Startup Sales & Business Development Director

Job Description

Job Description

Startup Sales & Business Development Director

Remote | Canada | Startup Business Development

About Acumen Agency

Acumen Agency is a global full-spectrum professional services firm providing consulting, marketing, financial, design, business, brokerage, outsourcing, executive search, printing, IT, AI, and digital services to organizations around the world.

We are expanding our presence within the Canadian startup ecosystem and are seeking an experienced business development professional with strong startup-sector relationships.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Startup Sales & Business Development Director to develop relationships and acquire clients among startups and emerging companies across Canada.

This is a sales-first, relationship-driven role for someone who understands the startup ecosystem and ideally already has relationships with founders, CEOs, executives, startup operators, accelerators, incubators, investors, and startup-support organizations.

Your role will be to identify startups that need professional services, introduce them to Acumen’s capabilities, develop relationships with decision-makers, and convert those relationships into new business.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute Acumen’s startup-sector business development strategy.
• Leverage existing relationships within the Canadian startup ecosystem.
• Identify and contact startups, founders, executives, and emerging companies that require professional services.
• Build relationships with startup founders, CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CTOs, and other senior leaders.
• Sell Acumen’s consulting, marketing, financial, design, business, brokerage, outsourcing, executive search, printing, IT, AI, and digital services.
• Identify startups requiring assistance with launching, scaling, financing, marketing, technology, operations, hiring, and business development.
• Generate opportunities through networking, referrals, direct outreach, startup events, accelerators, incubators, and industry platforms.
• Develop proposals, presentations, and commercial opportunities.
• Negotiate and close new client engagements.
• Build recurring relationships and identify opportunities to provide multiple Acumen services to startup clients.
• Establish partnerships with startup accelerators, incubators, venture funds, entrepreneurial organizations, coworking communities, and startup platforms.
• Help recruit, train, and mentor additional startup-focused business development representatives.
• Expand Acumen’s startup client base across Canada and eventually international markets.

Startup Ecosystem

Relevant experience and relationships may include:

• Startup founders and CEOs
• Venture-backed companies
• Technology startups
• SaaS companies
• Fintech and financial startups
• Healthtech companies
• AI startups
• E-commerce startups
• Startup accelerators and incubators
• Venture capital and angel-investor networks
• Startup communities and associations
• University entrepreneurship programs
• Coworking and innovation hubs
• Startup platforms and business networks

Qualifications

• Proven experience in startup sales, startup business development, technology sales, entrepreneurial ecosystems, or professional services sales .
• Strong understanding of the Canadian startup ecosystem.
• Existing relationships with startup founders, executives, investors, accelerators, incubators, or startup platforms are a major advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to prospect, network, develop relationships, and close business.
• Strong understanding of the needs and challenges faced by early-stage and growing companies.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Comfortable with outbound prospecting, cold calling, networking, and direct founder outreach.
• Experience leading or training business development representatives is an asset.
• Entrepreneurial, self-directed, and highly results-oriented.

Compensation & Career Opportunity

This position initially operates on a performance-based compensation structure tied to measurable business development results and successful client acquisition .

As the startup division grows, there is an opportunity to transition into a full-time salaried leadership position , with the potential to build and lead Acumen’s startup business development organization.

Work Arrangement

Remote | Canada

The position can be performed remotely, with business development conducted through telephone, email, digital outreach, networking, startup events, industry platforms, founder communities, and established professional relationships.