IS
IS

Ian O'Shaughnessy

Do SDR/BDR/AE titles apply to startups?

Hey all, been reading over this forum and there's a lot of great stuff here.

I was just hired at a small startup in the healthcare industry. I worked at an even smaller startup previously. In both jobs, my title was Account Exec., but I really did all kinds of stuff—handling inbound leads, cold-calling, negotiating, etc etc. Do you think that these sales titles really apply in the startup world?

🌍 stateof sales 2023
14

12 comments

Sort by:
BTQ
Politicker
6
Account Manager
Everyone's favorite answer, it depends. How long were you there? What did the sales process look like(is it a few weeks or does it take months)?How many did you close?
Sounds like you were a full cycle sales rep but feel free to share more context and a more experience bloke will get you the answer you're looking for.


jefe
Arsonist
4
🍁
I think they usually do. What you described is simply a full cycle AE.
That was really the only type of AE at most organizations a decade plus ago. There weren't SDRs etc.
Full cycle AEs handle all their lead gen and pipe dev (aside from getting leads from marketing), run disco, demo, negotiate, and close.
It can make sense for a startup as many don't have the resources to pay separate people to do each step until they determine process, PMF, establish value etc.
Coffeesforclosers
Notable Contributor
3
Director Sales and Market Development
Director of Business Development is the catch all at startups and they are the SDR/AE/Manger of all things sales
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
3
☕️
I cannot tell if you’re trolling or not.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
2
🦊
Your mom is trolling
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
2
Sales Rep
I feel like what you listed out are AE activities
For the most part titles are the same, except for Founding AE roles
Sunbunny31
Politicker
2
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Titles are helpful, but an AE can be the same as an SE - and what you're describing is what would be a "full-cycle AE or SE".
The title itself is like a header. The duties are a description of the skills you've employed. Those things will be important when you look for employment at a later date.
It's easier to get the AE/SE role at another company when you already have those titles and the JD aligns with the selling capabilities.
BDR/SDR titles have a more difficult time breaking into AE/SE, because the closing part of a sales role is missing, and it's a critical part of a sales rep's job.
GDO
Politicker
2
BDM
As always it depends. If you do the job it’s fine.
SoccerandSales
Big Shot
1
Account Executive
I would say so
Pachacuti
Politicker
1
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
Yes, they do.
Beans
Big Shot
1
Enterprise Account Executive
They're definitely more fluid.
NoSuperhero
Politicker
0
BDR LEAD
Of course! Any start-up that wants to scale NEEDS SDRs and AEs.

Related posts

6

SDR / BDR roles experience

Question
🎯
🗣
☁️
10
15

Overqualified for SDR underqualified for AE

Question
👥
🚀
🤝
18
14

Should I apply to be an AE at a new company or an SDR

Question
🚀 Career Goals
18
Bravado is a community of trusted sales professionals endorsed by their customers.
Apple Store logo
Products
The War Room Jobs Salary Guide Tech Sales U
Company
About Us How It Works Blog Bug Bounty
Contact
Press Careers
© 2024 Bravado Inc. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy Legal and Privacy Center Sales Jobs
If you are hired as a contract sales rep by a Bravado customer, we may ask you to prove access to the employee email account provided to you by that customer. This data will be shared with customers to track your sales productivity; customers can use this data to confirm you meet the minimum activity requirements to pay out your ramp stipend and commission.