Commercial Co-Founder - Renewable Energy Procurement Platform

About OpenWattX
OpenWattX is a pre-incorporation energy-tech venture focused on making renewable open-access procurement in India simpler, more transparent and more competitive for smaller commercial and industrial (C&I) electricity users. The initial focus is the underserved 100 kW-1 MW customer segment. The proposed platform will operate as a neutral, buyer-side procurement layer: it will analyse a customer's electricity requirement, compare relevant procurement structures, aggregate smaller buyers where useful, invite qualified renewable suppliers to compete through structured RFPs/reverse auctions, and support the customer through contracting and the wider Green Energy Open Access journey.
The ambition is not to become another renewable developer or electricity reseller. OpenWattX aims to build a technology-enabled, independent marketplace where the buyer can see a normalised, landed-cost comparison and have greater confidence that the selected solution is genuinely competitive.
The opportunity
You will be the commercial co-founder responsible for turning OpenWattX from a venture concept into a trusted procurement platform used by Indian C&I customers. The role combines business development, enterprise sales, customer discovery, partnerships, market development and early-stage company building. You will work directly with prospective electricity buyers, understand their energy-procurement problems, bring the first customers onto the platform, help shape the product around real procurement workflows, and build the relationships that create both buyer demand and supplier liquidity.
What you will own
Lead go-to-market strategy for the 100 kW-1 MW C&I segment, including priority sectors, states and customer clusters.
Build the sales pipeline from scratch and convert factories, commercial facilities and multi-site portfolios into customers.
Run customer discovery, understand electricity bills and procurement needs, and translate them into clear commercial requirements.
Develop a repeatable sales process covering lead generation, proposals, procurement mandates, onboarding and long-term client relationships.
Build relationships with renewable developers, IPPs, traders, advisors, financiers, industrial associations and channel partners while preserving OpenWattX's buyer-side neutrality.
Help run early RFP/reverse-auction procurements, explain landed-cost and contract trade-offs, and work with the technical co-founder to prioritise product features.
Own early marketing, brand positioning, CRM and commercial KPIs, and support pricing, partnerships, fundraising and company building.
Develop channel partnerships with industry associations, MSME networks, industrial parks, chambers of commerce, banks, sustainability advisors and other organisations that can bring customer cohorts to the platform.
Work closely with the technical co-founder to prioritise product features based on customer needs and make the platform practical for real procurement teams rather than just technically sophisticated.
What we are looking for
Minimum Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, economics, energy, finance or a relevant discipline.
At least 2 years of direct business-development or sales experience with an Indian renewable-energy developer or IPP serving C&I customers. This is essential.
Practical familiarity with C&I renewable procurement, preferably open access, group captive/captive, corporate PPAs, rooftop/RESCO or related models.
Demonstrated ability to originate leads, build senior customer relationships and move opportunities through the sales cycle.
Strong commercial communication skills and the ability to simplify electricity tariffs, savings, credit, tenure and regulatory complexity for customers.
Entrepreneurial, ethical and highly independent, with the initiative to build processes and solve problems without a large team or established brand.
Especially valuable, but not essential
Existing C&I/developer relationships in active open-access states such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat or Rajasthan.
Experience with group-captive/OA processes, power traders, multi-site portfolios, startups or new-business launches.
Exposure to digital energy platforms, marketplaces, SaaS or data-driven sales operations.
Founder economics, location & commitment
Genuine co-founder role with meaningful founder equity; exact ownership, vesting and founder arrangements will be mutually agreed.
Nominal monthly cash compensation during the pre-fundraise stage, after which compensation can be reviewed.
The role is remote initially. As the company develops, the founders may establish the core operating base in Bengaluru, India; the successful co-founder should therefore be open to possible future relocation to Bengaluru.
Who should consider this opportunity
This opportunity is best suited to someone who is entrepreneurial, independent and comfortable working with ambiguity. You should enjoy creating systems from scratch, testing assumptions quickly, taking decisions without excessive hierarchy and moving between strategic and hands-on work. Flexibility matters: priorities will evolve as the product, regulation, customers and funding develop.
Interested candidates should send a short note explaining why the commercial co-founder role is relevant to their experience, what they would personally bring to the founding team, and examples of work they have built or led.

Work arrangement
No