Sales Leader - Startup AEs
About the Role:
We’re looking for an experienced and hands-on Sales Leader to build, coach, and scale a team focused on advising and growing high-growth startups as they scale on Vercel. You’ll be a coach who not only leads, hires, mentors, and develops top talent, but also rolls up your sleeves to work deals alongside the team. This leader will be instrumental in helping startups shape their AI strategy and adopt our platform to fuel their growth.
If you’re based within a pre-determined commuting distance of one of our offices (SF, NY, London, or Berlin), the role includes in-office anchor days on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. If you're located beyond that distance, the role is fully remote. For location-specific details, please connect with our recruiting team.
What You Will Do:
Hire & Build: Recruit, onboard, and ramp a high-performing team of Startup-focused AEs.
Coach & Mentor: Provide ongoing coaching, 1:1s, and deal strategy sessions to develop reps into top performers.
AI Strategy Advisor: Engage directly with startup founders, CTOs, and technical buyers to shape their AI strategy and show how our solution accelerates their growth.
Hands-On Leadership: Roll up your sleeves to join calls, dig into product demos, and co-create GTM motions with your team.
Pipeline & Execution: Partner closely with team to generate pipeline, advance opportunities, and close business with early- to mid-stage startups.
Collaboration: Work cross-functionally with Marketing, Product, and Solution Engineers, and Customer Success to ensure startup customers get the resources they need to be successful.
Data-Driven Management: Track performance against goals, forecast accurately, and drive continuous improvement in sales execution.
About You:
5+ years of SaaS sales experience, with at least 2+ years managing Account Executives.
Experience selling into startups (seed through Series D), ideally with technical buyers (founders, CTOs, engineering leaders).
Proven track record of hiring, coaching, and developing high-performing sales teams.
Hands-on leader who thrives in a player-coach role.
Comfort leading conversations about AI, data, and technical products (no need to be an engineer, but must be credible with technical buyers).
Strong deal execution skills with a history of closing six-figure SaaS deals.
Ability to operate in a fast-paced startup environment, balancing strategy with execution.
Bonus If You:
Experience selling developer tools, AI/ML products, or other technical platforms.
Prior experience building out a new segment or vertical from scratch.
Network within the startup ecosystem (VCs, accelerators, founder communities).
Benefits:
Competitive compensation package, including equity.
Inclusive Healthcare Package.
Learn and Grow - we provide mentorship and send you to events that help you build your network and skills.
Flexible Time Off.
We will provide you the gear you need to do your role, and a WFH budget for you to outfit your space as needed.
Relocation support for move to SF or NYC.
The San Francisco, CA base pay range for this role is $270,000-$385,000. Actual salary will be based on job-related skills, experience, and location. Compensation outside of San Francisco may be adjusted based on employee location, and the total package includes benefits and equity-based compensation. Your recruiter can share more details during the hiring process.
Vercel is committed to fostering and empowering an inclusive community within our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Vercel encourages everyone to apply for our available positions, even if they don't necessarily check every box on the job description.
About the job
Apply for this position
Sales Leader - Startup AEs
About the Role:
We’re looking for an experienced and hands-on Sales Leader to build, coach, and scale a team focused on advising and growing high-growth startups as they scale on Vercel. You’ll be a coach who not only leads, hires, mentors, and develops top talent, but also rolls up your sleeves to work deals alongside the team. This leader will be instrumental in helping startups shape their AI strategy and adopt our platform to fuel their growth.
If you’re based within a pre-determined commuting distance of one of our offices (SF, NY, London, or Berlin), the role includes in-office anchor days on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. If you're located beyond that distance, the role is fully remote. For location-specific details, please connect with our recruiting team.
What You Will Do:
Hire & Build: Recruit, onboard, and ramp a high-performing team of Startup-focused AEs.
Coach & Mentor: Provide ongoing coaching, 1:1s, and deal strategy sessions to develop reps into top performers.
AI Strategy Advisor: Engage directly with startup founders, CTOs, and technical buyers to shape their AI strategy and show how our solution accelerates their growth.
Hands-On Leadership: Roll up your sleeves to join calls, dig into product demos, and co-create GTM motions with your team.
Pipeline & Execution: Partner closely with team to generate pipeline, advance opportunities, and close business with early- to mid-stage startups.
Collaboration: Work cross-functionally with Marketing, Product, and Solution Engineers, and Customer Success to ensure startup customers get the resources they need to be successful.
Data-Driven Management: Track performance against goals, forecast accurately, and drive continuous improvement in sales execution.
About You:
5+ years of SaaS sales experience, with at least 2+ years managing Account Executives.
Experience selling into startups (seed through Series D), ideally with technical buyers (founders, CTOs, engineering leaders).
Proven track record of hiring, coaching, and developing high-performing sales teams.
Hands-on leader who thrives in a player-coach role.
Comfort leading conversations about AI, data, and technical products (no need to be an engineer, but must be credible with technical buyers).
Strong deal execution skills with a history of closing six-figure SaaS deals.
Ability to operate in a fast-paced startup environment, balancing strategy with execution.
Bonus If You:
Experience selling developer tools, AI/ML products, or other technical platforms.
Prior experience building out a new segment or vertical from scratch.
Network within the startup ecosystem (VCs, accelerators, founder communities).
Benefits:
Competitive compensation package, including equity.
Inclusive Healthcare Package.
Learn and Grow - we provide mentorship and send you to events that help you build your network and skills.
Flexible Time Off.
We will provide you the gear you need to do your role, and a WFH budget for you to outfit your space as needed.
Relocation support for move to SF or NYC.
The San Francisco, CA base pay range for this role is $270,000-$385,000. Actual salary will be based on job-related skills, experience, and location. Compensation outside of San Francisco may be adjusted based on employee location, and the total package includes benefits and equity-based compensation. Your recruiter can share more details during the hiring process.
Vercel is committed to fostering and empowering an inclusive community within our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Vercel encourages everyone to apply for our available positions, even if they don't necessarily check every box on the job description.