Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer / Finance Lead

Around 30% of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally. At ARPOSO Biotech, an early-stage biotech startup project emerging from the Technical University of Munich, we are developing an edible and biodegradable coating for fresh produce, with an additional application in cut flowers.

Our technology is designed to extend shelf life, reduce food waste, and reduce reliance on plastic packaging. In laboratory and application‐near tests, we have demonstrated shelf‐life extensions of up to 3× for selected products.

ARPOSO has already received recognition through the TUM IDEAward, EIT Food’s “Most Innovative Solution” Award, and public funding through the EXIST program. We are now preparing the next phase: external pilots, commercial partnerships, and early commercial execution.

The role

• Customer discovery, customer interviews, and systematic validation of market needs
• Identification, outreach, and qualification of new B2B customers, including producers, distributors, retailers, floriculture companies, and packaging/logistics partners
• Turning customer interest into structured pilot projects, proposals, pricing models, and future supply agreements
• Financial planning, budgeting, cash‐flow tracking, and investor‐readiness materials
• Preparation of business cases, market analyses, pricing logic, and grant/investor documentation
• Set‐up of basic commercial and financial processes, including CRM, reporting, and partnership tracking

Qualifications

• Strong experience in fundraising, business development, venture building, consulting, corporate innovation, or startup leadership
• Ideally 5+ years of relevant experience in B2B environments such as food, agriculture, packaging, logistics, biotech, sustainability, or chemicals
• Strong commercial instinct and the ability to turn customer interest into concrete pilots and contracts
• Fluent German and English
• Based in Munich/Freising or willing to relocate
• Entrepreneurial mindset, high ownership, and willingness to take calculated risks
• Full‐time availability, starting as soon as possible

This is a true co‐founder role, not a standard employee position.

Opportunity & Benefits

• The opportunity to join through the EXIST‐funded founding phase, subject to mutual fit and formal eligibility requirements
• Meaningful co‐founder equity, to be discussed and finalized after a 6–8 week mutual evaluation period
• Public funding support and access to a strong early‐stage ecosystem
• Award‐winning technology with a clear sustainability impact
• Access to the TUM, UnternehmerTUM, Venture Lab, and EIT Food networks