Acuicy’s Post

In a startup, we're all salespeople. Yes, even the tech team and product managers. Why? Because in an early stage seed startup, everyone plays a crucial role in selling the vision. We're not just talking about selling a product or service. We're talking about selling an idea, a dream, a future. Product managers, you're selling the functionality and benefits of our product. Tech team, you're selling the reliability and innovation of our technology. And yes, even the HR and finance teams are selling - the culture, the stability, the growth potential. In a startup, we're all in this together. We're all part of the sales team. Because selling isn't just about transactions. It's about passion, belief, and vision. It's about convincing others to believe in what we believe. To invest in our dream, our future. Because in a startup, we're not just employees. We're ambassadors. And every interaction is a sales opportunity. 

Here are 5 qualities I look for when hiring a sales rep for an early-stage company... Hiring your first sales rep is a crucial move for any early-stage company. You’re not just looking for someone to sell; you’re looking for someone to build the foundation of your sales. Here’s what I’d prioritize when searching for that first hire: 𝟭. 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 -Hire someone who can take charge and get results without constant micro-managing. 𝟮. 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 -Startups move fast. You need someone who can handle change and stay focused. 𝟯. 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 -Your first hire should want to learn everything about your product, market, and customers. This helps them sell better and give valuable feedback. 𝟰. 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝘁 -Every hire shapes your company culture. Make sure they align with your mission and values. 𝟱. 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 -They don’t need to know everything but should be open to learning and growing as the company grows. Your first hire should be someone who’s not only good at selling but can thrive in the evolving environment of a startup. What else would you look for while hiring sales reps? #startuphiring #salesrep #startups #salesconsultant

How founders can set their first sales rep up for success.

What's the job market look like for salespeople & sales leaders? Here's our answer: We're seeing signs of improvement across early-stage startups (Seed - Series C). The proof (although a small sample size) is that the majority of our clients are currently hiring VP Sales or Head of Sales (or recently hired one) and each of them plan to scale their sales orgs in the coming months. Here's the caveat though: The "big sales team" trend from 2021-2022 appears over and these startups are looking to hire really strong AE's who have prior experience in their industry, selling their deal size, selling to their customer personas, etc. Less is more, but that means salespeople who join are likely in better positions for success with bigger territories and more support from leadership. Long story short, it isn't easy to lock down an AE role right now, but conditions have likely improved from 3 - 6 months ago. Any questions? Feel free to ask! Jay Green and Jake Citrano are always available to share their perspective.

Is a sales role in a Tech Start-Up the one for you? Dynamic Environment In startups, sales roles are about agility and adaptation. You're often part of shaping the sales strategy from the ground up, which can be incredibly rewarding. Work Closely with Product Teams Quite often the sales team works closely with product teams. This offers a deeper understanding of the product, allowing for more effective sales strategies. Rapid Career Growth Startups provide an accelerated career trajectory compared to traditional corporate roles and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know what that means. Broader Skill Development In a startup, you're likely to wear multiple hats. This environment fosters the development of a broad range of skills beyond typical sales tasks. Direct Impact on Company Success Your contributions in a startup are directly visible and impactful. Success in sales has a tangible effect on the company's growth and direction. Innovative Mindset Startups are breeding grounds for innovation, both in technology and sales approaches. This setting is perfect for those who thrive on creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. If you're drawn to fast-paced, innovative environments, a sales role in a tech startup might just be your calling. Interested in exploring sales opportunities in tech startups? Get in touch! #TechStartups #SalesJobs #CareerOpportunities

Hiring a team of Senior Sales Executives will kill your startup. Many founders think seasoned sales execs will give them a competitive edge. In reality, it does the exact opposite. Especially as a young founder, hiring a team of senior sales reps seems attractive. ↳ What they don’t realize is: - They all have their own network. - They all have different backgrounds. - They all have their own sales strategies. At first, this doesn’t seem half bad: A team of salespeople with an existing network that all know exactly what they’re doing? Great! ↳ But, this inevitably leads to: - Lack of cohesive sales strategy. - Inability of the founder to foster culture. - Quick short-term gains over long-term growth. AKA a recipe for failure. Founders often pick this route to hedge against uncertainty. (Especially with VCs breathing down their neck) ↳ Instead, what they should do is: - Implement uniform KPI tracking. - Recruit high-potential, coachable talent. - Limit the number of senior roles to 1 per vertical. In order to: - Avoid the temptation of “an existing network”. - Remain in control and foster a uniform culture and sales strategy. - Leverage senior salespeople’s skills, using them as mentors for junior salespeople. Prioritize long-term profits over quick cash every day of the week. ____ PS - Want to get more tips on growing your startup? → Go to my Profile → Click the link to join my community → I'll then send you an email directly when you’re in → I’ll be providing value on sales, marketing, fundraising and more.

Founder Fails #2 It is mad how much this happens. Objective: “We need to show decent traction towards product market fit by building quality pipeline and closing an initial bunch of customers over the next 6 months. I want to hire our first AE to do this." What happens if you do it? “Our first significant funding round.” What happens if you don’t? “Dunno. It doesn’t look good. Stuff gets a lot harder.” Candidate profile #1: - 24 year old (3 years of exp) - 360 AE. Has only been closing deals for 1 year but overachieved against quota - Builds 100% of her own pipe outbound - Has a background as an SDR in a startup (promoted to senior, then team lead in that company) - Super hungry. Great energy. - (Will absolutely grind to get the job done) Candidate profile #2: - 37 year old (16 years of exp) - Currently in product marketing in a Series D company - Has a background in generalist marketing - Worked in management consultancy 8 years ago where he did a lot of “selling” - Closed a 7 figure deal 10 years ago - Wants to get back into sales - Is looking to get into a startup so that he can lead a team - (Only wants to come into the office 2 days per week) Conclusion: “We decided to go with candidate #2 because they will bring SO much to the company when we start to really scale” 3 months later, How’s it going? “…erm…” Hire for what you need to get you to your next milestone. Worry about the next one after that. #saleshiring #startups #salescareers

📣 📣 BEFORE YOU GO for a lovely weekend (I hope!) I have a brand new and exciting opportunity for you! I am thrilled that this amazing company has reached out and appointed me to help them find their next Sales Superstar~~is that going to be you?? 👑 Share, share, share 😎 New Business Director (IC) £120,000 commission The healthcare system is probably something we can all unanimously say that we rely upon. So we would hope that their tech systems are top notch! This is where this rapidly growing SAAS start-up comes in. They are revolutionising the allied health space as they venture onto empowering healthcare professionals and saving them 10 hours a day of admin. That’s more time to see and help patients ~ aka YOU & ME! Exciting Bits: 👑 They rank #1 out of 400 practice management systems. 👑 Series A - $1.5m and on their way to $3m 👑 Their customers can’t stop saying good things about them! 👑 You will play a pivotal role in establishing their presence, driving sales, and building strategic relationships within the healthcare industry. 👑 Generous package & commission 👑 The opportunity to make a great your mark on a flourishing start-up 👑 Headed up by a very inspirational Founder 👑 Complete remote working Join their venture and become their 1st UK Sales Director 👑 What you’ll need: ✅ 5 years experience in a 360 Sales role ✅ Proven track record of hitting targets in B2B sales ✅ Ideally have sold to Healthcare ✅ Definitely need to have sold SaaS and/or a similar kind of management Tech ✅ The ability to thrive in a startup environment ✅ Sales Methodologies ✅ Go-getter, results-oriented, and adaptable #healthcare #technology #healthtech #saas #newrole #hiring #software #futurism #innovation #seriesA #startup #opportunities #newopportunities

Founders, when you are ready to build your first sales team, your initial hires are crucial to the team’s success. It's a common thought that hiring a top-performing rep from a well-known established company is the best hire. I mean, that would make sense right? They would check all the boxes: ✔ Multiple years of experience ✔ Proven track record of exceeding quota, President’s Club preferred ✔ Demonstrated ability to close deals ✔ Outstanding customer support and account management skills ✔ Data-driven decision-maker ✔ Experience with CRM ✔ Knowledge of multiple sales methodologies Probably not. These reps would struggle in an ambiguous environment with limited tools, resources, and support. Instead, hire a sales rep with experience as a founding member of a sales team at a startup. These individuals possess the agility, resilience, and innovative mindset required to succeed without many tools, solid frameworks, or extensive support. Their hands-on experience navigating a startup environment makes them a pivotal hire for your founding sales team. Who has been a founding member of a sales team? I would love to hear -your insights or war stories! #Sales #Startups #Hiring #SalesTeam #Leadership #BusinessGrowth

First sales hires are critical for any startup. Depending on how well you hire, you’ll either get ahead by 6 months or fall behind by 6 months. I see two common mistakes founders make when making their first sales hire: (1) Hiring a VP-level executive too early. You need someone who can fly at 30,000 feet AND get their hands dirty. Hiring someone who is too senior will only get you the ladder, a great strategy with poor execution. (2) Hiring someone who is too junior when you need help with sales strategy. It’s tempting to hire an AE or BDR because of the cost. But if you don't have a background in revenue (and plan to write the strategy yourself), this will be a mistake because they'll only focus on execution. Hiring a Senior Manager or Director level leader or a founding AE (with early stage experience) should get you what you need. They’ll have enough strategy chops to get things moving, and they’ll be willing to roll up their sleeves.