Founding CEO (m/f/d) for Industrial DeepTech Spin-off (Stealth Mode)

Lead the corporate spin-off of a breakthrough industrial technology that converts sewage sludge into critical raw materials and establish a new category leader in circular resource recovery. Founder-level equity participation and substantial value creation opportunity.

Type: Full-time position with attractive equity stake

Start: Immediately

Location: Remote possible, frequent travels to Cologne/ Leverkusen required

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The Opportunity: Starting in 2029, wastewater treatment plants in Germany will be required to recover at least 80% of the phosphorus contained in sewage sludge. Despite this regulatory tailwind, no economically attractive industrial-scale solution has yet emerged.

A multidisciplinary team within a specialty chemicals group has spent years developing a proprietary carbochlorination process that recovers phosphorus, silicon and other valuable materials from sewage sludge. What is currently a disposal and compliance challenge becomes a source of strategically important raw materials. The market opportunity extends well beyond regulatory compliance. Driven by resource security, circularity requirements and growing demand for critical raw materials, the technology is positioned at the intersection of industrial decarbonization and resource independence.

You'll hold equity on par with the other co-founders and the corporate parent retains a minority stake below 25%, with no blocking minority. You'll have the equity and governance control to actually run the venture underlining that this really is more than a corporate project with a founder title attached.

Why now: The founding team, technology, IP and industrial ecosystem are already in place. What is missing is an entrepreneurial CEO capable of building a venture-backed scale-up and leading it through demonstration, financing and industrial commercialization.

Your mission as founding CEO:

• Lead the corporate spin-off and establish an independent, investor-ready company with its own governance, financing structure and leadership team.
• Define and execute the fundraising strategy, bringing together venture capital, strategic investors and public funding sources.
• Drive the scale-up from successful pilot technology to reliable industrial deployment in close partnership with the technical founding team.
• Build commercial traction with wastewater operators, municipalities and industrial customers across Germany and Europe.
• Recruit and lead a high-performing team capable of combining start-up agility with industrial excellence.

Who we are looking for: More important than title or background is the ability to create and scale businesses in complex industrial environments. There is no single profile for this role. You may be a founder who has built and scaled a deep-tech, climate-tech or industrial technology company, a senior leader from a high-growth industrial or deep-tech scale-up ready for a CEO role or an investor from VC, PE or a family office seeking to move into an operating leadership position.

What matters most:

• You know how to build a company around a proven technology and create what does not yet exist, whether customers, capital, partnerships or teams.
• You have experience operating in capital-intensive, first-of-a-kind industrial settings.
• You are comfortable raising capital and managing investor relationships.
• You can work effectively with scientists and engineers and translate technical realities into a compelling business strategy.
• You recognize market opportunities created by regulation, sustainability trends and resource security challenges.
• Experience with corporate carve-outs, spin-offs or industrial partnerships is a plus.
• Fluent English is required. German is highly desirable.
• You are based in Germany or willing to relocate and able to commit full-time from day one.

What is offered:

• The chance to build and lead a venture with differentiated technology, protected IP and strong industrial roots.
• Significant founder-level equity and meaningful long-term value creation potential.
• Access to an experienced technical team and an established industrial ecosystem from day one.
• The opportunity to build a category-defining European company at the forefront of circular economy and resource recovery.

If you are excited by the challenge of turning breakthrough industrial technology into a market-leading company, we would like to hear from you.

chemstars has been engaged to find suitable candidates for this role. This is not a chemstars role — the CEO will be employed by, and hold equity in, the new venture itself, not by chemstars. By applying to this position, you agree that your personal information will be shared with the respective corporate partner. We are committed to equal opportunity and diversity, and we encourage people from all backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, religions and beliefs, socioeconomic statuses, educational backgrounds, ages, and abilities to apply.