Co-Founder

unearthed; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

unearthed is seeking exceptional co-founders to lead new science-backed ventures focused on solving industry pain points. Candidates with deep tech, materials science, and sustainability expertise who are passionate about climate tech and wish to co-create impactful startups are encouraged to apply. This role offers co-founder equity and operational support but is not salaried at this stage, providing a unique opportunity to make a difference in the circular economy.

Benefits

Co-founder equity

Access to a validated pipeline of technologies

Funding support through Innovate UK

Collaborative operations and strategy support

Opportunity to work with world-class partners

Qualifications

• Proven success in creating or scaling ventures.
• Experience with academic or commercial R&D.
• Strong interest in climate tech and innovative solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creation and scaling of new ventures.
• Work on technologies in high-performance materials and packaging.
• Collaborate with a team to realize impactful commercial goals.

Skills

Deep tech expertise

Materials science

Strategy development

Sustainability-focused business strategy

Startup experience

Job description

Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.

Direct message the job poster from unearthed

Strategic hiring and talent acquisition support for impact ventures

A boutique UK-based venture builder is seeking a small number of exceptional co-founders to lead new science-backed ventures that solve industry pain points and have clear commercial pathways.

With a validated pipeline of technologies in high-performance materials, bio-composites, and circular packaging, they are building companies designed to scale quickly and make a measurable impact commercially and environmentally.

We are now recruiting co-founders to take these ventures forward.

Who we're looking for:

• True founder material, you think in ventures, not career ladders
• A builder, scientist, strategist, or maker with expertise in deep tech, materials science, design engineering, or sustainability-focused business strategy
• You get things done. Proven success creating, scaling, or leading innovation
• Maybe you've launched a startup, headed up product or R&D, or shepherded a deep tech project from concept to market
• Perhaps you've always wanted to found something meaningful but haven't found that perfect idea worth committing to
• You're genuinely passionate about climate tech, circular materials, or tackling massive, overlooked problems.

The ventures are rooted in science and engineering, but we’re not looking for lone inventors. We’re looking for builders, strategic thinkers and operators. People who are hungry to shape something from the ground up with the right backing, team, and clarity of purpose.

Current domains in play:

There are 4 viable incubated businesses ready to build:

• Construction: Natural insulation systems, bio based yet high performance, low-carbon wall and panel systems
• Packaging: Natural fibre based protective packaging, high performance and EPS replacements
• High-performance Composites: Bio-resins, natural fibres, scalable mycelium composite core systems
• Material science AI tool: AI tool to design the next generation of composites

What you’ll get:

• Co-founder equity and leadership role in new ventures
• Access to a validated pipeline of IP, prototyping, and lab-tested technologies
• Funding support through Innovate UK, angel investors, and public grants
• Shared operations, strategy, and legal infrastructure via the venture builder platform
• Opportunity to work across disciplines, from materials science to manufacturing, with world-class partners

This is a rare opportunity to co-create startups from the ground up with long-term impact, deep technical ambition, and clear commercial pathways. It'll be yours, but with the support structures in place for success.

Please note the ventures are pre-revenue and pre-investment and as such these are not salaried opportunities at this stage. Roles can be based anywhere in the UK.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Not Applicable

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Science, Information Technology, and Research

• Industries

  Retail Recyclable Materials & Used Merchandise, Biotechnology Research, and Climate Technology Product Manufacturing

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at unearthed by 2x

Get notified about new Co-Founder jobs in United Kingdom.

Founder's Associate (Remote anywhere in EU)

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

Founder & CEO - AI Finance Companion for the Emergent Affluents

London, England, United Kingdom 6 days ago

Manchester, England, United Kingdom 1 day ago

Co-founder of a climatech startup – Entrepreneurs & Business experts

Ireland, England, United Kingdom 6 days ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 day ago

Oxford, England, United Kingdom 1 day ago

London, England, United Kingdom 2 days ago

Technical Co-Founder for AI-Powered SaaS Startup

Cambridge, England, United Kingdom 1 day ago

Bristol, England, United Kingdom 1 day ago

Exeter, England, United Kingdom 1 day ago

Southampton, England, United Kingdom 1 day ago

Deliverability & Infrastructure Specialist, Co-Founder

Liverpool, England, United Kingdom 1 day ago

Co-Founder Opportunity (Equity-Based) – Datheos | Decentralized Data & Identity Platform

Co-founder in Residence, Next Generation Therapeutics for Parkinson's Disease

London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

Cofounder of a climatech startup - Scientist/Engineer

London, England, United Kingdom 5 days ago

Executive Producer (Founding Team Member)

We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.