CEO & Co-Founder - Gas Detection Sensor Technology

Overview

A Co-Founding CEO is sought to work on an exciting new project in Gas Detection Sensor Technology. Apply for this position via this link with our trusted recruitment partner LUKA global.

To be eligible you should have experience in business development within the industrial or chemical sector, and/or sensor deployment for environmental & safety monitoring during plant operation.

The world needs innovations to reach net-zero and circularity, but a wealth of research inventions never get used at scale. BigCircle Ventures scouts promising DeepTech and turns this into successful startups that tackle the world’s climate and circularity challenges. We focus on the large, untapped pool of early-stage innovations that would otherwise stay untouched on a shelf, hidden in a university, research institute or company lab.

Role and project approach

It all starts with a goal-driven project selection process to assess impact and commercial viability. Once identified, the project is paired with a CEO at the point of incorporation. As CEO/Co-Founder you will drive the project to hit milestones with a strategic exit in mind.

The technology

The innovation, based on spectroscopy technology developed for space applications, offers a method to visually detect gas leaks. Gases such as methane, ammonia, volatile organics, NOx, and SOx can leak from industrial and agricultural sites, during production, transport, and storage. The cumulative volume of these fugitive gas leaks are a waste of valuable resources and does significant environmental harm. Additionally, it can limit the development of sustainable energy carrier infrastructure, such as ammonia, due to safety concerns. As a result, regulations are being imposed on industry and a need for leak detection and mitigation sensing technology is growing.

In contrast to existing technologies, this innovation is low cost, compact, usable as a handheld device that provides real-time, visual data. Additionally, it is highly selective towards a wide range of molecular gases. Already at a later stage of development, it can be rapidly deployed and scaled into the existing and developing gas detection market. These characteristics make it exceptionally well-aligned with the accelerating global demand for clean air initiatives while allowing for further sustainable industrial growth.

Responsibilities

• Purpose-driven fundraising: You know how to secure the right kind of funding at the right stage, from innovation to scaled manufacturing, and driving commercial success
• Business development: Create the (international) go-to-market strategy by aligning diverse stakeholders around a shared purpose
• Network: Bring and build a network of experts, collaborators, and early-adopters in appropriate markets
• Leadership: Build strong, motivated teams for technology- and business development, foster trust, and inspire others to do their best work bridging innovation and market impact

Requirements

You have experience/competence in the following areas:

• Entrepreneurship: You can turn the technology into real-world impact, by identifying opportunities to create value, innovation, and profit.
• Driven and action-oriented: You are a person who is willing to make things happen by setting relevant goals with a clear path to achieving them.
• Industrial or chemical sector experience: You bring hands-on experience or strong international network in industrial or chemical settings, such as port areas, processing plants, or sectors involving gas handling or ammonia transport. You understand how commercial partnerships can drive safer, more sustainable industrial operations.
• Collaborative Technical Mindset: A technical background is a plus, but not essential. You must be enthusiastic about technology, able to pick up knowledge of limitations and boundaries of the gas detection technology and competing sensors. You enjoy working closely with research, product, and engineering teams, translating industrial needs into solutions that make sense.
• Business model development: You have experience with designing and scaling business models, preferably for sensor or monitoring solutions (e.g., licensing, own production, or service/data-based models).

Other requirements

• English language proficiency. Additional languages are a plus
• Currently based in the Netherlands or happy to relocate
• Available at least 3 days a week in start-up phase, although full time is preferable

Founding a start-up is the dream of many, but the chance of success via traditional routes is disappointingly low.

We dramatically increase the chances of success by:

• Picking the most promising, impactful technologies
• Match each project with the right entrepreneur
• Put support and infrastructure in place to ensure the best chance of success

The unique benefit of this model is the complete suite of professional services provided.

You will be surrounded by experts in the fields of capital raising (all stages), exit, legal, governance, regulatory, patent expertise & HR support. You will be mentored one-to-one by a senior partner and join a growing community of CEOs within our portfolio of ventures.

You should bring with you the mind-set of an entrepreneurial co-founder, and as such, do not hesitate to apply even if you do not match all listed requirements. You will be a partner with us, not an employee. Your wins and setbacks are shared. This very fact underpins the reason you have access to our highly professional team and networks that give you the best chance of success.