Join as a Founder in Residence in Climate (Agriculture). Build a new venture eliminating toxicity from agrochemicals by scaling non-transferable pest control. We’re seeking an entrepreneurial technical leader to found and spin out a company focused on species-targeted, durable pest control without off-target ecological or human health impacts. The role is full-time, remote initially until venture incorporation and spin-out (circa end of Q4 2026), location TBD.
Deep Science Ventures (DSV) creates, spins-out, and invests in science companies, combining scientific knowledge and scientists into high-impact ventures. Operating in Pharmaceuticals, Climate, Agriculture, and Computation sectors.
DSV has partnered with Grantham Foundation to accelerate the development of non-toxic alternatives to pesticides.
We are looking for future Founders: entrepreneurially-minded individuals with deep technical and commercial domain expertise. You will join DSV’s venture creation programme as a Founder-in-Residence and work closely with the DSV and Grantham Foundation team to spin out the new company. During the programme you will refine, improve and complement existing scoping work on:
- The technical thesis for pest control that is scalable, durable and effective without off-target effects.
- Commercial neglect (IP strategy, differentiation, competition).
- Value proposition (market, value capture, techno-economics).
- Regulatory strategy & positioning.
- Fundraising strategy & pitching.
- Optimising company strategy for the most rapid and derisked path to Series A.
Preparation for Investment Committee (IC) will involve fulfilling our investment criteria, recruiting advisory and co-founding team members, and parallel fundraising for additional expansion funds.
Assuming success at IC, you will receive pre-seed investment from DSV and Grantham Foundation, and spinout the company by the end of Q4 2026. You and your co-founders will own a significant stake in the business and continue receiving support post-spinout.
Conventional pesticides are a double-edged sword, harming pollinators and causing health issues in humans. Non-transferable pest controls have shown traction but face constraints like high costs, limited coverage, and efficacy issues. Emerging technologies like RNAi silencing and engineered crop pheromone production offer promising tools. This is the ideal time to tackle these barriers and we are looking for a Founder in Residence to lead the effort.
- Highly motivated by unsolved challenges in non-transferable pesticide control.
- Impact-driven, takes initiative, and thinks from a first principles perspective.
- Entrepreneurial spirit and mindset, with ability to work in ambiguous, fast-paced environments.
- Collaborative nature, with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.
- Core science depth (PhD or equivalent industry R&D know-how) in genomics, molecular biology, entomology, plant pathology, virology and/or bacteriology (or similar), with breadth across technological areas relevant for non-transferable pest control:
- RNAi for insect/weed/fungal targets (design, stability, formulation/delivery, resistance mgmt.);
- Semiochemicals/pheromones (biosynthesis/bioprocess scale-up, deployment/mating disruption);
- Insecticidal proteins (incl. Bt/next-gen) or engineered in-plant expression;
- IPM design & field implementation with measurable on-farm outcomes.
- Translational execution: e.g. taking traits/actives from discovery to field efficacy, managing CRO/CDMO programs, building regulator/investor/customer-ready data packages; and/or partnership development and scalable IP strategy.
- Cross-functional ownership across: R&D - Product - Regulatory - IP, evidenced by shipped results (trial outcomes, submissions, patents, launches); and/or EPA/EU experience and GLP study planning/oversight; or design of pivotal field trials supporting registration.
- Venture creation/fundraising; and/or product leadership in ag-biotech.
- Previous Founder experience (in biotech).
- Previous C-suite experience (in biotech).
- Previous fundraising experience (VC).
- Commercial & BD expertise incl. network in agrochem/pesticide development.
- Strong track record of building and leading successful teams.
- Optimised, proprietary tools, resources and processes for venture creation.
- DSV and Grantham Foundation's extensive network.
- Initial £250k (~$340k / €290k) investment to incorporate the new venture and develop early proof-of-concept data.
- You and your co-founder(s) together will own the majority equity stake in the company.
- Minimum guaranteed income of £4,166 per month until the company is launched and pre-seed investment is secured.
- Continuous support post spin-out, including fundraising, commercial partnerships, recruitment and team-building.
- Collaborative environment with dozens of Founders across sectors.