Founding Business Development Manager (AI)

TL;DR

Founding Business Development Manager (AI): Owning revenue generation from the ground up for an early-stage AI data startup with an accent on ICP definition, outbound prospecting, and closing enterprise deals. Focus on building the go-to-market motion, targeting AI labs and foundation model teams, and refining product strategy based on market signals.

Location: Must be based in the San Francisco Bay Area (remote-friendly, but in-person presence expected for events)

Salary: Up to $150k Base + aggressive commission (10–15% on deals closed)

Company

Well-funded, early-stage AI data startup focusing on scaling supply-side capacity to meet high demand.

What you will do

• Own the full sales cycle end-to-end: ICP definition, outbound prospecting, pipeline building, and closing.
• Identify and reach buyers at AI labs and model companies through creative, targeted outreach.
• Develop and refine the go-to-market (GTM) motion as the company's first sales hire.
• Attend industry events and conferences to build relationships and generate leads in person.
• Collaborate with the founding team to feed market signals back into product and strategy.

Requirements

• Proven track record of closing enterprise deals in a startup or zero-to-revenue environment.
• Experience running full-cycle sales independently.
• Ability to execute scrappy outbound strategies, including cold DMs and cold calls.
• Must be based in the Bay Area with an active, relevant network.
• Familiarity with data procurement, AI tooling, or selling into technical buyers.

Nice to have

• Existing relationships with AI labs, voice AI companies, or foundation model teams.
• Experience selling data, labeling, or annotation services.
• Prior experience at an early-stage startup building the sales motion from scratch.

Culture & Benefits

• W2 employment with standard benefits.
• High-ownership role with direct access to founders.
• Remote-friendly work arrangement for those based in the Bay Area.
• Competitive base salary with an aggressive commission structure.