We're looking for a co-founder - Commercial Lead

Do you want to lead the commercialization of a deep-tech solution at the intersection of the AI build-out and the energy transition?

Data centres are among the fastest-growing sources of electricity demand worldwide. They need connection to electricity grids that are capacity-constrained and already being transformed by renewables, while meeting climate targets on energy use and emissions. Yet data centres don't just strain the grid; they also hold enormous untapped flexibility that can support it - in their cooling systems, power infrastructure, and shiftable compute load. However, this flexibility is complex to capture, difficult to quantify and validate, and risky to act on. Therefore, it stays invisible and unusable.

COFlex, our cross-domain optimization platform, unlocks this flexibility from siloed data centre operations and makes it verifiable and grid-interactive without compromising operational safety. In addition to delivering cost savings and faster/cheaper connections for data centre operators, this flexibility will facilitate the integration of more renewables into the grid and foster sustainable development of data centre and AI infrastructure.

Where we are right now:

We are building on the OFFIS Institute's foundational energy informatics research - a feasibility study on grid-serving edge data centres(1) and an existing patent on predictive IT workload shifting. The founding team consists of two experienced energy informatics researchers(2) from OFFIS and the University of Oldenburg. We are currently applying for funding through exist Forschungstransfer, the federal programme for supporting research-based startup projects (Submission: November 2026; Decision expected: May 2027).

What we need from you:

As the Commercial Lead, you will take charge of the commercial development of COFlex :

During the next three months, you will actively take part in the application process - you will develop the business plan; reach out to potential customers and industrial partners, and secure LOIs.
Beyond that, your key tasks will be - validation of the market entry and pricing strategies; successful acquisition of pilot customers; liaison with grid operators for the establishment of flexibility certification protocol; development of a scalable and repeatable go-to-market engine.

What we offer:

You would join as a co-founder with equity (% would depend mainly on the commitment and contribution to the startup; relevance of prior experience will also be considered). In the event of successful exist funding, salary in accordance to TV-L (E13, 100%) for 18 months.

Location:

Oldenburg. Remote work is possible until application submission.

Check out the concept demo at:

(1) In partnership with EWE, BTC, Borderstep, OLEC, and Stadt Oldenburg

(2) Founders: ;

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