Founder Associate (Energy AI tech startup)

Join us to help build the commercial and operational side of WindLens. You’ll work directly with the founders on everything that turns a research spin-off into a real company: pipeline, grants, decks, contracts, and the operations that keep it all moving.

Company Description

WindLens is an early-stage AI startup incubated at EPFL, working at the intersection of machine learning, weather, and energy markets to help renewable operators and traders manage risk in a rapidly changing grid.

We are backed by the EPFL AI Center, the Swiss National Science Foundation, and Innosuisse, and work with leading European wind operators and trading desks across active pilots.

We are a small, technical team based in Lausanne. We move fast, work directly with customers on real production data, and look for people who want ownership over hard problems from day one.

What you’d work on

• Own commercial pipeline development across European renewable operators, traders, and BRPs: outreach, qualification, first-touch conversations, and support through pilots and contract negotiations
• Identify and manage non-dilutive funding opportunities (Innosuisse, EIC, EU and Swiss clean-tech programs) from application to reporting
• Build and iterate on pitch decks, one-pagers, and commercial material for different audiences: customers, investors, partners, grant reviewers
• Support fundraising: investor research, meeting prep, follow-ups, materials, cap table work
• Run day-to-day operations: contracts, legal coordination, financial planning, hiring support, and everything else that comes with a company at this stage
• Represent WindLens at industry events (smarter E, WindEnergy Hamburg, E-world) and help build our presence in the European energy ecosystem

What we’re looking for

• Real experience in the energy sector: utility, IPP, trader, BRP, renewable developer, or energy consultancy. You know what a BRP is and can hold a conversation about imbalance without a glossary
• Background in business development, commercial operations, or a founder-adjacent role. You’ve owned outreach, sold something complex, or built commercial processes from scratch
• Proactive, brings their own ideas, tries things without waiting to be told
• Comfortable with ambiguity and with a role that will evolve as the company grows
• Good writer: grants, decks, cold emails, contracts. Writing well is a large part of the job
• Fluent in English. French, German, or another European language is a strong plus given our customer base

This is a role with real ownership from day one. For the right person, there is a path toward meaningful equity and, over time, a potential co-founder position as WindLens grows.

How to apply

Click the link above, answer the few questions, and if there's a problem feel free to contact [email protected]