Sales. The lifeblood of any business, particularly for startups striving to establish a foothold in their respective markets. Yet, achieving consistent and robust sales can often prove elusive, even when armed with a captivating product that effectively solves a problem. Often, it is the internal processes and sales approaches that hinder a startup's growth potential.

Within the realm of sales, two key engines drive success: the business engine and the human engine. The business engine encompasses various elements such as CRM systems, contract management, lead flow, email marketing, lead nurturing, conversion and scoring mechanisms, and more. On the other hand, the human engine consists of roles like Sales Development Representatives (SDRs), Account Executives (AEs), Sales Engineers, Sales Enablement professionals, and Content Marketers.

However, for early-stage startups with limited resources, hiring just one salesperson becomes a critical decision. It's impractical to invest months in building a comprehensive sales engine. So, what should a startup do in such a situation? When searching for a rainmaker to spearhead sales efforts, it is essential to focus on these fundamental guardrails during the candidate evaluation process.

Startup Capable

Look for a candidate who can thrive as a lone wolf, without relying on an extensive sales engine, and possess the ability to close warm leads independently. Aim for an Average Contract Value (ACV) of around $100-200K/ARR.

While hiring someone with seniority and experience from a larger organization might sound enticing on paper, it's crucial to assess their self-sufficiency. If they lack the resourcefulness to work without a fully-fledged engine, they may resort to blaming the system instead of executing effectively. It is essential to find individuals with the grit, urgency, and execution skills necessary to scale operations when required.

Sales Complexity

Seek candidates who understand how to navigate complex sales cycles and effectively sell solutions to multiple stakeholders within an organization. Look for experience in enterprise sales with an Account-Based Selling (ABS) understanding.

Customers often face internal challenges, such as inertia, lack of understanding, bureaucratic processes, and multiple decision-makers. Having a sales lead who can expertly manage the needs and concerns of different stakeholders, driving them towards a decision and a sale, is a formidable advantage. Remember, comprehensive CRM updates are not as crucial as the ability to effectively engage and guide the human elements involved in the sales process.

Book of Business

Prioritize candidates with a preexisting network of customers and industry contacts. They should be able to bring a shortlist of target companies to kickstart lead generation.

The value of existing relationships cannot be overstated. Leveraging incumbent relationships significantly accelerates sales velocity. A sales lead who has successfully sold in the same space, possesses deep knowledge of clients' business models, and understands their day-to-day operations can initiate conversations at a more advanced stage of the sales funnel. Their grasp of the customer's motivations and decision-making models is inherently stronger, providing a significant advantage.

In the event that finding a candidate who meets all three criteria proves challenging, consider prioritizing the first two guardrails and supplementing with external connectors on a contract basis. Incentivize these connectors to make introductions and shepherd the deal along the sales pipeline.

The current job market presents an opportune moment for companies struggling to find talent. Recent layoffs have created a pool of experienced professionals who may be ideal candidates for the rainmaker role. Seize this opportunity to identify and onboard individuals who can drive sales success for your startup.

Remember, sales is the fuel that propels a startup forward. By carefully selecting a rainmaker who embodies the startup-capable mindset, understands sales complexity, and brings a valuable network of industry contacts, your startup will be better equipped to conquer the challenges of sales and thrive in the market.