Scaling Up Sales is a program supported by the Service for the Promotion of the Economy and Innovation (SPEI) in partnership with Innovaud and the Foundation for Technological Innovation (FIT). This program supports growing SMEs and technological startups by developing the entrepreneurs’ sales management skills.

Innovation alone represents only a minor part of a company’s economic added value. It is the market implementation of innovation that provides tangible and substantial proof of the company’s value—through its market, customers, revenue, and growth history. Implementation begins with the ability to acquire customers and then exponentially grow this capability to ensure survival and economic success. Customer acquisition is both a mindset and a science that can be learned and must be embedded into the DNA of the company and its leadership.

The program aims to train entrepreneurs in sales management and commercial growth. The theoretical sales management training is complemented by practical support from a Sales Angel, helping startups and SMEs achieve economically sustainable growth and encouraging entrepreneurs to expand their businesses beyond Switzerland—to go further, bigger, and faster.

We are currently looking for Sales Management Angels to join our team.

Scaling Up Sales Management Angels (M/F), startups based in French-speaking Switzerland (consulting mandates)

Based in French-speaking Switzerland, the startups benefiting from this support program are innovative companies less than ten years old, in commercialization or pre-commercialization phases, with market-validated products or services. They are represented by their CEO and sales director. The startups operate in fields ranging from robotic programming, genomics, drones, and 3D printing in bioscience, to medical and research equipment, fluid analysis, and data protection. These startups have varying levels of commercial maturity, from annual revenues of a few hundred thousand francs to several million francs—thus, they are not projects but established companies with employees and customers.

The program provides economic support covering 50% of the Sales Angels’ fees. Sales Angels follow a specific support methodology, and their involvement is under the program’s management.

Sales Angels assist startups in developing their market, adapting their value propositions, educating their market, developing their sales pipeline, establishing their sales organization, and setting up management routines. Sales Angels engage strategically and operationally, ready to be hands-on where necessary. The required competence level for Sales Angels is equivalent to an Advisory Board member.

Role of the Sales Management Angel

• Submit a roadmap for a startup support mandate involving 4 to 8 hours monthly over approximately 18 months.

• Support startups in growth strategy development and operational execution.

• Support acquisition of growth resources (staff, business partners, financial means).

• Support commercial efforts and sales pipeline management.

• Assist in setting up sales management routines (weekly meetings, sales meetings, etc.).

• Intervene in meetings, interactions, and negotiations with startup clients as needed.

• Help set up sales materials and tools (CRM software, sales pipeline management tools, configurators, prospecting tools, etc.).

• Assist in recruiting sales personnel and implementing management by objectives.

• Support sales staff management.

• Ensure knowledge transfer to startups without acting as a subcontractor.

• Maintain and submit precise, analytical timesheets of support activities.

• Invoice and collect fees monthly from the startup.

• Participate in coordination and experience-sharing meetings among Sales Angels.

• Work under the program manager’s supervision.

Essential Requirements

• Professional consultant recognized within the startup and SME support ecosystem, with a minimum of 3 years’ experience and references.

• Economically independent with flexible availability of a few hours per month.

• Ability to work in a team under this program’s leadership.

• At least 5 years’ experience as a sales director managing one or more sales teams.

• At least 10 years’ experience in sales, dealing with international clients for technological products and solutions.

• Proven experience building and developing a sales force from scratch.

• Confirmed work or consulting experience in one or more startup sectors of the program.

• Experience working with companies of different sizes: startups, SMEs, and international corporations.

• Competence in managing sales teams: prospecting, sales pipeline analysis, and management.

• HR management skills: recruitment, setting and management of sales objectives, personal development management.

• Experience acquiring new clients through prospecting and managing existing client portfolios.

• Experience managing relationships with large or medium-sized organizations, quickly establishing high-level relationships.

• Proven negotiation and deal-closing skills.

• Active listening skills and ability to craft the ideal value proposition for prospects.

• Quick understanding of new technologies and processes.

• Extensive experience with sales force automation tools (CRM, SFA, ERP) and prospecting tools (LinkedIn Sales Navigator, etc.).

Disqualifying Criteria

• Actively job searching or fully employed.

• Applying to join the startup permanently.

• Significant availability constraints due to overcommitment.

• Lack of professional sales experience in Switzerland, Europe, or the USA.

Mandate Locations

• Video conferences (Zoom, Teams, etc.).

• Startup premises in Switzerland.

• Client locations.

Required Languages

• Professional-level English (mandatory) and ideally at least one other language relevant to the startup’s client base (French, German, etc.).

Travel Requirements

• Occasional travel may be necessary.

Remuneration

• Sales Management Angels bill their time hourly at CHF 200/hour.

Application

Only applications fully meeting the criteria and including a specific, compelling cover letter for this mandate will be considered.
This mandate is NOT AN EMPLOYMENT POSITION.

Application link: https://podio.com/webforms/28009875/2201998

We look forward to meeting you!