Business Development Executive/Manager

Who We Are Looking For

We want builders, not just sellers. Ideal candidates combine an entrepreneurial mindset with deep empathy for founders and hands-on experience inside the startup/venture ecosystem. You might currently be (or previously have been):

• A founder or early-stage operator who has lived the fundraising and scaling journey
• A venture capital or private equity analyst/investor who regularly evaluates startups
• An ecosystem builder at an accelerator, incubator, corporate venture arm, or startup program
• A partnership/BD professional who already opens doors at top startups and scale-ups across the region

Qualification Requirements

• Minimum 3 years in business development, partnerships, or ecosystem-building roles with regular direct engagement with founders and C-level executives
• Proven experience inside the startup ecosystem (founder, accelerator/incubator operator, venture capital/private equity analyst or associate, corporate venture, etc.) – local and regional exposure required
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial mindset: you think like a founder, spot opportunities early, and are comfortable operating in ambiguity
• Existing strong network in the local + regional startup scene and genuine understanding of founders real pain points (fundraising, hiring, scaling infrastructure, burn-rate pressure, etc.)
• Ability to independently build and develop new relationships that convert into revenue
• Cloud fundamentals (AWS, GCP, or Azure) is a strong advantage but not mandatory – we can teach the tech if you already speak founder fluently
• Track record of consistently hitting or exceeding revenue/targets
• Excellent English communication & presentation skills; at least conversational proficiency in the local language (e.g., Bahasa Malaysia in Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia in Indonesia)

Job Responsibilities

1. Identify and Cultivate New Business Opportunities
   • Leverage your founder/VC/accelerator network to open doors at high-potential startups
   • Proactively attend events, run warm intros, and build a high-quality pipeline
   • Stay ahead of ecosystem trends and spot emerging verticals/sectors early
2. Build and Maintain Strong Customer Relationships
   • Become the trusted advisor to founders on cloud economics, growth hacks, and ecosystem connections
   • Deeply understand each startups stage, runway, and technical needs to deliver tailored solutions
3. Develop and Execute Sales Strategies
   • Craft outreach and positioning that resonates with time-poor founders
   • Run sharp demos and ROI conversations focused on burn-rate reduction and scalability
   • Co-create sales collateral with marketing that speaks directly to startup challenges
4. Drive Sales and Revenue Growth
   • Consistently hit or beat quarterly and annual ARR quotas
   • Negotiate and close win-win deals that lock in long-term partnerships
5. Collaborate with Cross-Functional Teams
   • Feed real founder insights back to technical, product, and customer-success teams
   • Help refine our Friend to Startups offerings based on what you hear in the market

Benefits

• Highly competitive base + uncapped commission (OTE 8–12K USD equivalent)
• Potential stock options for outstanding performers
• Significant professional growth and fast-track career progression
• Flexible remote-friendly environment
• Comprehensive health insurance