Founding Account Executive

Zania, Inc

• $150K — $180K *
Enterprise Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of B2B SaaS sales experience with a proven track record of six-figure deals
  • Ability to generate own leads and build a sales pipeline from scratch
  • Experience in Security, Compliance, Risk, or AI domains preferred
  • Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, ambiguous startup environment
  • Willingness to relocate to Palo Alto for in-person collaboration

Responsibilities

  • Drive full-cycle sales from prospecting to closing
  • Generate your own pipeline through targeted research and outreach
  • Refine the Ideal Customer Profile and develop the sales playbook
  • Navigate complex multi-stakeholder enterprise deals
  • Act as a feedback loop to product and engineering teams regarding customer needs

Benefits

  • Flexible PTO policy
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Meals and snacks provided in the office
  • Relocation and immigration support
Full Job Description
Founding Account Executive

Role Overview As our Founding Account Executive, you will be the driving force behind our early revenue engine. You will work directly with the founders to transition from founder-led sales to a scalable Go-To-Market motion. This is a true 0-to-1 role: you won't be handed a neatly packaged pipeline. You will be responsible for full-cycle sales-from hunting and generating your own leads to navigating complex enterprise procurement processes and closing six-figure deals. If you are a builder who thrives on the thrill of the hunt and wants to shape the sales playbook of an AI rocketship, this is for you.

What You'll Do
  • Drive Full-Cycle Sales: Own the entire sales process from outbound prospecting and lead generation to discovery, demo, negotiation, and closing.
  • Generate Your Own Pipeline: Act as your own SDR by researching target accounts, executing outbound campaigns, and building a robust pipeline of enterprise prospects.
  • Define the Playbook: Partner with the founders to refine our ICP (Ideal Customer Profile), test different messaging, and build the foundational sales playbook for future hires.
  • Navigate Complex Deals: Manage multi-stakeholder enterprise deals involving GRC leaders, CISOs, and IT procurement teams.
  • Voice of the Customer: Act as a critical feedback loop to our Product and Engineering teams, translating customer pain points into actionable product insights.

What You Have
  • Experience: 5+ years of B2B SaaS sales experience, with a proven track record of closing complex, six-figure enterprise deals.
  • Hunter Mentality: Demonstrated success in generating your own leads and building pipeline from scratch without relying heavily on inbound marketing.
  • Domain Knowledge: Previous experience selling into Security, Compliance, Risk, or AI domains is a massive plus.
  • Startup DNA: Comfortable operating in a highly ambiguous, fast-paced Series A environment where you must build the parachute on the way down.
  • Location: Based in (or willing to relocate to) Palo Alto, working in-person with the team five days a week.

Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
  • 5+ years of B2B SaaS sales experience, with a demonstrated track record of closing six-figure enterprise deals end-to-end
  • Proven ability to independently generate pipeline through outbound prospecting - not solely reliant on inbound leads
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills - you will navigate multi-stakeholder enterprise deals with GRC leaders, CISOs, and IT procurement teams and must articulate complex AI concepts with credibility

Compensation And Benefits
  • Flexible PTO policy.
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Meals and snacks in the office
  • Relocation and immigration support

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