Founding Account Executive - SEA Region
Join our AI platform as the first Account Executive for Southeast Asia and play a pivotal role in our international expansion. You'll be responsible for establishing our presence in one of the world's fastest-growing tech markets while building the foundation for our regional sales operations.
About Our Company:
Expanding into SEA as part of our global growth strategy. Currently we serve apps like Kredivo, FinAccel, Cermati, Indodana and more.
Proven track record as an enterprise-grade app personalisation platform
This is a unique opportunity to be the architect of our SEA market entry while working directly with leadership to shape our regional strategy.
About This Role
As our first AE in SEA, you'll wear multiple hats - from individual contributor driving revenue to market development strategist building our regional presence. You'll work closely with our global sales and product teams while having autonomy to adapt our approach for the local market.
Key Challenges You'll Solve:
Market Entry Execution - Establish our presence and credibility in the SEA market
Cultural Adaptation - Tailor our sales approach to local business practices and decision-making processes
Pipeline Development - Build a robust pipeline from ground zero in a new geographic market
Regional Intelligence - Provide market insights to inform product and strategy decisions
Outcomes Expected
Q1 Objectives: Build foundation and deliver $10K+ new MRR (~1-2 new logos)
Q2 Objectives: Scale momentum and deliver $20K+ new MRR (~4-5 new logos)
Year 1 Objectives: Establish market presence with $600K+ new ARR (~15-20 new logos) and build scalable processes for team expansion
Responsibilities
Sales Execution & Revenue Generation
Own the complete sales cycle from prospecting to close for enterprise accounts ($25K-$100K+ ACV)
Build and manage a pipeline of qualified opportunities across SEA markets
Conduct product demonstrations and pilot programs with prospects
Negotiate contracts and drive deals to closure
Achieve quarterly and annual revenue targets
Market Development & Strategy
Identify and prioritize target segments and accounts within SEA
Develop market-specific messaging and positioning strategies
Build relationships with key industry players, partners, and influencers
Provide regular market intelligence and competitive insights to global team
Adapt sales processes and materials for local market needs
Process & Foundation Building
Establish best practices for SEA market approach and document learnings
Create scalable processes and frameworks for future team expansion
Build local partner network and ecosystem relationships
Collaborate with marketing on regional demand generation strategies
Requirements
Professional Experience
2+ years of B2B sales experience with enterprise/mid-market accounts, preferably in AI/SaaS/technology
Proven track record of consistently achieving sales targets (40K$+ ACV)
SEA market experience - deep understanding of business culture and decision-making processes across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam
Startup or scale-up experience preferred, comfortable with ambiguity and building from ground up
Market & Cultural Expertise
Native-level proficiency in English; additional SEA languages (Mandarin, Bahasa, Thai) highly valued
Deep network in SEA tech/business ecosystem
Cultural intelligence and ability to navigate diverse business practices across the region
Travel flexibility - willing to travel 30-40% across SEA markets
Core Competencies
Revenue Hunter
Proven ability to generate new business and exceed quotas consistently
Competitive mindset with relentless focus on results
Strong prospecting skills and ability to build pipeline from scratch
Experience with complex, consultative sales cycles
Market Pioneer
Comfortable with ambiguity and building in uncharted territory
Strategic thinking ability to identify market opportunities and entry strategies
Entrepreneurial mindset with ownership mentality
Adaptability to adjust approach based on market feedback
Relationship Builder
Exceptional interpersonal skills and executive presence
Ability to build trust and credibility with C-level executives
Strong listening skills and customer-centric approach
Cross-cultural communication expertise
Analytical & Strategic
Data-driven approach to sales forecasting and pipeline management
Ability to synthesize market insights and provide strategic recommendations
Strong problem-solving skills and consultative selling approach
CRM proficiency and systematic approach to sales process
Ready to pioneer our SEA expansion? If you're excited about building something from the ground up while leveraging proven technology in a high-growth market, we'd love to hear from you.
This role offers the unique opportunity to combine strategic market development with tactical sales execution, giving you end-to-end ownership of our most important international growth initiative.