Co-founder in Residence – Next Generation Herbicides, Weed Control

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United Kingdom.

📋 Description

• Join our mission to create a pioneering venture aimed at eliminating off-target toxicity in agrochemicals through the scaling of next-generation herbicides and weed control solutions.

• We are looking for a seasoned entrepreneur to partner with us in founding and launching a company that specializes in targeted and sustainable weed control, ensuring that ecological and human health remain unaffected.

• This is a full-time position that will initially be remote until the incorporation and spin-out of the venture, expected around the end of Q1 2027, with location to be determined.

• As a Co-founder-in-Residence in DSV’s venture creation programme, you will collaborate closely with the teams from DSV and the Grantham Foundation to establish the new company.

• Throughout the programme, you will enhance and build upon existing scoping work that includes:

• - Developing a scalable, durable, and effective technical thesis for weed control that avoids off-target effects (neglect and technical tractability);

• - Addressing commercial neglect (IP strategy, differentiation, competition);

• - Defining the value proposition (market, value capture, techno-economics);

• - Formulating a regulatory strategy & positioning;

• - Crafting a fundraising strategy & pitching;

• - Optimizing the company strategy for the quickest and least risky path to Series A funding.

• Preparing for the Investment Committee (IC) will involve meeting our investment criteria, recruiting advisory and co-founding team members, and simultaneously fundraising for additional expansion capital.

• Upon a successful IC outcome, you will secure pre-seed investment from DSV and the Grantham Foundation, leading to the company's spinout in 2027.

• You and your co-founders will hold a significant equity stake in the business and will continue to receive support after the spinout.

⛳️ Requirements

• You are driven to tackle the unresolved challenges in weed control and are eager to disrupt the conventional practices in agrochemicals.

• You possess a strong impact-driven mindset, take initiative, and have the ability to think critically to determine what is truly necessary.

• You exhibit a clear entrepreneurial spirit and mindset, evidenced by impactful innovations and the capability to thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous, and demanding environments.

• You have a collaborative disposition, allowing you to work effectively within cross-functional teams.

• Previous experience as a Founder is essential.

• Experience in a C-suite position is required.

• You must have prior fundraising experience with venture capitalists (VCs).

• Expertise in commercial/business development (licensing, partnerships, collaborations) is necessary.

• A proven record of building and leading successful teams is crucial.

• Strong foundational knowledge in scientific disciplines such as biochemistry, molecular biology, plant physiology, phytopathology, agricultural engineering, or related areas, along with familiarity in technological domains pertinent to next-generation weed control, including safer small molecule discovery and screening, physical herbicide controls, biological modes of action, crop trait development, and precision application systems.

• Demonstrated ability to execute translational work, including transitioning traits/actives from discovery to field efficacy, managing CRO/CDMO programs, assembling regulator/investor/customer-ready data packages, and/or developing partnerships with growers, CROs/CDMOs, suppliers, and scalable IP strategies.

• Proven cross-functional ownership in R&D, Product, Regulatory, and IP, demonstrated through tangible results (trial outcomes, submissions, patents, launches), and/or experience with EPA/EU regulations and GLP study planning/oversight, or designing pivotal field trials for registration support.

🏝️ Benefits

• We offer optimized, purpose-built, proprietary tools, resources, and processes designed to facilitate the creation of high-impact ventures from the ground up, utilizing our venture creation methodology.

• Benefit from DSV and the Grantham Foundation's extensive network, which includes leaders in biotech VCs, technical and commercial domain expertise, and a wide range of capabilities across portfolio companies.

• We jointly provide an initial investment of £250k (~$340k / €290k), governed by our Investment Committee, to establish the new venture and develop early proof-of-concept data often necessary to attract prominent non-venture studio VCs. This funding is also crucial for securing grant funding that frequently requires matching private investment.

• You and your co-founder(s) will collectively hold the majority equity stake in the company.

• We guarantee a minimum income of £4,166 per month (fixed), paid to each Founder as a consultancy fee until the company is launched and pre-seed funding is secured.

• We provide ongoing support post spin-out, encompassing fundraising, commercial partnerships, recruitment, and team-building, among other aspects.

• Collaborate with other Founders currently at DSV across various sectors, leveraging this unique resource for mutual support.