Legal Counsel (all genders)

Impossible Founders is building one of Europe's most ambitious DeepTech venture platforms. As we launch new ventures, establish new partnerships, and work with public funding programs, we continuously encounter complex legal, regulatory, tax, and organizational challenges.

We're not looking for someone to manage structures that already exist; we want someone who wants to build them — because they care about what these ventures achieve, not because it's a clever use of a law degree. You'll have more in common with a founder building their first company than with someone joining an established legal department.

This is our first in-house legal hire. You'll report to Lena, our CFO/COO, and build our legal foundation from scratch. You'll be the connective tissue between Impossible Founders and external legal expertise — handling day-to-day matters and minor contracts yourself, knowing when a topic needs a specialist, and making sure external lawyers are briefed well and used efficiently.

• Support the design and implementation of corporate structures for new ventures and investment activities.
• Advise on corporate law matters, including company formation, governance, shareholder structures, financing rounds, and strategic transactions.
• Work on funding-related and regulatory topics connected to public grants, research collaborations, and innovation programs.
• Review and draft minor commercial agreements.
• Build and maintain a curated roster of external lawyers by topic (corporate, tax, employment, IP, public funding, etc.).
• Brief and manage external law firms: scope requests clearly, set expectations, keep engagements on track.
• Prepare legal, regulatory, and compliance topics for auditors, tax advisors, external counsel, and other professional service providers.
• Handle day-to-day employment law matters independently, including standard contracts, onboarding documentation, and routine HR-related legal questions.
• Build a scalable library of templates and legal frameworks that support the growth of both Impossible Founders and our ventures.
• Be the first point of contact for founders and venture teams on practical legal questions.

You combine legal expertise with ownership and execution. You're energized by building structures where none exist, and you see yourself as a strategic partner and smart router — not a gatekeeper. Maybe you've started something yourself, or been early at a startup and loved the chaos of it — either way, you're drawn to building over maintaining.

What matters most to us

• Passed the First German State Examination in Law (Erstes Staatsexamen) required.
• 3+ years of relevant professional experience, ideally gained in a start-up, venture-backed company, public funding context, investment environment, or a combination thereof.
• Strong background in corporate law, ideally complemented by exposure to venture capital, startup law, tax-related matters, employment law, or public funding frameworks.
• Pragmatic, solution-oriented, comfortable operating without a playbook.
• Sharp judgment on when something's routine vs. when it needs a specialist — judgment shaped by more than commercial upside: you weigh legal, governance, and mission considerations together.
• Comfortable making calls with incomplete information and adjusting as you go, rather than waiting for the full picture.
• Experience managing external law firms, advisors, auditors, or other professional service providers.
• Genuine interest in entrepreneurship, innovation, and company building.
• Fluent in written and spoken German and English (C1 or above).

Additionally, it would be a plus if you bring

• Experience working with public funding bodies or innovation agencies (e.g., EIC, Horizon Europe, national grant programs).
• Experience in or genuine interest in NGO structures, public funding frameworks, or tax-related topics is a strong plus.
• Familiarity with NGO, non-profit, or foundation legal structures.
• Exposure to venture capital term sheets, cap tables, or financing documentation.
• Experience founding, co-founding, or working on the early team of a startup — you know what it's like to build something from zero.
• An existing network of specialist lawyers or law firms in Germany or Europe.

At Impossible Founders, the people behind the impossible are the most important catalyst. That's why we do everything we can to create a collaborative working environment:

• Responsibility & autonomy: You take on real responsibility from day one and have the freedom to actively shape your role and the company. Output counts, and you are given the freedom you need to do your job in the best possible way.
• Flexible & family-friendly working: We offer a high degree of flexibility through our hybrid work setup. Mondays are our shared office day, while on other days you can choose whether to work remotely or from the office — depending on what works best for your role, team, and personal circumstances.
• Meaningful mission & impact: You will work on projects that address real challenges in AI, climate tech, and beyond. You will achieve impact and visibility by working closely with founders, researchers, and leading partners.
• Collaborative culture & diversity: We cultivate a collaborative culture—practical, ego-free, and driven by shared responsibility. Our team is characterized by diversity and openness. The company language is English so that everyone feels welcome.

Attractive working conditions:

• 30 days of vacation
• Deutschlandticket
• International team and English as company language
• Central office in a prime location
• Choice of your own hardware