How many people are essential for your team to start conquering the new heights? In fact, many successful deep tech startups begin with a founder and 2-5 team members. When your startup is in its early days, its success will be determined by how many competent and ambitious people you have. Also, right from the start, quality should be over quantity. Never hire a new employee just because you are desperate to fill a position; find other solutions until you have found the right person.
It is interesting to note that the number of solo-founder startups has been steadily increasing over time. In 2024, about 30% of the startups had a single founder (source: solofounders.com, 2025).
We have compiled a list of the key roles every deep-tech startup typically needs in the pre-launch stage. Keep in mind that there are always exceptions to the rule.
This person is the owner of the technology, who ultimately holds responsibility for:
If the founder doesn’t have technical expertise, this role is essential.
Deep tech needs depth. This person is the glue between cutting-edge scientific research and a viable product pathway. He needs to:
This role will often sit between academia and application; domain experts will be the differentiators between hype and high-impact innovation.
Every product is designed for the user. Likewise, every product must satisfy a user’s pain point. Product & Customer Development lead uncovers true customer pain points, helps build the product with actual workflows, and may fit into a UX or PM role in a small team. His job is to make sure that your technology solves a relevant and crucial problem, and not just a solution looking for a problem.
For hardware, biotech, or medtech companies, you need someone who understands:
This role is often forgotten (until it is TOO LATE). Bring them on early if you are going to ship atoms and not bits. Is it possible to build a deep tech startup with just a few people? Definitely. The key criteria for the team are:
Small teams can often use advisors, consultants, or research partners to bridge gaps and build, but fill headcount reductions.
In deep tech, the emphasis is not on how many people you have but on what they bring.
Build your core team the same way you would build your technology: deliberately, precisely, and with a long-term view. A handful of exceptional people with the right combination of deep science capability, product thinking, and commercial drive can turn a breakthrough into a business.
Are you a founder building your team, or considering joining a team — whatever it is, focus on fit, capability, and complementary skills.
“AI helped shape this, but the ideas remain human at heart.”
Many founders who receive a Non-Binding Offer consider it a big achievement. Especially after months or years of development, a potential acquirer looks like a sign that hard work is bearing fruit. But being excited sometimes may lead founders to make mistakes.
A successful deep-tech M&A transaction requires more than just buying and selling — it requires unique insights that no ‘typical’ advisor should have access to. The success of such a complex deal hinges on knowing how new technologies relate to other technologies, IP, and current & future market trends.
Many founders underestimate how different deep tech fundraising really is. Deep tech funding rounds don’t follow the same rules as software funding rounds. These rounds take more time, they are larger, and are validation-driven due to long-lasting R&D cycles and capital intensity. Imagine that each round answers the question, then what question would it be?