Founders Associate (gn) Fulltime @ Biotech Startup, Munich

At Mycolever, we are building the powerhouse for sustainable fungal biocompounds. We are unlocking the biodiversity of fungi to supercharge the industrial bioeconomy.

Our journey begins with our glycolipid platform, where we develop multi-functional and eco-friendly alternatives to petrochemical-based ingredients for personal care & cosmetics, food, home care and beyond.

We unlock the Fungal Kingdom with our compound discovery platform and aim to provide performant ingredients that minimize the environmental footprints of our customers. Let’s create a greener future together.

Who will you work with

Mycolever is backed by an exceptional founding team, strong scientific depth, a stellar board of directors, and leading impact-driven venture capital investors.

Mycolever is led by Dr. Britta Winterberg (CEO/CTO) and Niels Dietzsch (CSO/COO/CFO). Britta drives the scientific and technological vision, bringing deep expertise in fungal biotechnology and fermentation, shaped by her prior founding experience at Formo and her PhD from the Max Planck. Niels leads company building, venture strategy, and execution across sales, operations, and finance, drawing on experience from organizations such as Fraunhofer Venture and PwC, with an academic background from the TU Munich and HEC Paris.

The company is supported by a highly experienced Board of Directors and key advisors, including Dr. Andreas Gocke (former Partner at Boston Consulting Group Chemical Group) and Dr. Andreas Heyl (CTO at Formo Bio, SPRIND and former CTO at Insempra).

Mycolever is backed by leading venture capital investors including FoodLabs, Ananda Impact Ventures, and UTUM, providing long-term support, credibility, and access to a strong European bioeconomy ecosystem.

As Founders Associate, you will:

• Strategic Venture Development: Collaborate with the CEO and COO as a trusted advisor, supporting decision-making, problem-solving, and business planning.
• Strategy & Market Insights: Conduct industry research and benchmarking to identify opportunities and provide insights to inform and shape strategy.
• Execution & Project Management: Lead cross-functional projects, ensuring alignment with company priorities and delivering on key milestones.
• Operational Excellence: Design, implement, and refine processes that enhance organizational efficiency and enable rapid scaling.
• HR & Finance: Support people operations and finance processes, including hiring, budgeting, and administrative tasks in collaboration with external service providers.
• Fundraising: Assist in preparing financing rounds and related materials. Support communications for investors ensuring clear messaging.
• Team Enablement: Support leadership in building and maintaining a strong organizational setup and culture while fostering talent development.

What success looks like:

• You have become an integral partner to the founding team, enhancing decision-making and execution.
• You have streamlined key operational processes, enabling better efficiency and alignment across the organization.
• You have led and delivered impactful projects that advance Mycolever’s strategic goals.
• You have contributed to fostering a collaborative, innovative, and high-performing company culture.

To thrive in this role, you will need:

• Work experience: 2+ years; strong commercial profile with affinity to deep-tech topics.
• Background: A degree in business, management, business and technology (e.g. Chemistry, Biotech, Biochemistry), Industrial Engineering (Wirtschaftsingenieur) or a related field is required; Technical affinity to chemistry, material science, cosmetic science or similar is a string plus.
• Industry expertise: Experience in consulting, industrial bioeconomy, green chemistry or (bio-)chemical industries welcome but not required; the same for our target markets personal care & cosmetics, home care and food/feed, etc.
• Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a capacity to turn insights into action.
• Leadership: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams effectively.
• Drive: A proactive and entrepreneurial mindset, with a passion for innovation and sustainability.
• Adaptability: Comfort with ambiguity and a proven ability to thrive in fast-paced, evolving environments.

• A unique opportunity to shape the future of the bioeconomy and address some of the world’s biggest challenges.
• An inspiring and collaborative team of experts in fungal biotechnology and sustainable innovation.
• Opportunities for personal and professional growth in a pioneering venture.
• A culture that values curiosity, humility, and long-term impact.