The Flywheel Venture Studio ( is recruiting exceptional operators, engineers, and domain experts to build category-defining companies that solve hard problems in Europe's most critical sectors: Manufacturing, Defence and Energy.
We are looking for ambitious entrepreneurs with first-hand insights into industrial challenges, bottlenecks, and revenue blockers.
We turn your insight into a formidable company.
€4,000/month while you validate your venture.
Up to €300k in committed capital at incorporation.
You keep up to 80% equity in the company we build together.
We compress the 0 to 1 journey from years down to months.
Accelerators, VCs, and incubators fund you and advise you.
We build with you: validating the idea, shipping the first prototype, forming the founding team, incorporating, and winning your first customers and investors.
As a Founder-in-Residence (FiR), you will be paid while validating, designing, and launching a new venture with hands-on support from experienced founders, operators, engineers, and industry partners.
The studio's 20+ investors, including former operators from Google, Boeing and NASA stand ready to make warm introductions to first buyers, pilots, and investors.
Our Founder-in-Residence program is based in Thessaloniki, Greece.
The hybrid residency gives you a focused environment for making decisions and moving quickly, while giving you access to Greece's strong English-speaking STEM talent pool and an efficient base for building your first product and team.
Successful ventures are free to build anywhere in Europe.
The Role As a Founder-in-Residence, you will work closely with The Flywheel team to identify, validate,



and build a venture that uses AI to accelerate productivity and efficiency in one of our core domains:Manufacturing & Supply ChainsDefence & SecurityEnergy & SustainabilityYou will operate as the future CEO or CTO of a company formed during or after the program.
This is a highly entrepreneurial role for individuals ready to build a 0–1 company with structured guidance, material support and capital.
Responsibilities During the FiR Program (ideally 1-3 months, up to 6 months):Conduct deep user research and problem validation across target industriesGenerate or evaluate multiple venture concepts and select a high-potential directionDevelop early prototypes (with The Flywheel engineering support)Validate customer demand, willingness to pay, and pathway to profitabilityRun experiments, pilots, and market testsBuild early business models, market segmentation & analysis, and GTM strategyDevelop and present the investment case for NewCo creationUpon NewCo

Formation:
Become CEO or CTO of the new companyUse The Flywheel's €300k investment to launch the ventureBuild the core founding team with our recruiting supportSecure early customers/pilots with Flywheel's industry partnersLead further capital raises with support from The Flywheel.
Drive execution toward product-market fit and long-term growthRequirements We are looking for high-agency, deeply competent builders.




Successful candidates should have one or more of the following:Several years of experience in one or more of our focus areasStrong product/technical leadership experience building from 0–1A track record of solving complex problems and delivering outcomesStrong communication and leadership abilityA willingness to own the company end-to-end as CEO, or lead the technical direction of the company as CTONice-to-haves: Prior entrepreneurial experience (startup founder, early employee, product owner, technical lead)B2B enterprise sales or business development backgroundExperience managing engineering or product teamsNetwork of industry buyersYou do not need a fully formed idea or prototype to apply.
Who should not apply You already have traction, pilots, or a funded company and mainly need capital.
We build companies; we don't just fund them.
You can't point to a specific problem you've seen first-hand, or to the buyer who pays to solve it.
You do not need a polished idea.
You do need real insight.
Your problem sits outside Manufacturing & Supply Chains, Defence & Security, and Energy & Sustainability.

What We Offer
(€4k/month) to validate idea, up to €300k at incorporation, you keep up to 80% of NewCoA real co-founder: We work beside you from first idea to first customers.
You keep up to 80% of the company we build together.
Instant credibility and access: backed by 20+ investors, including former operators from Google, Boeing, NASA, and the European Commission.
A team that builds with you: fractional engineering, design, and go-to-market operators.
User research & validation frameworksAI architecture & technical prototypingBusiness modeling & pricing strategyAccess to industrial pilot programs and buyersTeam formation and recruitment of technical talentCompany formation, legal, and IP supportPre-incorporation: €4,000/month stipend to properly validate the idea for up to six months.
Post-inco

📌 Founder-In-Residence (Madrid)
🏢 The Flywheel
📍 Madrid