Entrepreneur in residence for a chip cooling spin-off (consultant)

We are looking for a hands-on entrepreneurial EIR who has experience of successfully leading and scaling deep-tech companies. The EIR will turn lab-proven tech into a venture: shape the roadmap, win-over early investors, and build a team that can ship. You are at home in chip cooling, semiconductor technology, advanced packaging, and 3D integration and you love moving fast from prototype to pilot to product.

The assignment / De opdracht

• Translate imec’s direct-to-die cooling technology into a compelling venture thesis, defining the product vision, technical milestones, development roadmap, and early manufacturability path, building on imec’s lab‑validated results and integration know‑how.
• Lead early customer and partner discovery with hyperscalers, GPU/AI accelerator vendors, semiconductor foundries/OSATs, and system integrators to validate problem–solution fit, identify high‑value use cases (e.g., AI/HPC chips, advanced packaging, 2.5D/3D), and translate feedback into product and business requirements.
• Drive fundraising preparation and execution (pre‑seed/seed), including developing investor‑ready materials, shaping the commercial narrative, and engaging with VCs/CVCs alongside imec.xpand and venture partners.
• Build the foundational venture team, identifying and attracting key technical and business talent needed for early venture formation and establishing the initial operating model of the company.
• Steer early productization and risk‑reduction activities, coordinating with imec technical teams to validate performance claims (e.g., CHF/HTC, wicking behavior), explore integration paths, and ensure that the technology matures toward pilot‑ready prototypes aligned with customer expectations.

Required knowledge and skills / Vereiste kennis en skills

• Deep mastery of chip thermal management, including two‑phase cooling, advanced packaging (2.5D/3D, chiplets, interposers), and semiconductor device integration. 
• Proven experience translating early‑stage hardware technologies into products, including defining requirements, derisking architecture choices, and coordinating technical validation with R&D teams. 
• Strong customer and ecosystem fluency across hyperscalers, AI/HPC system vendors, foundries/OSATs, and datacenter cooling players; able to extract insights and convert them into product and venture strategy. 
• Track record in early‑stage venture building, including fundraising preparation, investor engagement, business modelling, and forming high‑performance founding teams. 
• Ability to work hands‑on in highly technical, ambiguous environments, structuring experiments, assessing feasibility, and making data‑driven decisions at low TRL.

What we offer / Wat bieden wij

• Duration of the assignment: 6 months, extension possible
• Desired start date: 15/02/2026
• Work regime: fulltime

Location/ Locatie

We provide the flexibility to work both from our office premises and remotely from home. This to maintain a healthy work-life balance while being an integral part of our team.

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*For this temporary position, you can apply as a candidate, the employment is then through an employment agency or other third party. If you are a Freelancer (independent consultant) we also welcome your application.