Co-Founder Wanted: Operator/Builder to Launch or Scale a Business

Description

Location: Bournemouth/Dorset (within 1hr drive - need to be able to meet regularly)

Split: 50/50 partnership

Time Commitment: Evenings/weekends initially, transitioning to full-time as we gain traction

The Opportunity

I'm focused on building a business that takes advantage of the government's Warm Homes scheme. For context, the Warm Homes initiative provides government funding to help households—particularly low-income and vulnerable homeowners—upgrade their properties with energy-efficient improvements like insulation, heat pumps, solar panels, and heating system upgrades. The scheme aims to reduce energy bills and meet net-zero targets.

The opportunity is significant—government-backed funding, clear market need, aging housing stock that desperately needs upgrading, and a fragmented market with room for well-executed businesses to succeed.

Potential business models in this space include:


Lead generation and referral networks - Connecting homeowners eligible for grants with accredited installers and taking a fee per qualified lead or completed job



Installation and project management - Becoming an accredited installer for insulation, heat pumps, solar, or offering end-to-end retrofit project management



Consultancy and grant navigation - Helping homeowners and landlords navigate the eligibility requirements and application process for various government schemes



Supply and distribution - Sourcing and supplying retrofit materials to smaller installers who don't have bulk buying power



Technology platform - Building software that helps installers manage jobs, compliance, and grant applications more efficiently



Property assessment services - Conducting EPC assessments and thermal surveys to identify what upgrades properties need



These are just examples. I'm genuinely open to any business angle within this space—or even adjacent opportunities we discover along the way.

The goal here is simple: test market fit quickly, iterate at speed, and move on if something isn't working. I'm not precious about any particular approach. I want us to validate ideas fast with MVPs, talk to real customers, and find what actually generates revenue. If we discover a better opportunity while exploring Warm Homes, I'm completely open to pivoting.

What matters is that we're building something people will pay for, that we can execute well, and that has genuine growth potential. The Warm Homes scheme is the starting point because the opportunity is clear—but I want a cofounder who brings their own ideas and perspective to help us find the best path forward.

A Bit About Me

I'm an operator who gets things done. My background spans civil engineering, startups, and private equity—I've seen how businesses work at different stages and across different industries.

Early in my career I was a civil engineer, which taught me how to solve complex problems with limited resources and manage projects from conception through to delivery. I then moved into the startup world where I joined a retail business as employee #1 within Operations. I built the ecommerce operation from scratch—handling everything from supplier negotiations and logistics to digital marketing and customer acquisition. Within a few years I'd progressed to Managing Director, and we scaled the business to well over seven figures.

I'm currently working full-time in private equity but have ventures on the side, so I know how to move quickly in the margins and test ideas without overthinking them. My strength is taking something from concept to reality—building the MVP, testing it, iterating, and figuring out what actually works.

I bring strong generalist experience across operations, sales, logistics, business development, and scaling. I'm comfortable negotiating with suppliers, closing deals, building workflows from scratch, or jumping into the operational detail. I don't need a specific role or title—I just do whatever needs doing to move the business forward.

What I'm Looking For

Someone with relevant expertise - Ideally you bring technical knowledge in retrofit, insulation, renewable energy, construction, or you've worked in this space and understand how it operates. Domain expertise here is a genuine advantage. But honestly, personality and work ethic trump skills. Skills can be learned. Drive and reliability can't.

High standards and real commitment - I can't tell you how many times I've worked with people who just don't match the level of commitment they promised. I need someone who holds themselves—and me—to a high standard. If you're not genuinely ready to put in the work, please don't apply.

Someone who's actually done things - I need a cofounder who's already shown they can build—whether that's side projects, freelance work, a small venture, even something that didn't work out. What matters is that you've stepped outside your comfort zone and made something happen.

Equal partnership mentality - This is a proper 50/50 partnership. I want someone who brings ideas, challenges mine, and is genuinely invested in making this work. I'm looking for a true partner who wants ownership and is ready to build something together.

Energy and execution - I move quickly and I need someone who can match that pace. I want someone who can commit real hours in evenings and weekends now, and who's ready to transition to full-time when we hit traction.

Why I'm Doing This

I've spent enough time growing other people's businesses. I can see what needs to happen, but I can't move at the speed I want to within someone else's structure. I'm looking for someone who feels that same frustration.

This isn't about building a unicorn. It's about finding a real market opportunity, executing well, and building a business we own. Unsexy is fine. Slow and steady is not.

A Word on Partnership and Commitment

Startups aren't for everyone, and that's completely fine. This will mean long hours, uncertainty, no guaranteed income for a while, and plenty of things that don't work before we find what does.

But beyond the hard work, I'm looking for someone I actually gel with. Someone who can be a proper sounding board, who I can bounce ideas off at 10pm on a Tuesday, who challenges my thinking and makes the work better. We'll be spending a lot of time together—on calls, in coffee shops, working through problems—so the partnership and how we work together matters as much as the skills we bring.

If you're happy in employment, if you need stability right now, or if you're more interested in the idea of "being your own boss" than the reality of building a business—this probably isn't the right move. There's no shame in that.

But if you're ready for the reality of this, not just the appeal of it, and you want a true partner to build something with—then let's talk.

Application - https://enablematic.io/business-partner-application

Please send a cover letter to recruitment@enablematic.io addressing the following questions:

1. What's your background and experience relevant to the Warm Homes scheme or retrofit/energy/construction sector? If you don't have direct experience, what transferable skills do you bring?

2. What are 1-2 quick business ideas within the Warm Homes/retrofit space that we could potentially focus on? No need for detail—just high-level concepts.

3. You have £500 and 2 weeks to validate a Warm Homes business idea in the Bournemouth/Dorset area. Walk me through your approach from idea to testing it.

4. Why do you want a cofounder rather than going solo? And what are you hoping I bring to the partnership?

Ad ID: 5417832525