Business Development Intern

Company: Voltiris

About the job

Voltiris reduces the carbon footprint of global food systems with spectral-filtering solar technology for greenhouses. Our modules generate clean electricity from the portion of sunlight that plants don't use for photosynthesis, allowing producers to simultaneously generate energy and harvest healthier crops on the same land. Venture capital-backed, award-winning, with around 35 employees, and commercial projects in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. We work fast and build things that make a real difference.

The role
We are looking for a Swiss German-speaking Business Development Intern to drive our growth with greenhouse operators in German-speaking Switzerland. Switzerland is one of our most important markets, and most of our target customers are located in Thurgau, Seeland, Graubünden, and Aargau, speak Swiss German with their teams, and expect to conduct business in their own language.
This internship demands personal responsibility. You will manage your own pipeline: from initial contact through site visits and business case modeling to handover to the contract phase.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled in a degree program or recently completed BSc or MSc in Business, Engineering, Agronomy, Energy or a related field
• Native or fully fluent Swiss German
• Fluent English. French is a strong plus, Italian a bonus.
• Genuine interest in sales and commercial work, ideally with initial experience in a customer-facing role, a study project, or personal initiative.
• Proficient in using Excel and basic financial modeling
• Highly proactive, independent, and practically minded. You find solutions instead of waiting for instructions.
• Willingness to travel through Switzerland weekly
• Valid driver's license required
• Advantage: existing connection to Swiss agriculture or horticulture

The candidate

• You will delve deeply into Voltiris' technology, value proposition, and business case, so deeply that you can explain it to a producer in dialect.
• Mapping the Swiss-German greenhouse market: who grows what, where, and who are the decision-makers?
• Identify and qualify new leads through research, industry events, and direct outreach.
• Create and adapt commercial documents for the Swiss German market.
• Initial contact is made via telephone, email and in person.
• Traveling through Switzerland to visit greenhouse operators, assess installation potential, and build trust
• Create customer-specific business cases and financial models (energy savings, revenue effects, amortization)
• Accompany contract negotiations and support the handover to project implementation.
• Contribute to pipeline reporting, CRM maintenance (Pipedrive) and commercial planning.
• Voltiris is represented at Swiss agricultural and cleantech events.

What success looks like after 6 months

• You have a clear, qualified pipeline of Swiss German-speaking prospects that you have built yourself.
• You have visited at least 15 greenhouse farms and can speak credibly about the Swiss horticultural market.
• You have created business cases that have led to signed letters of intent or advanced opportunities.
• Internally, you have become the contact person for everything related to the Swiss German market.

our range

• An effective, visible role with direct responsibility for a key market
• Close collaboration with the Swiss Commercial Lead and genuine insight into strategic decisions
• Practical experience in the commercial, financial, and technical aspects of a growing cleantech company
• International Exposition: Even if your focus is on Switzerland, you will see how we work in the Netherlands, Japan, Korea and beyond.
• A mission-driven team working on one of Switzerland's most promising cleantech companies.

What we offer

• An effective, visible role with direct responsibility for a key market
• Close collaboration with the Swiss Commercial Lead and genuine insight into strategic decisions
• Practical experience in the commercial, financial, and technical aspects of a growing cleantech company
• International Exposition: Even if your focus is on Switzerland, you will see how we work in the Netherlands, Japan, Korea and beyond.
• A mission-driven team working on one of Switzerland's most promising cleantech companies.

Experience level: Junior

How to apply: send your CV and motivation to [email protected]