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Business Development Representative

Role overview

Summary

This role is for a Business Development Representative at FirstPrinciples, focused on generating pipeline and identifying new opportunities for the AI platform, Theo. You will work closely with Account Executives and leadership to refine messaging and improve sales strategies while contributing to the overall growth of the company.

Qualifications

  • 1-3 years of experience in sales, business development, or a customer-facing role, ideally in B2B SaaS.
  • Proactive and resourceful with the ability to figure things out without a playbook.
  • Strong communication skills to build relationships and engage technical stakeholders.
  • Curiosity about AI and enjoyment in learning how complex technology solves real-world problems.
  • Preferred: Eagerness to learn and grow into an Account Executive role.

Responsibilities

  • Generate and qualify new business opportunities through proactive outbound prospecting.
  • Research and identify potential customers across R&D organizations.
  • Develop a deep understanding of Theo and communicate its value to prospective customers.
  • Lead initial discovery and qualification conversations to understand customer needs.

Key facts

Hard skills

Other skills

  • Sales
  • Communication
  • Adaptability
  • Curiosity

About the company

FirstPrinciples logo

FirstPrinciples

  • Research & Scientific Services
  • TPE
  • 2–10
FirstPrinciples is the non-profit foundation dedicated to advancing knowledge, fostering innovation, and leveraging science to shape a brighter future for all. Our focus areas include developing innovative tech tools for researchers, leveraging data-driven insights to guide scientific progress, publishing engaging and accessible scientific content, and supporting high-risk, high-reward research projects.

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Job description

About FirstPrinciples

At FirstPrinciples, we're building Theo, the AI platform for R&D teams. By bringing together an organization's data, the world's research, and their choice of AI models and tools, we're creating a unified platform designed for verifiable scientific work.

We're a small, ambitious team at an early stage of growth, tackling complex technical challenges and building something with the potential to meaningfully change how R&D teams work.

We're looking for people who thrive in fast-paced environments, take ownership, adapt quickly, and aren't afraid to experiment. You'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact, work closely with talented people across disciplines, and help shape both our technology and the company as we grow.

Why This Role Exists:

We're looking for a Business Development Representative to help us generate pipeline, identify new opportunities, and shape how we bring Theo to market. This isn't a role where you'll follow an established playbook. You'll help build one.

You'll thrive here if you're curious, resourceful, and energized by a fast-paced startup environment where priorities evolve quickly. We're looking for someone who takes ownership, isn't afraid to experiment, and is excited to make a meaningful impact as we grow.

What You'll Do

  • Generate and qualify new business opportunities through proactive outbound prospecting, including cold calls, email, LinkedIn, and other creative approaches.

  • Research and identify potential customers across R&D organizations, building an understanding of their challenges, workflows, and opportunities for AI adoption.

  • Develop a deep understanding of Theo and confidently communicate its value to prospective customers.

  • Lead initial discovery and qualification conversations to understand customer needs and identify strong opportunities for our Account Executives.

  • Partner closely with Account Executives and leadership to build pipeline, refine messaging, and improve our sales approach.

  • Experiment with new prospecting strategies, test different messaging, and use what you learn to improve results.

  • Maintain accurate prospect, account, and activity information in Salesforce to support pipeline visibility and follow through.

  • Share customer insights and market feedback with our Product and Engineering teams to help shape our product and go-to-market strategy.

  • Take ownership of your pipeline and work toward monthly qualified opportunity targets, continuously looking for ways to improve performance.

  • Contribute beyond your day-to-day responsibilities when needed. We're a small team, and everyone plays a role in moving the business forward.

Who You Are

  • You have 1-3 years of experience in sales, business development, or a customer-facing role, ideally in B2B SaaS.

  • You're proactive, resourceful, and comfortable figuring things out without a playbook.

  • You thrive in fast-paced environments where priorities shift and ambiguity is part of the job.

  • You're resilient, persistent, and comfortable with rejection.

  • You're curious about AI and enjoy learning how complex technology solves real-world problems.

  • You're a strong communicator who can build relationships and engage technical stakeholders.

  • You take ownership, move quickly, and focus on outcomes rather than just activity.

  • You're eager to learn, open to feedback, and excited to grow into an Account Executive role.

What You'll Get

  • The opportunity to help build our go-to-market motion from the ground up.

  • Direct exposure to leadership and experienced sales professionals.

  • A clear opportunity to develop toward an Account Executive role.

  • The chance to work with cutting-edge AI technology transforming R&D.

  • A fast-moving, collaborative startup environment where your ideas and contributions matter.

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