Fractyl.co’s Post

Only 20% of #SaaS #startups survive beyond their first five years, and #founders face a common challenge: juggling multiple responsibilities, including sales, without prior experience. This leads to stretched-thin founders, struggling to validate markets, build infrastructure, secure funding, and more. Many have tried hiring sales teams, only to face disappointment due to inexperienced hires lacking startup know-how. 🧠 There's a smarter approach. Imagine having access to seasoned sales experts who've successfully scaled startups before, armed with proven strategies tailored to your unique needs. They'll help define your Ideal Customer Profile, devise targeted strategies, impart value-based selling techniques, streamline operations, and craft a winning sales playbook. 💸 While consultants may seem pricey upfront, compared to the cost of hiring full-time employees (with uncertain outcomes), their ROI is unmatched. 📈 Invest in a consultant now to refine your strategy, boost scalability, and ensure solid growth. Then, when your customer base is robust, consider building your dream sales team. Ready to scale smarter? Let's chat! 💼 ✍️ What challenges are you facing scaling your startup? ♻️ Reshare if you know someone that needs to hear this

Here's another example of why this unique #sales service firm is important for all businesses, but especially startups. You've got several markets you work, but you have to have a certain amount of business in order to justify placing a full-time AE or other type of sales rep in that market. This makes it hard to jump into that market, and also is risky if that market then contracts for you, and you can't justify keeping a full-time sales staffer there. What DOES make sense is using a fractional AE that executes a custom service package for your developing markets, helping you build each of them up without over-committing resources to them. This is a huge game-changer for companies. This is the kind of solution we'll be providing at Sales Partner For Founders. The reason it's for #founders, or owners, is because this is about key business solutions for revenue stabilization or growth. This is not a service firm for departmental heads, even if we engage with one or two of them, this is a service firm that gives owners options in sales. #startups

🚀 Attention all new and small startup owners! 🚀 Are you looking to streamline your hiring process and boost your sales without breaking the bank? Look no further than OnDemand Business Solution! We understand the challenges that come with launching and scaling a startup. That's why we've tailored our services to cater specifically to the needs of budding entrepreneurs like you. Here's how we can help: Efficient Hiring: Finding the right talent for your startup is crucial, but it can be time-consuming and costly. With OnDemand Business Solution, you gain access to a pool of skilled professionals ready to tackle any task, from marketing to development, on a project-by-project basis. Say goodbye to lengthy recruitment processes and hello to a flexible workforce that scales with your needs. Sales Support: Driving sales is the lifeblood of any startup, but building a robust sales team from scratch can be daunting. Our experienced sales professionals are here to lend a hand, whether you need help crafting a winning pitch or closing deals. With OnDemand Business Solution, you can leverage our expertise to accelerate your sales growth and drive revenue. Cost-Effective Solutions: As a new or small startup, every dollar counts. That's why we offer affordable pricing plans tailored to fit your budget. Whether you're looking for short-term assistance or long-term support, we have a solution that won't break the bank. Don't let hiring and sales hurdles hold your startup back. Embrace the power of OnDemand Business Solution and take your business to new heights! Get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can support your startup's success. 🚀📈 Pradeep Singh Tanwar Sonia Jethwani PRIYA PAHWA

A proven track record is all the rage but I challenge you to ask 'How' over and over again. This will help you validate their previous experience and the ability to execute for you. Asking HOW will allow for your candidate to explain their process. This applies for sales leaders too. "Incredible to see your team preformed year over year but...HOW?" "You brought your last company to $3M ARR from $0, HOW?'' This will allow for your candidate to shine and for you to truly understand their past experience and what they will bring to your company. #sales #hiring #startups

The CRO title is tempting, but for early-stage startups, it's like buying a sports car before learning to drive. "It's just a title, Amy" is a common response. Especially when a founder is interviewing someone they LOVE. We don't want to lose the person that sounds like the ticket to that infamous "rocket ship." So why doesn't this work out? There are big differences between being a builder, an optimizer, and a maintainer/grower. Yet, I find the majority toss out the term "builder" like it's a universal thing... it's not. Knowing the differences (on both sides) is where alignment starts to rear its beautiful and effective head. Early stage-startups require a V1, maaayyyybe V2 builder and optimizer. The job of a CRO = To create the strategic vision to drive, retain, and grow revenue… across the company.   They are executive leaders of leaders. They will evaluate + set the strategic direction in each function with a leadership team driving the plan for them. They are not in the weeds on the front lines. From the layers of Sales, Marketing, and RevOps to Customer Success, Account Management, Partnerships/Biz Dev, Integration, and Implementation. Think of CROs like the glue connecting all your customer-facing departments around a shared goal: to drive, keep, and expand revenue. If you're asking questions like these: 📍 Do I understand my market and buyer journey? 📍 What is my ICP? 📍 What does my sales process look like? 📍 Do I have a repeatable process? 📍 Is the product ready, and can it deliver? 📍 How do I build a sales team? 📍 I just hit $4M in ARR; how do I continue to grow? 🛑 PLEASE STOP 🛑 And hire a 'Head of' or VP of Sales instead. Getting "Windex clear" about what needs to be done at your startup today and in the near term is the golden ticket. And thhhheeeeeennnnn hire for the work that needs to be done now with someone competent to do it. For the record, in the last almost 2+ decades, I've only known TWO people that went from ~$10MM to $100MM ARR+ They started as VPs of Sales while earning promotions along the way to get to the C-Suite. In the heart of every founder is the dream of growth. But here's a gentle reminder: A CRO won't spell love for your startup's early days. If you need help, my hotline is on ☎️ #founders #startups #leadership #hiring #BuildWithATP

Don't take your eyes off cash flow, build capability, share responsibility, know your markets, 'get noticed', have a plan to 'beat gorillas'.... Following on form Edwin Abl recent post and the successful Mercia Ventures knowldge exchange, strikes me that there are few home truths about scaling, key elements that make it quite different from start-up. Focus on cash flow - revenue is important, margin is essential, but without cash flow you're dead. Build capability - skills and experience matter, but it's collective capability that makes and difference, scaling is about creating the engine the that keeps delivering value Share responsibility - time to let go - you cant do it all on your own, you'll burn-out Know your markets - sounds daft, but knowing your customers is not enough Get noticed - you won't scale if no one knows your there, the black book won't cut it anymore Have a plan to 'beat gorillas' - most markets have dominant players, what are you going to do about them?

Don’t be afraid to work for a startup! Recent discussions with old sales friends working in strategic segments for large suites have highlighted some interesting metrics. My new business deal size landing was close to theirs. Additionally, my C-level connections were 30% superior, and my global understanding of complex organizations like a bank was equal or superior to theirs. They did not admit it, but I also think that those are being partally explained by 30% more work than some of them 😬 as we do not have a multimillion investment plan to support sales, YET ! Maybe they became a little lazy ? Jokes aside, now, salaries, hard to compete with 250/300k OTEs that large suites are giving, for sure ! But if we just look at their achievements versus mine, I am quite close to some of them and I forecast to beat most at the end of this year 😁 These metrics demonstrate (at least to me) that working for a startup can provide opportunities to develop skills and connections that are equal to or even better than those developed while working for larger companies. Don't let fear hold you back from exploring the exciting world of startups! By the way……. We are recruiting in severals dept 😬 DM me so we can have a chat ! #startup #opportunities #recruitment #sales

Looking to build a stellar Sales team? Take a cue from the Oracle of Omaha himself: “We look for three things when we hire people. We look for intelligence, we look for initiative or energy, and we look for integrity. And if they don’t have the latter, the first two will kill you.” - Warren Buffet Integrity is the foundation of any successful business, yet it’s often overlooked. Startups, take note: prioritize character alongside skills and drive. #LeadershipLessons #SalesRecruitment #StartupHiring

🌟 How Sales Executives Can Help Startup Founders Scale Their GTM — and Learn About VC Along the Way 🌟 Many founders I speak with are eager to connect with experienced sales executives who have already scaled what they hope to build. 🚀 For sales executives, this is more than just an opportunity to help—it’s a chance to become part of a startup’s journey, often as an advisor or even an angel investor. Several of my friends in sales have taken this path, using their expertise to guide early-stage companies while gaining valuable insights into venture capital. Here’s why this can be a win-win: 1️⃣ Knowledge Transfer: Startups often need guidance on go-to-market (GTM) strategies. Sales executives who have “been there, done that” can provide invaluable advice on customer acquisition, pipeline building, and scaling sales teams. 2️⃣ Expand Your Network: Building relationships with founders and other investors can open doors to new opportunities—whether it’s investing in the next big thing or expanding your professional circle. 3️⃣ Learn the VC Landscape: By advising startups, you’ll get a firsthand look at how venture capital works, from seed rounds to Series C+. This is an excellent way for sales executives interested in investing to start learning the ropes. If you’re a sales executive looking to dive into the startup ecosystem or explore angel investing, consider reaching out to founders who need your expertise. You might find it’s not just about helping them scale—but also about scaling your own career. 🌱 #Startups #SalesLeadership #AngelInvesting #VentureCapital #GoToMarket #GrowthMindset #Networking #CareerGrowth #Leadership #GTM #SalesExecutives

If you’re a startup founder, at what point should you hire a sales leader on a full time basis? 👇 Many early stage founders have a misconception that their early scale problems will be solved if they bring in a ‘sales maverick.’ The founder believes that if they hire the sales maverick they will figure out how to sell the product far better than they can themselves. They then go out to market and they hire this ‘sales maverick.’ So what happens next?… … Not much. No new customers are signed. No new revenue is generated. And the founder thinks that it must be because they hired the wrong person. Sales maverick A is removed and sales maverick B is hired. Aaaaand the same thing happens again 🤯 Why? Because you do not have a bunch of successful customers who LOVE your product yet. Because you have not figured out how to sell your product - as the FOUNDER. Because you have not reached a level of product market fit. There is no problem with sales maverick A or B, you have simply hired WAY TO EARLY. …. I have felt this pain. When I was a founder, I raised a bit of money and I thought that the right thing to do now was to go into ‘scale mode’ - to hire a sales maverick and trust they would figure out how to grow revenue quickly. As you would have already guessed, the results were dismal. Not only did the sales maverick miss goal massively, but we burned a bunch of cash in the process and it caused months of sleepless nights, probably for both of us… …. So, what needs to be true before you look to hire a Head of Sales into your business? ✅ You MUST have successful customers who swear by your product ✅ You MUST know how to sell it yourself. You must have a sales process that seems to be working ✅ You MUST have realistic expectations - it will take ~6months for this persons value to be felt And most importantly, you should be generating MORE than $1m in ARR (as a rule of thumb) … Until you have achieved the above you should not hire a sales leader into your startup. You, the FOUNDER, must lead sales. . What do you think? Would you add/change any requirements before you hire a sales leader? #founderledsales #startups #seed #VC