Founding AE
Founding Account Executive
Location: San Francisco, CA
Work Model: Full-time, In-Person
Industry: AI / Revenue Infrastructure / SaaS
Compensation: $80K–$110K Base + 2x OTE + Meaningful Equity
About Our Partner
Our partner is an early-stage AI startup building software focused on improving how modern revenue teams operate. Their platform helps sales organizations automate operational workflows, improve internal coordination, and generate deeper insights across the sales process.
The company recently completed a leading startup accelerator program, raised a strong Seed round from top-tier investors, and is experiencing rapid growth with a lean, highly technical team. They operate in a highly collaborative environment where GTM and engineering work closely together to shape both the product and customer experience.
The Opportunity
Our partner is hiring a Founding Account Executive to help build and scale the company’s sales motion from the ground up.
This is not a traditional AE role focused solely on closing inbound pipeline. The ideal candidate will be highly outbound-oriented, capable of generating their own pipeline, and excited to help build the company’s outbound and GTM playbook alongside the founders. The company already has early traction and foundational outbound systems in place, but they are looking for someone who can help turn those early signals into a scalable and repeatable sales motion.
Because the company actively uses its own product internally, this role also requires strong product intuition and the ability to work cross-functionally with technical teams. The Founding AE will regularly provide customer feedback, influence product direction, and help shape the customer experience through close collaboration with product and engineering.
This is a high-ownership opportunity designed for someone who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys experimentation, and wants to play a major role in helping define how an early-stage AI company scales.
Responsibilities
- Own full-cycle sales from outbound prospecting through close
- Build pipeline independently through outbound and strategic prospecting
- Help develop and refine the company’s outbound and GTM playbook
- Run product demos, customer calls, and closing conversations
- Partner closely with founders on sales strategy and execution
- Provide structured customer feedback to product and engineering teams
- Help identify new customer segments, messaging, and positioning opportunities
- Operate with a high degree of autonomy and ownership in a fast-moving environment
Requirements
- 1–5+ years of closing experience in SaaS or startup sales environments
- Experience working at a Seed, Series A, or Series B startup
- Strong outbound prospecting and pipeline generation experience
- Demonstrated ability to operate independently and build process in ambiguous environments
- Strong communication and product feedback skills
- Comfortable working cross-functionally with product and engineering teams
- High ownership mentality and strong initiative
- Willingness to work in-person in San Francisco
Nice-to-Haves
- Experience helping build outbound playbooks or early GTM motions
- Prior SDR-to-AE progression in a high-growth startup
- Experience influencing product direction through customer insights
- Experience selling technical or workflow-driven SaaS products
- Experience in AI, sales tooling, or revenue technology environments
- Strong curiosity, experimentation mindset, and builder mentality
Interview Process
- Introductory screening conversation
- Deep-dive interview with founders
- Work trial including mock or live sales interactions and product collaboration exercises
- Final references and decision
Culture
The team values intensity, ownership, collaboration, and learning velocity. This is an environment built for people who enjoy moving quickly, solving difficult problems, and working closely with highly driven teammates in-person.
Our partner is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants.
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