Respire is a Norwegian venture studio focused on building companies within the energy transition and sustainability. We work hands-on with a small number of ventures at a time, from early problem exploration through company formation and early growth. Our view is that building companies in this space is hard, capital-intensive, and slow to get right — and that a systematic approach, shared resources, and experienced partners give better odds than doing it alone.

We are now opening up for applications from people who want to build energy and climate ventures as co-founders, either in projects we are already working on or in new ventures yet to be defined.

What this is

This is an open application to start a conversation with Respire about building a company together.

We are building a long-term pool of entrepreneurs we want to stay in touch with and potentially work closely with over time. Some of these relationships may lead to co-founder or CEO roles in new Respire-built companies, joining existing portfolio companies in key roles, or working with us at the Respire holding level.

This is not a traditional job process, and early-stage roles are typically equity-based, with no guaranteed salary in the beginning. Timing varies. For some, this may move quickly. For others, it may take time.

How we work

Respire acts as an active co-founder.

We contribute sector experience from energy, renewables, and sustainability, a structured venture-building process, and hands-on support across strategy, business development, fundraising, and operations. We also have in-house capacity for early MVP development and prototyping, allowing us to move quickly from concept to something tangible — while always welcoming complementary technical and product skills from founders.

We work closely with founders in the earliest phases and gradually step back as companies mature and teams grow.

Ownership, roles, and commitment are discussed case by case, depending on the venture and timing.

What we are looking for

We are interested in people who want to build companies, not just join startups.

We look for you who are comfortable with uncertainty, long timelines, and making progress without perfect information. You have probably tried to build something before — a startup, a product, a business line, or a project — whether or not it worked out.

We value people who can take responsibility, work independently, and collaborate constructively with others. Motivation matters, but we care more about how you think and work than how you describe yourself.

Relevant skills and experience may include, for example:

• Sales, commercial development, or customer-facing roles

• Fundraising or investor interaction

• Rapid MVP development or experimentation (including low-code or no-code tools)

• Product development with applied AI

• Experience from startups, scale-ups, or complex industrial environments

Backgrounds vary. Prior exposure to energy, infrastructure, or the energy transition is a plus, but not a strict requirement.

Current areas of interest

At the moment, we are particularly interested in candidates who want to explore one or more of the following:

• Have a strong problem insight they want to explore building a venture around, within energy, climate, or green industry

• Join as a co-founder in building what we internally describe as an “engineering brain for green industry projects"

• Scale our activity in facilitating transactions of renewable energy projects and related assets

• Lead business development and fundraising efforts for an innovative offshore renewable energy technology currently in development.

This list will evolve over time. If this resonates with you, please apply. If there is a potential fit, we will reach out to start a conversation. Even if timing is not right immediately, we are interested in building relationships with people we may work with in the future.

Practicalities

• Early-stage roles are equity-based, with no guaranteed initial salary

• Location is flexible; proximity to Norway or Northern Europe is a plus. Our office is in Asker, Norway.

• Level of commitment is discussed individually

• As part of your application, we will be asking some questions. Please provide thoughtful answers to these, they matter as much as your CV.