Business Development / Sales Lead

About the role

For this role, we are seeking a motivated and ambitious business development lead to explosively expand our client base (B2B) as we enter a new stage of growth. You will be the first full-time sales lead, and will be bringing on board some of our very first clients.

The ideal fit for this role is a highly autonomous, entrepreneurial and deeply mission-driven person who has has at least 3 years experience in prospecting and closing leads in a startup, and ideally a network in generative AI, media, journalism, insurance, or blockchain (one or multiple). You are a top performer, customer-obsessed person who loves to win deals and thinks outside of the box.

Who are you

• An entrepreneur, who approaches every sale as if it were your own company

• Driven by fast-paced environments and focused on excellence

• Deeply driven by our mission

• A multi-tasker… you’ll always wear one too many hats

• Proactive mindset and ability to self-direct

• Collaborative and motivated to act with the team’s best interest

Responsibilities

You will report to our co-founders. Your key responsibilities are:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive business development and sales strategy to win new business and drive revenue for OpenOrigins

• Develop and manage the sales cycle, from first outbound to launch

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities, including high-profile partnerships and collaborations

• Design and execute sales strategies, and translate these into targeted sales activities and campaigns

• Collaborate with the marketing team to create and implement effective lead generation campaigns

• Prepare and deliver compelling presentations, proposals, and pitches to potential clients and partners

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including potential clients, partners, and industry influencers

• Represent the company at industry events, conferences, and trade shows to network and promote the business

• Stay up-to-date with the latest developments and trends in relevant industries and topics (blockchain, disinformation, deepfakes, generative AI, journalism, insurance, and cybersecurity to name a few)

Qualifications, skills & experience

• We like to hire on ability, motivation and aptitude rather than only on past experience. Background is important, but it is not enough by itself.

• What makes you a great fit:

  • 3+ years experience in startup sales, from prospecting to closing (with a strong track record). At least 1 year focused on long, complex sales cycles

  • Ability to grasp and simplify highly technical concepts

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships at all levels

  • Strong negotiation and closing skills, with a track record of securing high-value deals

  • Ability to deliver compelling presentations and pitches

  • Proficiency with sales tools and HubSpot as a CRM

  • Willingness to travel abroad frequently for industry events and conferences

• What might make you stand out:

  • Experience in related industries (news, journalism and media, blockchain, cybersecurity, generative AI) and a strong network

  • Experience in a B2B environment

  • Experience in a mission-driven startup that cares about solving a critical global challenge

  • Ability to use Figma to create compelling pitch decks

Logistics

• Deadline to apply: None - applications reviewed on rolling basis

• Visa Sponsorship: We are able to sponsor UK visas