Helping a Carbon Capture Startup Hire Its First U.S. Employee
- Kimberly Wilson
- Jul 7
- 2 min read
Proven Results: Technical Energy CCS Sales Leader with Geophysical Expertise Secured for U.S. Growth
TL;DR – Building Early U.S. Presence for a Global Carbon Capture Startup
In this case study, a European carbon capture startup launching U.S. operations needed to hire its first U.S.-based employee: a technical sales leader with deep geophysical expertise, strong industry relationships, and the ability to represent cutting-edge CCS technology to major energy companies. TLR Search identified and secured the right candidate to support the company’s U.S. market entry and partnership expansion.
Challenge: First U.S. Hire for Highly Specialized CCS Growth
The client, a European climate tech startup with proprietary Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) surveillance technology, was entering the U.S. market for the first time. Backed by private equity and strategic partnerships, they needed to build a U.S. presence with a highly specialized first hire who could:
Serve as a U.S. Technical Sales Lead reporting directly to the COO
Represent the company’s predictive maintenance solution for underground carbon sequestration
Bring technical fluency in geophysics, seismic analysis, and flow modeling
Build commercial partnerships with energy companies
Present confidently at industry conferences and events
Operate with an entrepreneurial mindset in a fast-moving startup
Collaborate closely with the company’s established U.S. commercial partner
This was a pivotal hire. Technical expertise alone wouldn’t be enough. The right candidate must bridge business development, technical acumen, and early-stage market building.
Solution: Targeted Search for Rare Technical Sales Talent
TLR Search executed a highly targeted, relationship-driven search that blended technical and commercial assessments.
We:
Mapped talent pools across geophysical consulting, seismic technology, CCS service providers, and oil & gas business development functions
Focused on professionals with advanced geoscience backgrounds who had successfully transitioned into technical sales roles
Engaged passive candidates with relevant experience who had not previously considered a startup role
Positioned the opportunity as a chance to pioneer CCS adoption in a first-of-its-kind U.S. role, with global leadership visibility
Balanced cultural fit, startup readiness, and technical credibility in candidate screening
We coordinated closely with the COO to align candidate evaluation criteria and market feedback.
Result: Strategic First Hire to Launch U.S. Operations
Despite the narrow candidate pool, TLR Search successfully secured a Technical Sales Lead with:
Geophysical modeling and seismic analysis expertise
Strong existing energy sector relationships
Experience successfully transitioning from technical work into sales leadership
The entrepreneurial mindset to operate as the company’s first U.S.-based employee
The hire is now actively building commercial relationships, representing the company’s CCS technology across the U.S., and supporting the company’s growth in the emerging carbon capture market.
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