Founder in Residence, Demand Side Flexibility

About Marble Marble is a climate tech venture studio. Our north star is to erase billions of tons from annual greenhouse gas emissions and create a thriving future. We partner with scientists, engineers and operators to create new deep tech companies that solve hard climate problems — slash emissions, remove carbon from the atmosphere, and cool the planet — while reshaping multi-billion $ industries. We're proud to be backed by leading climate investors across Europe and the US.Unlocking the Value of Flexible Loads With the rapid rise of solar and wind, power grids must balance an ever-larger share of low-cost, intermittent generation against the strongest demand growth since the mid-20th century. The supply-demand mismatch is driving episodes of both negative and high price events, curtailment, grid instability and congestion. This leads to high system costs for grid operators, higher bills for customers, and challenging economics for renewables developers. Building new transmission and storage is essential for grid capacity and resilience, but these projects are slow and expensive to deploy – with costs ultimately falling on ratepayers. Demand-side flexibility (DSF) is fast and cheap: using distributed energy resources (DER) to shift, shed or store energy at point of use. The idea is not new, but remains under-leveraged relative to the technical potential for flexible loads – which should reach TW scale by 2040. We are exploring novel DSF approaches which could drastically increase the participation of flexible loads on energy markets, to alleviate grid stress while offering cheaper, faster, and cleaner electricity to end customers.The Opportunity We aim to create a company which unlocks next-generation demand side flexibility and systems savings at multi GW scale for grid operators, while delivering immediate value to end customers. (e.g. energy savings, time to power, backup, etc) Some strategies we are considering include:Controllable large loads. Ways to turn fast-growing industrial loads (e.g. data centers, EV charging, electrified processes) into interruptible grid assets. Approaches will optimise time to power and energy pricing while mitigating downtime.Flexibility for underserved markets. Examples: multi-owner/tenant buildings and industrial SMEs. Approaches should bypass split incentives and the technical complexity to integrate with various machines and legacy systems.New DER categories. Hardware innovation could shield customers from high prices and expand the business case for demand flexibility. This includes novel forms of behind-the-meter energy storage, generation, flexible loads, etc.Vertically integrated DER companies. New business models and technical stack integration for behind-the-meter resources, unlocking customer value and unit economics. Scope could include hardware design, assembly, control software, market participation, asset ownership, virtual power plants, and selling power directly as a next-gen utility.Electro-thermal synergies. Using thermal systems as unified energy buffers for demand response. Tactics could involve HVAC, heat pumps, water heaters, thermal batteries, district heat networks, or new creative ways to use latent heat energy. We are looking for a Founder in Residence to join our next cohort to explore these approaches further and create the most scaleable grid flexibility company.Skills & Profile We are looking for seasoned operator, entrepreneurial engineer, or power industry insider who can bring a creative take on this problem. Your mission: further explore the opportunities listed above, and more, to create a high-impact company with Marble. Examples of relevant backgrounds:Power sector specialist with experience in DER (distributed energy resources), demand response, energy storage, renewable energy infrastructure, etcPower systems engineer with an intimate knowledge of the electric grid and DERsElectrical engineer with experience in the electrification of buildings and industrial processesStartup founder / operator / investor with exposure to energy and climate techMachine learning engineer with experience in working with energy data pipelinesEnergy markets analyst with a strong understanding of how to leverage market volatility We encourage you to apply even if you don't feel you meet all requirements. Above all, we value intelligence, creativity, and Founder Potential. Especially if you recognise yourself below:You can't wait to start your own company (or your next one)You are a pragmatic optimist on a mission to tackle climate changeYou are outcome-focused and action-oriented - you make things happenYou are a great communicator - you can convince others to follow youYou love to break down ambitious goals into actionable milestonesYou understand that innovation starts with people, not ideasWhat We Offer As a Founder-in-Residence, you will join other stellar individuals who also believe in the need for deep tech solutions to solve hard climate problems. Together, we would be scoping high-potential approaches before converging on the most promising one and finding your future co-founders We offer (among other things)A €2,500 to €3,000 monthly allowance during the programmeA €250,000 pre-seed investment on startup creation if you're successful. You and your team will own 80% of the company at pre-seed.Full-stack support in our venture creation programme Mentorship and guidance at every step of the way Hands on support across technology and market research, landing interviews with experts and customers, techno economics, roadmap and scale up strategy, IP strategy, team building, advisor sourcing, and more Access to an unparalleled network across science, industry, talent, investors, mentors, climate tech founders, curated vendors and suppliers Access to our research insights, knowledge base and founder resources Weekly check-ins, work sessions in our Paris HQ (or remote) and continuous peer learning with other programme participantsSeed Fundraising support after the programme. Introductions to the best seed investors from our network and help with term sheet negotiation.Founder Visa sponsorship if you wish to relocate to France. Remote participation is possible, preferably from Europe and with regular in-person meetings.How to Apply Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until this position is filled. You are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.  Apply Here or see the Programme Structure We believe that a diverse group of minds is key to solving the climate crisis. We encourage women and people of colour to apply. Studies have shown that under-represented candidates are less likely to apply for an opportunity unless they feel they meet every single qualification. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and mission-driven cohort. If you're excited about the programme but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with what you read on our website, we encourage you to apply anywaysFAQs For a full list of FAQs, please visit our website. Marble is an equal opportunity employer.

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