Founding Account Executive

The role of Founding Account Executive at Laelaps AI involves spearheading the company's go-to-market strategy as the first dedicated sales hire. Laelaps AI focuses on developing intelligent software for physical security, leveraging advancements in AI, cloud computing, and hardware to create safer and more secure environments. The company aims to enable robots and sensors to handle critical tasks, reducing human risk in dangerous situations. The main day-to-day responsibilities include managing the full sales cycle, from sourcing and qualifying leads to closing deals. This involves direct customer interactions, including site visits, pilot scoping, and building relationships with security operators and decision-makers. The role also entails working closely with the CEO on strategy, pricing, and positioning, as well as transitioning from founder-led sales to a more structured sales process. Additionally, the role involves maintaining a clean and current pipeline, forecasting, and capturing effective sales strategies to feed back into product development. To qualify for this role, candidates must have at least 5 years of full-cycle enterprise B2B sales experience, with a proven track record of closing six-figure deals. Proficiency in AI tools and technical literacy are essential, as is the ability to self-source pipeline and manage CRM hygiene. Candidates should be comfortable in high-stakes environments, such as government and defence procurement, and be able to build and maintain strong customer relationships. The role requires high agency, reliability, and ambition, with a willingness to relocate to Zurich if necessary. Nice-to-have skills include experience selling into government or defence sectors, a background in deeptech, hardware, security, robotics, or complex enterprise software, and familiarity with subscription or recurring-revenue products. Proficiency in German and an existing network in the DACH and UK regions are also beneficial. Experience in a startup or early-stage environment, particularly as an early or founding sales hire, is advantageous. The team at Laelaps AI is composed of PhD-level co-founders in AI, Robotics, and Physics, offering a dynamic and collaborative work environment. The company provides a competitive equity/salary package and a mission-driven culture that values both serious work and a fun atmosphere. What the role asks for: - 5+ years of full-cycle enterprise B2B sales experience. - Proven ability to close six-figure plus deals. - Self-sourcing pipeline. - Proficiency with AI tools. - Technical literacy. - Organised and self-directed on follow-ups, CRM hygiene, and clean deal documentation. - Based in or willing to relocate to Zurich. - Nice to have: Experience selling into government or defence. - Nice to have: Background selling deeptech, hardware, security, robotics, computer vision, or complex enterprise software. - Nice to have: Experience with a subscription or recurring-revenue product. - Nice to have: German language proficiency.