Startups Lead

As a DDFS Program Lead, you will report to the Head of Datadog for Startups in the Corporate Development organization. You will help scale the Datadog for Startups program across marketing, partnerships, operations, onboarding, and customer success. You’ll be responsible for ensuring that the best startups globally are aware of DDFS, apply, and grow into long‑term Datadog customers. You will work with a team of associate leads and cross‑functional stakeholders, drive strategy, and optimize processes for scale.

At Datadog, we place value in our office culture – the relationships and collaboration it builds and the creativity it brings to the table. We operate as a hybrid workplace to ensure our Datadogs can create a work‑life harmony that best fits them.

• Design and oversee the startup community, events, and referral partnership strategy.
• Design and execute go‑to‑market strategies targeting startups, venture capital firms, accelerators, and other ecosystem partners.
• Lead DDFS messaging, thought leadership content, and digital campaigns across channels.
• Own paid and organic growth strategies (social, advertising, outbound).

• Own the application review and intake process, ensuring fairness and efficiency.
• Resolve edge cases and sales channel conflicts, aligning policies with Strat Ops and Sales.
• Lead process design and automation to scale DDFS without linear headcount growth.
• Maintain program health dashboards and report outcomes (applications, adoption, conversion).

• Ensure startups are onboarded smoothly and drive early adoption of Datadog solutions.
• Develop adoption playbooks, technical enablement, and success frameworks.
• Oversee health monitoring, usage optimization, and expansion into other products.
• Drive education and guide CS/Sales teams to help startups from credits to paid plans.
• Analyze internal and external data to improve operational efficiency and optimize program outcomes.

• Partner with cross‑functional stakeholders (Sales, Customer Success, Product Management, Corporate Development) to surface insights and align strategies to deliver an exceptional program experience for startups.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with accelerators, VCs, and referral partners.
• Lead special initiatives.
• Collaborate with the broader Corporate Development team to manage high‑priority projects and initiatives for DDFS.

• 6–8 years experience in startups, partnerships, community marketing, sales, customer success, or program management.
• Proven track record leading cross‑functional programs or startup ecosystem initiatives.
• Deep familiarity with startup fundraising, accelerators, and venture ecosystems.
• Strong program design, process optimization, and data‑driven decision‑making skills.
• Experience managing teams and scaling community or go‑to‑market programs globally.
• Excellent communication and leadership presence with both founders and executives.

• A startup ecosystem connector who understands founders, accelerators, and VCs, ideally with a similar startup program, as a VC, founder, or startup employee
• A strategic operator who balances high‑level vision with executional detail.
• A builder eager to scale a global program with measurable impact.
• An empathetic leader who thrives on collaboration and storytelling.
• Fearless and creative in sourcing high‑potential startups
• Self‑starter who thrives in fast‑paced, ambiguous environments and takes initiative to drive results.
• Excellent at building and maintaining a network of relationships to facilitate deal flow
• Strong written communication and critical‑thinking skills
• Analytical and data‑driven, capable of using insights to inform decisions and improve processes.
• Adept at prioritizing projects and managing competing demands with limited resources.

Benefits and Growth:

• Generous and competitive global benefits
• New hire stock equity (RSUs) and employee stock purchase plan
• Continuous career development and pathing opportunities
• Product training to develop an in‑depth understanding of our product and space
• Best in breed onboarding
• Internal…