Commercial Advisor / Co-founder in Green Steel Venture (open application)

Deep Science Ventures (DSV) is seeking visionary individuals to join a cutting-edge venture revolutionising steelmaking with net-zero emissions. Whether you join as a Co-Founder in Residence (full-time, starting Q1 2025) or as a Commercial Advisor, this is your chance to contribute to a transformative solution addressing one of the world’s largest sources of CO2 emissions.

About the Opportunity: Zero-Emission Steel

Steel is indispensable to modern infrastructure, with over 2 billion tonnes produced annually. Yet, the environmental toll is immense—3.5 billion tonnes of CO2 are emitted each year during production, a figure equivalent to four times the carbon footprint of global air travel.

Recycling through Electric Arc Furnaces is part of the solution, but scrap shortages and quality limitations mean we’ll still need high-purity primary iron to meet demand and produce high-grade steel. To eliminate emissions entirely, we must create sustainable methods of producing primary iron feedstocks alongside recycled materials.

Supported by Anglo American, a global leader in mining and sustainability, this venture aims to develop innovative primary ironmaking technologies to achieve zero-emission steel production. This aligns with Anglo American’s commitment to reducing Scope 3 emissions by 50% by 2040.

Our Approach

We work backwards from the desired outcome: a steel plant capable of producing net-zero primary iron or steel.

Through extensive research and collaboration, we’ve identified two promising pathways:

• Solid-State Reduction
• Low to Mid-Temperature Electrolytic Techniques

These methods address critical barriers such as infrastructure degradation, inconsistent ore quality, and fluctuating hydrogen costs. The specific technology stack is still being refined, and we’re seeking individuals with expertise in steel and related industries to help validate and advance the venture.

Your Role: Advisor or Co-Founder

As an Advisor, you will:

• Contribute to techno-economic analysis to refine the venture’s roadmap.
• Validate customer needs to align solutions with industry requirements.
• Share insights on commercial risks and opportunities based on your industry expertise.

As a Co-Founder, you will:

• Lead customer discovery, engaging with industry stakeholders to shape scalable solutions.
• Develop a technology roadmap, taking concepts from prototype to demonstration.
• Drive fundraising efforts, ensuring successful pre-seed to Series A milestones.

Advisors may transition to a co-founder role within months, depending on progress and alignment.

Who Should Apply

We’re looking for individuals with a combination of technical expertise and commercial acumen. Ideal candidates may have:

• Industry knowledge and networks within steelmaking or related fields.
• Experience scaling high-growth enterprises or leading in C-suite roles.
• Expertise in steelmaking technologies such as smelting, electric arc furnaces, or electrolysis processing.
• R&D experience in metallurgical engineering, chemical engineering, or materials science.
• Familiarity with fundraising and investor engagement.
• Additional expertise in novel electrochemical or thermochemical processes is a plus.

What We Offer

As a Co-Founder, you’ll gain:

• Pre-Seed Funding: Up to £250,000 to establish the venture and develop proof-of-concept data.
• Income Security: £4,166 per month as a consultancy fee until the company is incorporated.
• Equity Ownership: Majority stake shared with your co-founders.
• Expert Guidance: Access to DSV’s proprietary tools, networks, and resources.
• Ongoing Support: Fundraising, recruitment, and partnership development post-spinout.
• Collaborative Community: Join a network of like-minded founders and advisors.

About DSV

Deep Science Ventures creates transformative, science-driven companies designed to solve humanity’s most pressing challenges. Operating across four sectors—Pharmaceuticals, Climate, Agriculture, and Computation—we combine deep scientific expertise with entrepreneurial innovation to build impactful ventures.

Help us pave the way to net-zero steel production. Apply now to express your interest in this groundbreaking opportunity.