Naraxa is a plant biotech startup on a mission to secure the future of natural rubber, one of the world's most critical and irreplaceable raw materials. Based in Wageningen, we are engineering new plant production systems that enable large-scale, domestic production of natural rubber, breaking a century-old dependence on tropical supply chains. Backed by FoodLabs, we combine cutting-edge gene editing with deep crop science expertise to unlock high-performance rubber production in temperate climates. Our goal: a sovereign, scalable, and sustainable alternative to conventional rubber sourcing.

The Role

As a co-founder, you will take ownership of Naraxa's business strategy, translating our scientific roadmap into a clear operational plan with defined milestones and accountability structures. You will set up and optimize core financial and operational processes, ensuring efficient execution of daily activities across a lean, early-stage organization. Additionally, you will actively shape our fundraising narrative and build relationships with investors, positioning Naraxa strongly for future funding rounds and strategic partnerships. You will play a pivotal role in building a high-performing team and fostering a strong company culture aligned with Naraxa's mission and values, partnering closely with technical leaders to ensure R&D priorities align with commercial and fundraising objectives.

Requirements

• A founder's mindset, energized by ambiguity and motivated to build from the ground up.
• Proven experience in operational management, financial oversight, or regulatory compliance, ideally in agriculture, biotech, or advanced materials.
• Expertise in building and scaling teams and fostering a high-performance culture in resource-constrained environments.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to bridge the gap between deep-tech R&D and commercial strategy.
• A genuine passion for building something impactful, along with adaptability and resilience in a fast-paced startup environment.

What We Offer

• A unique opportunity to co-found a company addressing a strategic bottleneck in global commodities, building Europe's first sovereign supply of natural rubber.
• A dynamic and entrepreneurial work environment dedicated to sustainable agriculture and supply chain resilience.
• The chance to work alongside a highly motivated team committed to establishing a new pillar of global rubber supply.
• Competitive compensation package, including a co-founding equity stake in the company.
• Institutional backing from FoodLabs, one of Europe's most active agri-food VCs.