Position: Co-founder or CEO Sector: Agrifood — Genomics Services Host institution: University of Groningen Location: Groningen (NL)
About the project
Haplotagging is a Biotech Booster Level 1 project at the University of Groningen, led by Frank Chan and Marek Kucka. The project has developed a novel linked-read sequencing platform to deliver haplotype phase information to plant breeders — resolving which chromosome carries which alleles, at population scale, for any crop, and any ploidy. The technology addresses a fundamental limitation in commercial breeding: existing SNP genotyping tools, if they exist at all, report variants but not their chromosomal context, slowing down variety development. For many (polyploid) crops, there are no good commercial options.
Haplotagging holds a growing IP portfolio with a completed professional FTO, validated performance across multiple crops and ploidy levels, and substantial earned service revenue.
Status: Pre-incorporation, MVP demonstrated, multiple active pilots.
Key responsibilities
The incoming Co-founder/CEO will:
- Lead spinoff operations alongside the scientific founder and CTO
- Own fundraising strategy from pre-seed financing through to seed round (€1.5–2.5M target) and represent the company at (international) conferences and events
- Develop commercial relationships with European seed companies, converting active pilots and signed LoIs into multi-year service agreements
- Drive business development including service contracts, pilot expansions, and strategic partnerships
- Shape the commercial roadmap with the founding team and scientific advisors
- Lead the spin-off process, primarily the transfer of IP and team members from Universities to the spin-off company.
- Build the organisational team and establish operational foundations
Required qualifications
Candidates should demonstrate:
- Proven early-stage company building experience in agri-biotech, agri-genomics, or life science services
- Capable of making strategic decisions regarding intellectual property and licensing agreements, with comfort operating alongside scientist co-founders in a technically demanding field
- Strong commercial network in European crop breeding — ideally having personally closed deals with Tier-1 or Tier-2 seed companies
- Fundraising track record with established life sciences or agri-tech investors
- Understanding of genomics, sequencing technologies, or marker-assisted breeding
- Willing and able to travel nationally and internationally (up to 30% of time)
Strategic timeline
Target: Seed round financing within 18 months of incorporation
What we offer
A competitive salary pre-incorporation and a founding equity package.
Contact
Interested candidates should reach out to Prof. Frank Chan, Project Leader at frank.chan@rug.nl, or directly in person to Frank Chan or Bert Schrijver (industry advisor).