accumulation and its environmental impact. We aim to leverage cutting-edge technologies and approaches in recycling, waste management, and material science to create scalable and sustainable ventures.

Requirements

Who Should Apply

Most suitable candidates will likely meet multiple of the following criteria:

• PhD or equivalent industry R&D know-how focused on materials science, chemical engineering, environmental science, or related fields;
• In-depth knowledge of state-of-the-art technologies and constraints in plastic recycling, waste management, biodegradable materials, or emissions reduction;
• Broad knowledge in environmental impact assessment, sustainable materials, and circular economy principles;
• Industry-specific know-how, commercial knowledge (e.g., strategic partnerships, manufacturing, procurement, etc.), and network within waste management, recycling industries, or environmental organizations;
• Experience in building and scaling new technologies from concept to demonstration;
• Experience in raising funds from early-stage investors/VC;
• Experience in building and scaling a high-growth enterprise (leadership/c-suite roles).

Benefits

Our Offer

By joining DSV, you will be part of a team of operators who have founded companies and led the translation of science at some of the most respected universities, charities, funds, and government agencies. Here’s what we offer:

• Access to optimized, 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 consultancy fee until the company is launched and the pre-seed investment is secured.
• Majority equity stake in the new company for you and your co-founders.
• Continuous post-spinout support, including fundraising, commercial partnerships, recruitment, and team-building.
• Collaborative support from dozens of Founders currently at DSV across sectors.

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.