Co-Founder Chemistry & Sorbent Optimization (m/f/d) for DAC Start-up BeLeaf
Description
Who are we?
The climate crisis is one of the defining challenges of our time and we believe direct-air- capture can be part of the answer. But only if we make it affordable. That is what drives us. We are Tommy and Anna-Lena, two physicists at the IAPP at TU Dresden, and with BeLeaf we want to turn our vision into reality. Our technology uses a conductive leaf skeleton to locally heat our specifically designed CO2 sorbent, making the regeneration process significantly more energy-efficient and cost-effective. With this approach, we are aiming to reduce the cost per ton captured CO2 by at least a factor of 5 compared to conventional methods. We have a proof of principle in hand and are now working to derisk the technology and move toward a proof of concept.
What do we offer?
We are currently preparing an EXIST-Forschungstransfer application, due by the end of November, and are looking to complete our founding team before submission. If successful, the grant will provide financial support for a team of four from May 2027 to October 2028. We are confident in our application and plan to found the company within 2028. As a potential Co-Founder, you will receive an equity stake alongside the other Co- Founders.
Beyond the grant period, our ambition is to raise venture capital to scale our technology and establish BeLeaf as a serious player in the DAC market. You would be joining at the ground floor of that journey. Through our network at the IAPP at TU Dresden we bring strong institutional ties, access to research infrastructure, and connections within the climate tech community, all of which we see as a shared asset for the whole founding team.
Who are we looking for?
If you bring technical depth, are keen taking the lead on our chemistry development and an interest in building a company, then BeLeaf might be the right place for you. You have a strong foundation in chemistry, ideally with experience in sorbent materials, surface chemistry, or related areas, and you want to apply that expertise to one of the most pressing challenges in climate technology. You will lead the optimization of our CO2 sorbent material and engineer the interaction between the sorbent and the substrate to make our DAC process more reliable, efficient and cost-effective. Again, business experience or founding ambition is a bonus, but your scientific drive and willingness to work in an early-stage environment matter more.
Are you ready to make a difference?
Send us your CV and a short cover letter until 25.09.26 to anna-lena.hofmann@tu- dresden.de. We look forward to hearing from you!
Contact:
Dresden Integrated Center for Applied Physics and Photonic Materials (IAPP)
Nöthnitzer Str. 61, 01187 Dresden