Gyro25

Account Executive

Turned down a Series A founding role

The recruiter who recruited me for my previous job told me about a new series A he's working for. Essentially a BDR in a niche market. I did my research and it's a strategic finance platform.

I proceeded to speak to the founder who mentioned stock options(Lol), a new market and the same base pay to essentially to move into a full cycle BDR role as a founder in the sales team.

I definitely didn't feel confident about the product and I was wary to switch roles right away after being promoted since the company is still semi stealth.

I'm curious to know how you all vet Series A's/startups to see if they're worth pursuing at all. Any guidelines you all follow/things to lookout for?

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FinanceEngineer

Politicker

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

This is my third A and pre-A in a row. Learned from the first one what I didn’t want, and what I wanted more at the second. Really happy with the role I just started.

I tend to view product-market fit as the most important, followed by comp. If they want to discount cash in favor of equity/options, I need to increase the NPV noting that I expect them to go public/be bought in 5 years.

Once you got the product fit and the cash making sense, it just defers your comp and allows you to get more senior faster.

Gyro25

Notorious Answer

Account Executive

That's interesting. Wasn't aware of that. My current company was a series A when I first joined and despite all the Bs, it's paid off quite well(literally and figuratively).

My apprehension comes from not understanding the market demand since I know nothing about strategic finance planning also moving back to what would be a non closing role.

Being a founding team member at a Series A was exhausting af though, so I need to know certain criteria that would make it worth it, that other than p/m fit and RSUs, I don't know all that much about.

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

That’s the whole thing. Does the product meet the demand/need of the market? If the answer is yes, the only thing stopping it from taking off is having the product work and competition. Nothing else really matters of it fits the need (outside of stupid pricing of course, but series A companies always give a little/lot on that).

Jaytea

Catalyst

N/A

Fr, I was in a seed as an intern trying to find product market fit. It was such a hassle

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

Here is a post with some good comments of vetting Series A

https://bravado.co/war-room/posts/product-fit-for-start-ups

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

@braintank @UrAssIsSaaSwhere y'all

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

when it comes to Series A or pre seed companies you first have to decide if you are the type of person that can even do that. YOU sound like you are. But many ppl reading this will fore sure NOT be Series A types of sales ppl. which is totally fine.

Ive only worked at 1 Series A and having product market fit has to be the #1 concern of a sales person. IF thats not there you will not succeed.

Besides PMF, I would look at the founders and see what their track record is, and who is on the board.

IM curious on why this would be a non closing role? who is closing the deals?

Gyro25

Notorious Answer

Account Executive

That was my question to the founder as well. I'm not investing time/months and possibly years just to qualify meetings.

I straight up told the guy that I would not move back to a non closing role. His response was basically touting future revenue/RSUs as the reward. His background isn't in sales and it shows. I told him I could be a paid outside consultant for his org, but I already was the first BDR at my current job and unless there's a massive pay bump/very enticing incentive, there's no way I'd do that shit twice.

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

haha yeah sounds like this founder for SURE doent get sales.....or at least understand what a BDR typically is responsible for.

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

BDR as a "founder"? That seems odd.

Gyro25

Notorious Answer

Account Executive

More so founding member of the sales org

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

I try and avoid series A and other companies if I am confident about their product/solutions.

activity

Politicker

VP, Business Development

Yeah, the dirty little secret with these start ups is that your stock options 9/10 times are worthless.

Jaytea

Catalyst

N/A

For me in order
1. Do they have any sales if not might be a hassle to find product market fit
2. What’s the founding team like, does he have a good track record
3. How much funding have they got/
4. Culture startups can get heated real quick if u can’t survive
5. How well do they communicate/ how do they
That’s the main questions I ask them

Gyro25

Notorious Answer

Account Executive

I actually have an update. The founder reached out to me and said that he would make it into a closing/AE role after speaking with his SVP.

I'll be speaking with him on Friday and I'll be making notes with your questions to ask when I'm speaking with him.

Let's see how it goes. I'll keep you all posted!

Jaytea

Catalyst

N/A

Good luck! Hope u get the job!

Redrover

Good Citizen

Exiting a start up

This is right down my alley! Would you mind making an intro to your recruiter. I’d pay for the intro.

Gyro25

Notorious Answer

Account Executive

*Update* 12/9

Just got done with the interview a few moments ago and said no, for now.

Essentially they have 0 GTM function for outbound/inbound and the founder wanted me to a BDR/AE for him. The guy was pretty clueless when it came to GTM, outbound, prospecting.

Dude gave demos, but that's about it. I spent the last 10 mins of it giving him free advice on cadences and outbound, which he somehow knew nothing about.

I told him that we can talk again in a few months when he's built something past his Series A since I did see some decent pmf. I'm just unwilling to be in day 0 at a series A again.

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Gyro25

Turned down a Series A founding role

18 comments

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