July 30, 2025

The Deep Tech Entrepreneur/CEO: A Lifestyle not a Job

Building a deep tech startup—especially in the world of CAE, simulation, AI, and digital twins—is not for the faint of heart. It’s not just about writing code or pitching investors. It’s about becoming the gravitational force that holds together technology, people, capital, and vision—and doing it with such authenticity and energy that others are drawn in.

The CEO in this world isn’t just a leader. They are a system of roles, a continuous presence, and a source of lasting belief. Here’s what it really takes.

Technologist at Heart

In a CAE or simulation-driven startup, credibility is everything. The ideal CEO doesn’t need to write all the code or run FEM solvers, but they should have an engineering degree, a PhD, or deep technical experience.

Why? Because:

  • Customers are engineers and scientists—they only trust someone who speaks their language.
  • Understanding the physics or data-driven architecture is essential to propose real solutions, not buzzwords.
  • It unlocks true innovation that bridges R&D with unmet market needs.

Chief of All Trades

In the early years, the CEO is not just the strategist—they’re the CMO, CRO, CPO…

  • Drafting marketing decks by night.
  • Closing sales by day.
  • Recruiting and motivating the first few believers.
  • Acting as lead product manager, roadmap navigator, and customer whisperer.

There’s no such thing as “not my job.” The founder does everything until they can hire better people to do it. And even then, they stay close.

Visionary Who Inspires

This kind of startup only works if people believe—and belief starts with the CEO:

  • Inspiring the team to join a mission that feels bigger than a paycheck.
  • Giving them a reason to stay when things get hard (and they will).
  • Turning the vision into a shared movement, not a personal dream.

It’s not about charisma. It’s about authenticity and walking the talk every single day.

Customer Whisperer and Champion Builder

The first customers aren’t just buyers—they’re partners in the innovation journey. The CEO must:

  • Understand their world deeply and speak to their priorities.
  • Turn early adopters into internal champions who push for your success inside their organizations.
  • Build so much trust that they tolerate delays or complexity, because they see the long-term payoff.

Great CEOs make customers feel like they’re part of the mission—because they are.

Fundraiser and Trust Builder

Raising capital for a deep tech venture is a long game:

  • The CEO must pitch a technical story in a commercial language.
  • Turn risk into opportunity.
  • Build relationships based on credibility, transparency, and persistence.
  • Keep investor trust alive during rough quarters—because they believe in the entrepreneur as much as the tech.

Lifestyle, Not a Job

Here’s the raw truth: this is not a job. It’s a lifestyle.

  • You think about it while running, swimming, driving.
  • Work-life balance doesn’t really apply—it’s all one continuous stream of thought and energy.
  • That’s only sustainable if it’s fun and fulfilling, not just a chase for money or status.

The reward? You live a life of purpose and creation. You’re building something that could change an industry—or even the world.

Builder of Teams and Listeners of Talent

The best CEOs know one thing: they are not the smartest person in the room.

They:

  • Hire people more talented than themselves in their respective fields.
  • Empower them with autonomy and trust.
  • Listen, learn, and amplify their team’s brilliance, not control it.

It’s about creating an environment where collective intelligence flourishes.

Sustainer of Relationships and Energy

Sustaining this path requires human foundations:

  • A strong relationship with family and friends who support the journey—even if the hours are long.
  • Intentional time carved out to be present with loved ones.
  • A genuine network based on trust, reciprocity, and shared wins—not transactional favors.

Startup life is intense. The people around you are what keep it anchored and meaningful.

Final Thoughts

A deep tech startup CEO is not one role—it’s many roles, 24/7, for years. It’s impossible without love for the mission and joy in the process.

If you’re looking for a founder or thinking of becoming one, ask not just what you’re building—but whether you’re ready to live it. Because in the world of simulation and innovation, it’s not just about solving equations. It’s about living the solution every day.

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