Business Development Representative

The wholesale distribution industry is ready for a revolution, and Proton is leading the charge. The world relies on distributors to sell nearly every physical product, but despite its massive contribution to the global economy, this industry has been left behind in terms of technology. Proton builds AI software that helps wholesale distributors grow sales and make everyday work easier. Our products help teams identify sales opportunities, improve product information, and simplify workflows.

We’re looking for curious people who want to help distributors put AI to work—and use it to improve how we work, too.

In 2022, we raised a $20M Series A backed by Felicis Ventures (investors in Twitch, Shopify, Opendoor, and many others) and Battery Ventures. This year, we’re laser-focused on driving customer growth. If you’re excited about the opportunity to wear multiple hats, and continuously learn and experiment, now’s the time to join the Proton team.

About the role:

Reporting to the BDR Manager and working closely with the marketing and sales teams, you’ll be on the front lines of maintaining our rapid growth in the industry. Your key responsibility will be to ensure Proton is the first name that comes to mind for distributors looking for an AI solution. Your role is central to uncovering sales opportunities and fuelling our sales pipeline.

We’re looking for someone who is passionate about creating processes from scratch. The ideal candidate will not only thrive in their core responsibilities but will also play a vital role in developing the future of Proton’s business development strategies and team. If you’re fascinated by the psychology behind sales, thrive on the challenge of breaking through to the right contact, and see each “no” as a step towards an eventual “yes”, this role could be your perfect match.

If you’re at the beginning of your career, gritty, and eager to be part of a fast-growing tech startup’s journey from the early stages, this is an opportunity for you.

This is a hybrid role, based in Cambridge, MA, with three days per week in our Harvard Square office

$80,000 base salary + $30,000 target variable compensation = $110,000 on-target earnings.

Your responsibilities:

• Build pipeline through cold calls, emails, and Linked In outreach to decision-makers at mid-to-large distributors, tailoring your messaging to their business and priorities.
• Start meaningful conversations about how Proton’s AI can help distributors grow sales, improve productivity, and simplify everyday work.
• Qualify prospects, uncover their challenges, and book meetings for our Account Executives, providing clear context for a smooth handoff.
• Follow up with leads from events, previous conversations, and signal interest to build relationships and turn engagement into qualified meetings.
• Represent Proton at industry events and conferences, connecting with prospects in person and following up afterward. Expect approximately 15% travel
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What You’ll Do:

• Conduct thorough research on target accounts, pinpointing decision-makers who need to know about Proton.
• Drive consistent outbound activity through cold calls, emails, and Linked In, turning meaningful conversations into qualified meetings for our sales team.
• Experiment with AI tools and build repeatable workflows that simplify account research, contact discovery, personalized outreach, and follow-up.
• Partner with the BDR Manager to develop and test messaging, sequences, and AI-assisted prospecting approaches that improve results.
• Nurture and qualify leads from events, sponsor ships, and previous interactions, using relevant content and timely follow-up to create opportunities.
• Keep Hub Spot accurate and current, capturing prospecting activity, business challenges, existing systems,…