Commercial Co-founder, Grid flexibility and virtual power plants

About the role

This is a deeply hands-on role. You will personally develop customer relationships, negotiate early agreements and help build financial and techno-economic models. As the company grows, you will recruit and lead the commercial function.

Requirements

• Must-have experience: Previous experience in either a startup/early-stage company environment or leading commercial scale-up in energy, grid, and/or flexibility markets;
• A track record in fundraising from VC, grant writing, grant management and building commercial partnerships;
• Exposure to energy market regulation and grid code compliance processes in at least one major market (US ISO/RTO, UK, or European);
• A strong network across relevant industries such as VPP operators, aggregators, energy traders, utilities, DNOs/DSOs, ISO/RTOs or DER equipment manufacturers;
• Essential capabilities: Lead customer discovery to identify and prioritize target markets. From initial outreach with target customers through to binding pilot agreements, you will refine and deliver upon value propositions based on market feedback;
• Identify and secure strategic partnerships with VPP operators, flexibility providers, utilities, DNOs/DSOs, and DER equipment vendors (battery manufacturers, EV charger companies, heat pump installers);
• Co-develop and maintain techno-economic models, pricing strategy and financial models with the founding team, and lead commercial negotiations and contract structuring;
• Lead fundraising efforts with commercial due diligence materials, building investor relationships and communicating commercial progress;
• Demonstrated B2B sales and business development experience, ideally in energy, grid services or flexibility markets, with a track record from cold outreach to signed agreements;
• Willingness to operate across strategic and administrative tasks, with resilience, strong self-direction and ability to thrive in uncertain environments;
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to build credibility across diverse stakeholders (VPP operators, utilities, grid operators, energy traders, investors) and work collaboratively with a technical co-founder;
• Ability to recruit and lead team members as the company grows, with a desire to build and scale an organisation aligned with company mission and values;
• Valuable "Nice-to-Haves": Experience managing customer pilot programmes, developing go-to-market strategy and assessing partnership structures including licensing, white-label and joint development;
• Ability to scope and manage regulatory pathways across multiple energy markets, coordinate with consultants and certification bodies, and substantiate performance claims with quantitative evidence;
• Understanding of VPP operations, DER aggregation, wholesale electricity market structures (day-ahead, real-time/balancing, ancillary services, capacity) or flexibility procurement;
• Experience at a VPP operator, aggregator or flexibility provider (e.g., Voltus, CPower, Flexitricity, Limejump, Statkraft, Kraken, Next Kraftwerke or similar);
• Multi-market experience - understanding of how different market designs (US nodal/LMP, UK balancing mechanism, European zonal) create distinct optimisation opportunities;
• Background in energy trading, portfolio optimisation or demand-side response.