Founding Commercial Lead / Potential Cofounder

Company Description

ClimaMind is building AI-driven HVAC optimization solutions for commercial and industrial facilities, including offices, data centers, factories, cold-storage facilities, and other energy-intensive buildings.

Our technology helps building owners and operators reduce HVAC energy consumption while maintaining comfort, operational reliability, and equipment safety. ClimaMind works with existing building management and control systems, using operational data, advanced analytics, and automation to identify and implement measurable optimization opportunities.

The underlying technology approach has already been validated across more than 70 buildings and 50 million square feet overseas. ClimaMind is now commercializing and localizing this model for the U.S. market.

We are currently at the pre-seed stage and are building our initial U.S. customer pipeline, industry partnerships, and deployment capabilities.

Role Description

ClimaMind is seeking a highly entrepreneurial Founding Commercial Lead / Potential Cofounder to help build the company’s commercial function from the ground up.

This is not a traditional salaried sales position. It is an equity-based, early-stage startup opportunity for someone who is comfortable operating with uncertainty, taking ownership, and helping create a repeatable path from customer discovery to paid deployment.

The role will initially begin as a remote, milestone-based working relationship. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to earn meaningful, cofounder-level equity based on demonstrated commitment, contribution, and achievement of mutually agreed milestones. Any equity grant will be subject to vesting, board approval, and definitive legal agreements.

There is currently no cash salary. The intention is to transition the role into a full-time, cash-and-equity position after financing or sufficient commercial revenue, provided there is strong mutual fit.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute ClimaMind’s early commercial and go-to-market strategy.
• Identify, qualify, and engage prospective customers in commercial buildings, data centers, industrial facilities, cold storage, and other energy-intensive sectors.
• Build relationships with building owners, facility operators, energy managers, engineering firms, HVAC service providers, BAS integrators, and other channel partners.
• Own the commercial process from prospecting and customer discovery through proposal development, negotiation, pilot definition, and closing.
• Build and manage a disciplined sales pipeline with clear follow-up, qualification, and next steps.
• Use customer feedback to refine positioning, pricing, product priorities, and deployment models.
• Develop partnerships with HVAC contractors, controls companies, commissioning firms, ESCOs, engineering consultants, and utility programs.
• Prepare and deliver customer presentations, proposals, partnership materials, and commercial communications.
• Help establish repeatable sales processes, customer qualification standards, and go-to-market playbooks.
• Contribute to fundraising discussions, investor communications, and strategic planning.
• Collaborate closely with the founder and technical team across the United States and Asia.

Ideal Candidate

• Exceptional self-motivation, initiative, and personal accountability.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently without extensive supervision or established processes.
• Strong enterprise sales capabilities, including prospecting, relationship development, pipeline management, negotiation, and closing.
• A track record of selling complex technical, operational, or financial solutions to enterprise customers.
• Existing relationships with building owners, facility operators, HVAC companies, BAS integrators, engineering firms, ESCOs, data center operators, industrial companies, or energy-management decision-makers are strongly preferred.
• Direct experience in HVAC, building automation, controls, energy efficiency, commissioning, commercial real estate, industrial facilities, or climate technology is highly preferred.
• Ability to communicate technical and financial value clearly to both operational and executive stakeholders.
• Strong commercial judgment and the ability to distinguish genuine opportunities from low-probability or poorly qualified leads.
• Ability to build trust with customers during a long and consultative enterprise sales cycle.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfort operating in a pre-seed startup with limited resources, evolving priorities, and significant personal responsibility.
• Willingness to be measured by concrete outcomes rather than activity alone.
• Ability and intention to transition into a full-time leadership role if the working relationship is successful.
• Professional fluency in Mandarin Chinese is a plus, particularly for collaboration with technical and operating partners in China.
• Genuine interest in climate technology, building performance, and energy efficiency.

Preferred Backgrounds

Candidates may come from roles such as:

• Enterprise sales or business development in HVAC, BAS, controls, or energy services.
• Commercial leadership at a building technology or climate-tech startup.
• Energy engineering, commissioning, or controls consulting with strong customer-facing experience.
• Sales or partnerships at an ESCO, BAS integrator, HVAC service provider, engineering firm, or facilities technology company.
• Commercial real estate, industrial energy management, data center infrastructure, or facility operations.

Initial Milestones

Initial milestones will be defined jointly and may include:

• Building and qualifying a targeted commercial pipeline.
• Securing customer discovery and technical evaluation meetings.
• Advancing qualified opportunities toward pilots or paid deployments.
• Establishing channel relationships with HVAC, BAS, engineering, or energy-service partners.
• Developing a repeatable outbound, partnership, or account-based sales process.
• Demonstrating consistent ownership, follow-through, and ability to operate as a long-term company builder.

Milestones will be evaluated based on both commercial outcomes and the candidate’s overall contribution to the company. Introductions alone will not automatically qualify as cofounder-level contribution.

Compensation

• No cash salary at the current pre-seed stage.
• Opportunity to earn meaningful, milestone-based equity with a potential path to cofounder-level ownership.
• Equity will be subject to vesting, continued contribution, board approval, and formal agreements.
• Expected transition to salary plus equity following financing or sufficient company revenue.
• Final title, equity level, and long-term responsibilities will depend on demonstrated performance, time commitment, and mutual fit.

Who Should Apply

This role is best suited for someone who wants to help build a company rather than simply join an established sales organization.

You should apply if you are comfortable creating your own structure, opening doors, taking responsibility for outcomes, and working closely with a technical founder to turn a validated technology into a scalable U.S. business.

Please include a brief explanation of:

• Your relevant industry and enterprise sales experience.
• The customer segments and decision-makers you know best.
• Any existing relationships relevant to HVAC, building automation, commercial real estate, data centers, or industrial facilities.
• Why an equity-based founding role is appropriate for your current situation.
• Your expected weekly availability and potential timeline for transitioning to full-time.