COO - Cofounder wanted for Biochar startup

Operational co-founder wanted who can manage the site, technology and equipment of biochar production. Someone who is genuinely motivated to work in a climate impact startup and wants to go with me from zero to one. You are someone with a background in operations, biotechnology or mechanical engineering. To operate the equipment, no specific knowledge or skills are required but a general knowledge in electrics and mechanics is preferred. Training is part of the installation and commissioning process when equipment is purchased or leased. Besides the hardware there's the important (software) part of Digital MRV (measure, reporting, verifying) in order to sell the carbon credits generated with biochar production.

Who am I looking for?
- Someone eager to tackle every challenge, big or small
- Someone with a background in operations and electronics/ mechanics.
- An entrepreneurial mindset, passionate about technology and innovation
- Hands-on, engaged, open-minded and good communicator
- Experience with internationalization is a plus
- Fluency in English and preferably another language
- Experience (as co-founder) in a startup is advantageous, a (heavy) corporate / consulting background is not ;-)
- Minimum amount of professional work experience should be 5-7 years

You have strengths in...

• organizing and keeping stuff tidy
• pushing and getting things done
• structuring and strategic thinking

Manage the site and equipment
Responsible for Digital MRV to sell carbon credits
Jointly define and implement strategy
Help sourcing biomass streams
Help building a founding team
Help expanding to new sites

Part of the equity/ shares

Biochar is a negative emissions technology. It's also recognized as both a great soil enhancer the most scalable way of doing carbon dioxide removal (CDR) today

The startup plan entails to start a circular biochar project as a pilot facility and work out the (unit) economics. Validate the concept. Differentiate and carve out a niche (e.g. sell premium biochar tailored for crops such as wine, cannabis or organic produce). Add value: blend with compost, fungi or nutrients and sell as a ready to use product. Target regenerative farms, vineyards or greenhouses willing to pay a premium for soil health and sustainability.

There are some variables such as the type of biomass. Lease the equipment to keep the Capex low initially. Leasing makes it easier to pivot if the feedstock, location, or revenue model needs to change. Once profitable, scale up to other locations.

The revenue is pretty immediate and comes from two sources:

- Sales of biochar to agricultural / city gardening / farmers / construction
- Sales of carbon credits based on biochar carbon removal (BCR)

Other key factors:
- Choice of machine/ unit / technology with pros and cons
- Carbon credit registration
- Choice of location
- Permits

Challenges

Type of location: close to ideal biomass source
Type of machine/ equipment with pros and cons
Permits depending on location/ country

Target group

Farmers, (reg) agriculture, construction, community vegetable gardens, vineyards.