Founder in Residence, Zero-emissions Industrial Plastics (Open Application)

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

Join Us as a Founder in Residence in Climate

At DSV, we are always on the lookout for entrepreneurial individuals with technical and commercial domain expertise with a keen interest in founding, and building a global scale, impact-driven, high-growth company from the ground up (full-time).

We are seeking expressions of interest from experienced industry, startup, and/or new science or engineering-based technology development professionals from anywhere in the world to work with us on addressing the global industrial plastics challenge.

The Opportunity Area: Zero-Emissions Industrial Plastics

The global industrial plastic market, valued at USD 82.78 billion in 2022 and expected to reach USD 132.8 billion by 2032, is experiencing growth driven by advancements in the electrical, automotive, and industrial machinery sectors. Currently, 15-20% of industrial plastics are used in construction, 10% in automotive, and 6% in electronics. Ongoing R&D for nanotechnology-based plastics enhances market growth, providing excellent thermal resistance, strength, and efficiency. Additionally, substantial investments from government and private institutions in the aerospace and defense industries are boosting demand for industrial plastics.

However, significant challenges exist, including replicating precise material properties for high-performance applications, managing multi-component systems that complicate recycling, and addressing technological limitations for recycling complex plastics. Infrastructure gaps further hinder effective recycling, particularly for automotive plastics, due to inadequate facilities and intelligent sorting technologies. Market dynamics also pose issues, with limited markets for recycled automotive plastics and a preference for virgin resins, which offer consistent quality and aesthetics.

Our Approach

We’re currently building an outcomes graph, working backwards from the desired high-level outcomes:

• Transforming the industrial plastics market to significantly reduce environmental impact;
• Developing innovative materials and processes to improve the recyclability and sustainability of industrial plastics;
• Creating competitive alternatives to traditional industrial plastics, such as CO2-derived, biomass-derived, and waste-derived plastics;
• Innovating advanced recycling technologies and enhancing infrastructure to support effective recycling of complex plastics.

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 organic polymer design and/or organic chemicals with a background in chemistry, materials science, or chemical engineering;
• In-depth knowledge of state-of-the-art (SOTA) technologies and constraints in at least one of the following areas: CO2 conversion, biomass conversion, or traditional petroleum engineering processes;
• Broad expertise in chemical and biochemical conversion technologies, including electrochemical, catalytic, fermentation, and microbial conversion;
• Industry-specific know-how, commercial knowledge (e.g., strategic partnerships, manufacturing, procurement, etc.), and network within the industrial plastics, chemical manufacturing, or related industries;
• 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.

Note that we’re not yet actively hiring for a Founder in Residence position for this opportunity. However, we are actively seeking expressions of interest from candidates who are highly selective about their next move. If you’re determined to explore venture creation opportunities in this area with DSV, share your application and we’ll get in touch when it’s launched. We may reach out to you sooner if your experience highly aligns with the expertise we’re after.

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.