Founding AEs and first sales hires for AI infrastructure startups
I recruit the first commercial people into AI infrastructure and tooling companies: founding account executives, first sales leaders, sales engineers and first marketing hires, from seed to Series B, in the US and Europe. I have recruited into this market for 17 years and I run every search myself.
Why this hire is different
The first sales hire is a narrow profile
Sells to engineers
The buyer is a platform team or a head of engineering, not a business user.
Builds the playbook
There is no process to follow yet. They write it while they sell.
Right first time
A wrong hire at this stage costs six to twelve months of runway.
Most recruiters can find a good SaaS seller. Far fewer can find one who has sold a technical AI product to a technical buyer at a company of fifteen people.
Track record
Recent first hires
QuilrFounding CRO at Quilr
The brief needed a rare mix: a cyber security background, strong knowledge of AI, and experience of early stage companies that had scaled quickly.
What happened
people in twelve months, with the Series A closed
SimplismartFounding VP Sales at Simplismart
A founding sales leader who had already done the job in the AI infrastructure market.
What happened
closed after the hire
TrueFoundryFounding Account Executive at TrueFoundry
A first seller who understood technical AI buyers and how early stage companies work.
What happened
still there, and part of the team that built out the US sales team
ClearMLSenior Demand Generation Director at ClearML
The first hire into the demand generation team, needing deep knowledge of the AI infrastructure market alongside strong demand generation experience.
What happened
and central to the company’s rebrand
Defined.aiTwo Account Executives and a Head of Business Development at Defined.ai
Building out the US go-to-market team, from a small set of companies with AI data experience. Shortlists within days.
What happened
of quota in ten months from one AE, closing more than $10m of new business
Who I recruit
The roles, and the markets
Roles
Markets
I map these markets in public, 1,000+ companies across eleven landscapes, so I already know who has sold what to whom before a search starts.
Pricing
How it works and what it costs
One role
of base salary, with no upfront fees.
Three or more roles
a month as your embedded recruiter, with no placement fees.
Below three hires, the single search is cheaper and I will say so.
Questions founders ask
Before you book a call
How quickly can you find a founding AE?
The first shortlist typically takes one to two weeks, and the hire one to two months.
Do you only recruit for AI companies?
Yes. AI infrastructure and tooling companies, seed to Series B, in the US and Europe.
Do you recruit in the US?
Yes. All five hires above are US based, two of them in San Francisco.
Will I deal with you or with a team?
With me. I run every search myself.
