Esencia Foods makes vegan meat and fish from mycelium solid state fermentation. As a venture-backed business, we are pioneering this approach. Our mission is to foster the world’s transition to a sustainable seafood system- without asking consumers to compromise on taste, texture, or price. We are looking for a Founder's Associate (m/f/x) to manage various commercial, financial and operational topics that drive forward the growth of the company. This is your opportunity to have an impact on our planet and experience a startup in its earliest days. APPLICATIONS ONLY THROUGH OUR WEBSITE Tasks Define and solve strategic commercial, operational and financial challenges Commercial Keep oversight of a network of (potential) customers and partners; focus and develop contacts and leads towards contracts; update our product positioning based on market feedback; represent us at events Operational Introduction of an ERP system; setting up a supply chain etc. Financial Lead the application for complex multiple-100k€ grant applications by coordinating inputs from stakeholders inside and outside the organization and summarize in a business plan and pitch deck; Help to explore and structure debt financing for assets Support day-to-day duties such as project management and coordination of grant and finance agents Short-term projects on a short notice; e.g. run hiring sprints and interviews, manage fair and event participations, prepare pitches etc. Requirements You blend strategic thinking with hands-on practicality. You are not afraid to pick up the phone and work on the nitty gritty stuff. When it comes down to it, you extinguish fires in our day-to-day business, learn from problems that arise and find long-term solutions. You act and work independently and responsibly, but also get support in all areas you need. Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in business, economics, or related At least 1-3 years of previous work experience, ideally in fast-paced and fast-changing environments like e.g. consulting or startups, and ideally in food or consumer goods A track record of motivation to learn, getting stuff done (), and being proactive, e.g., participating in university clubs or running side projects Handling a high degree of ownership and self-management; being a team player Fluency in English (other than English, it is a strong plus to speak German and/or Spanish at B2 level) Willingness to travel about once to twice per months for up to 2 nights each Benefits Responsibility from Day 1 You will work cross-disciplinary in a multicultural team, and directly with the founders to help you learn and grow A high-impact, ambitious startup environment with the ability to learn and grow alongside the company The opportunity to work on groundbreaking technology and make a true impact on the environment and our food system A fun, flexible, and rewarding environment where you can have the ability to thrive as a person APPLICATIONS ONLY THROUGH OUR WEBSITE