Entrepreneur in Residence (CEO/Product) - Computationa…

Are you an entrepreneurial biotech expert ready to transform state-of-the-art computational biology research into a startup venture? 

ValleyDAO is seeking a Part-Time Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) to evaluate the commercial viability of a computational biology platform designed for strain engineering and metabolic engineering. You will work closely with the research team to explore how this innovative software can make the leap from lab to market.

You should not apply for this role if:

• You’re looking for a stable, well-defined 9–5. This is a flexible, high-ambiguity, founder-track role where you shape your own path alongside the academic inventors.
• You need hand-holding or are waiting for someone else to tell you what to do. This role requires independent drive, initiative, and the ability to figure things out in uncertainty.
• You don’t have a strong grasp of either biotech or startup dynamics. If you're not fluent in synthetic biology concepts and don’t understand how early-stage companies are built, this isn't for you.
• You're not comfortable talking to potential customers, doing market research, or challenging assumptions. If you're only here to admire the tech, not stress-test it, this isn’t your role.

This role is designed to be a potential pathway to joining the founding team as a co-Founder and CEO if the platform demonstrates strong commercial potential. We are seeking candidates with the strategic vision and leadership skills to help build and lead a biotech startup.

Position Details

• Commitment: Minimum 20–30 hours per week
• Compensation: $3,000–$4,000 per month (contract/consultant role) + founder equity if research successfully spins out
• Total duration: 5-6 months
• Location: Remote-friendly, preferably in EU/UK timezone (option for in-person collaboration if based in Paris)
• Language: English fluent, French is a big plus but not mandatory
• Collaborators: Work directly with the academic research team and ValleyDAO to deeply understand and develop the commercial application of the platform

About the Platform

The platform is a state-of-the-art computational tool for synthetic biology. It integrates multiple modules for metabolic pathway design and strain engineering into a user-friendly workflow environment. It enables bioengineers to design new metabolic routes in microorganisms for producing target compounds in a sustainable way (replacing conventional chemical processes).

Key features of the platform include:

• Integrated Tools: Combines retrosynthesis, enzyme selection, pathway analysis, and strain optimization into a single system.
• End-to-End Design: Guides the user through pathway design, enzyme identification, DNA construct design, which also generates protocols for assembling plasmids and transforming strains.
• User-Friendly Workflow: Provides a graphical interface to create/run/edit custom workflows without coding, making it accessible to bioengineers and synthetic biologists without programming skills.

The platform has already been validated in the lab on multiple targets and is now at the stage where its commercial potential needs to be assessed. The tools have been used in the past and are currently being applied in an industrial setting by one of the world’s largest chemical manufacturers.

Role Overview

As the EIR, your mission is to assess and shape the commercial potential of this platform. This is a unique role at the intersection of biotech research and entrepreneurship. This position could lead to a co-founder/CEO opportunity if the platform proves to have strong commercial viability.

We are seeking a candidate with executive-level traits – someone who not only understands the science and business but can also step into a leadership role and take responsibility for turning the platform into a successful startup that later raises venture capital.

Key Responsibilities and Activities

Deep Dive into the Technology

Work closely with the researchers and inventors to understand the platform’s capabilities, current use cases, and technical roadmap. Become conversant in how the platform works and the problems it solves in metabolic engineering.

Market Research and Validation

Conduct thorough research to identify compelling market needs that the platform could address. This includes reviewing industry literature, mapping potential customer segments (such as biotech startups, pharma, chemical companies, and synthetic biology foundries), and identifying pain points in metabolic engineering R&D that the platform can help solve.

Customer Discovery

Have conversations and interviews with potential users or customers—including biotech companies, industrial biomanufacturers, and chemical manufacturers—to gather feedback and assess interest. Use real-world input to validate assumptions about the platform’s value proposition.

Competitive Intelligence

Study competing tools and platforms in synthetic biology and bio-design automation. Understand how the platform compares to existing solutions, whether commercial software or academic tools, and identify any unique selling points or gaps to address.

Product and Go-to-Market Strategy

Draw on your product and business development experience to suggest potential business models and go-to-market strategies. Consider whether the platform could operate as a SaaS product for biotech R&D, a consulting or service model, or another approach. Offer guidance on product features or improvements needed to meet market demands. Note that you won’t be coding, but you’ll help shape what gets built from a market perspective.

Networking and Outreach

Use your network in the biotech industry to connect with potential clients, early adopters, or strategic partners.

Interim Reporting

Regularly share your insights with the research team. As a bridge between the scientific and business sides, you’ll clearly communicate findings and help the team consider commercial implications. Expect ongoing discussions to help steer research based on market feedback.

Key Deliverable

After a few months in this role, you will deliver a clear, evidence-based assessment of whether the platform can be commercialized via a startup. This written report (and presentation/discussion) should include:

• Go/No-Go Recommendation: Your conclusion on whether it makes sense to found a startup around the platform at this time, based on the market size, competitive landscape, and value proposition.
• Rationale and Evidence: Summarized data from your market research, customer interviews, and competitive analysis that support the recommendation.
• If “No-Go,” Alternative Paths: If you determine that a direct spinout is not viable, provide recommendations for adjacent market opportunities or pivot ideas that leverage the team’s technical strengths.
• If “Go,” Next Steps: If you see a green light for commercialization, outline the suggested next steps to pursue, such as a proposed minimum viable product, target customer profile, potential pilot projects, and any requirements for funding or partnerships.

If the platform is deemed commercially viable, this could lead to a full-time Co-Founder/CEO role where you will be instrumental in shaping the company’s strategy, raising funding, and building the team.

Ideal Candidate Profile

We’re looking for an entrepreneurial scientist/business hybrid with the following background and skills:

• Executive/CEO Traits: Strategic thinking, decision-making under uncertainty, and the ability to lead a startup team.
• Spinout Experience: Experience with academic or biotech spinouts or early-stage startups, especially ones involving software tools in life sciences.
• Biotech Domain Knowledge: Strong understanding of biotechnology and synthetic biology – especially metabolic engineering and synthetic biology workflows and related fields.
• Product & Business Development Savvy: Proven ability in product strategy and business development. You might have served in roles guiding product direction or market strategy.
• Industry Network: A strong network in the biotech industry (such as contacts in biotech companies, industrial biotech firms)
• Research and Analytical Skills: Hands-on experience with market research techniques – from conducting literature reviews to structured customer interviews and competitive intelligence.
• Communication & Leadership: Excellent communication skills to articulate complex scientific ideas in business terms (and vice versa).

Why Join Us?

This EIR position offers a rare opportunity to shape the future of a promising computational biology startup. You will operate at the heart of an emerging venture, with the freedom to explore ideas and the support of a world-class research team.

If you’re excited by the challenge of bringing a synthetic biology software platform from lab to market and meet the qualifications above, we’d love to hear from you.