Job description

ABOUT DILIGENCESQUARED DiligenceSquared is the AI-native consulting firm. We deliver investment-grade market research and commercial due diligence, powered by AI agents and led by experienced consultants. Our founding team brings deep experience from Blackstone and BCG, and we're backed by Y Combinator and Relentless. Our clients include 5 of the 10 largest private equity firms in the world and represent more than $3T in combined AUM. THE ROLE We're looking for a senior commercial individual contributor to win new business and grow relationships with leading private equity firms. You'll work directly with the founders and own the full sales cycle, from account strategy and outreach through discovery, proposal, negotiation, close and expansion. This is our first dedicated quota-carrying commercial role. You will be expected to sell personally while helping us build a disciplined and repeatable commercial approach. It is not initially a people-management role, but a strong performer could grow into broader GTM leadership as the team expands. The strongest candidate may be an experienced seller of research, data, advisory services or private-market technology. We are also open to exceptional candidates from private equity, commercial diligence, strategy consulting or investor relations who have demonstrated origination, client development and a clear desire to be measured on revenue. WHAT YOU WILL DO - Own a revenue target: Build sufficient qualified pipeline, manage opportunities rigorously and close new and repeat engagements. - Win new clients: Identify priority funds and deal teams, run thoughtful outreach and turn substantive conversations into live opportunities. - Expand existing accounts: Map relationships across sector teams, strategies and offices and convert successful projects into broader, durable client relationships. - Run the sales process: Lead discovery, coordinate follow-up, shape proposals, navigate procurement and keep opportunities moving to a clear decision. - Shape solutions: Work with founders and delivery leaders to translate client needs into well-scoped engagements with the right commercial terms. - Build the playbook: Improve account planning, messaging, CRM discipline, forecasting, handoffs and measurement as we learn what scales. - Partner across the company: Turn marketing, events, partnerships and strong project delivery into relevant commercial conversations. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR - Relevant experience: You have at least five years of experience in enterprise sales, business development, private equity, commercial due diligence, strategy consulting, investor relations or another relevant private-markets role. - Evidence that you can win business: You have personally originated, advanced and converted new business or owned meaningful revenue. A strong brand-name background, senior-client exposure or impressive network alone is not enough. - A relevant commercial path: You may be an experienced seller of research, data, advisory services or private-market technology. We are also open to candidates from private equity, commercial due diligence, strategy consulting or investor relations who can demonstrate real origination, client development and commercial ownership. - Private equity fluency: You understand how deal teams operate, how live transactions create demand and how senior investment professionals make buying decisions. - Credibility with senior clients: You can lead a substantive conversation, ask sharp questions and earn trust without relying on a scripted pitch. - Full-cycle selling ability: You are prepared to prospect, run discovery, shape proposals, navigate objections, negotiate and ask directly for the business. - Builder mentality: You want to develop the commercial approach alongside the founders rather than inherit a mature territory, large support team or established playbook. - Persistent execution: You stay organized through long and uneven sales cycles and continue creating momentum after rejection or delay. - Strong judgment: You know which opportunities deserve time, when to involve delivery leaders and how to balance revenue growth with project economics and the client experience. EXPERIENCE THAT WOULD BE A PLUS - Selling research, data, expert-network, advisory or private-market technology to investment teams - Experience in private equity, commercial due diligence, strategy consulting or investor relations - An existing network across private equity deal teams - Experience in a founder-led or early-stage company - Experience mentoring junior commercial team members WHY DILIGENCESQUARED - Own meaningful revenue responsibility at a YC-backed company with real client traction - Work directly with founders who bought this research at Blackstone and delivered it at BCG - Build relationships with some of the world's leading private equity firms - Help design the commercial playbook rather than inherit one - Meaningful early-stage equity and a path to broader GTM leadership - Intellectually demanding work across complex industries, sophisticated clients and high-stakes decisions - A small, senior team that enjoys working together, with regular offsites, team dinners and meals together at the office - Competitive compensation, high ownership and very little bureaucracy

Requirements

Must-haves

Own a revenue target: Build sufficient qualified pipeline, manage opportunities rigorously and close new and repeat engagements.
Win new clients: Identify priority funds and deal teams, run thoughtful outreach and turn substantive conversations into live opportunities.
Expand existing accounts: Map relationships across sector teams, strategies and offices and convert successful projects into broader, durable client relationships.
Run the sales process: Lead discovery, coordinate follow-up, shape proposals, navigate procurement and keep opportunities moving to a clear decision.
Shape solutions: Work with founders and delivery leaders to translate client needs into well-scoped engagements with the right commercial terms.
Build the playbook: Improve account planning, messaging, CRM discipline, forecasting, handoffs and measurement as we learn what scales.
Partner across the company: Turn marketing, events, partnerships and strong project delivery into relevant commercial conversations.
Private equity fluency: You understand how deal teams operate, how live transactions create demand and how senior investment professionals make buying decisions.
Credibility with senior clients: You can lead a substantive conversation, ask sharp questions and earn trust without relying on a scripted pitch.
Full-cycle selling ability: You are prepared to prospect, run discovery, shape proposals, navigate objections, negotiate and ask directly for the business.
Builder mentality: You want to develop the commercial approach alongside the founders rather than inherit a mature territory, large support team or established playbook.
Persistent execution: You stay organized through long and uneven sales cycles and continue creating momentum after rejection or delay.
Strong judgment: You know which opportunities deserve time, when to involve delivery leaders and how to balance revenue growth with project economics and the client experience.
Selling research, data, expert-network, advisory or private-market technology to investment teams
Experience in private equity, commercial due diligence, strategy consulting or investor relations
An existing network across private equity deal teams
Experience in a founder-led or early-stage company
Experience mentoring junior commercial team members
Own meaningful revenue responsibility at a YC-backed company with real client traction
Work directly with founders who bought this research at Blackstone and delivered it at BCG
Build relationships with some of the world's leading private equity firms
Help design the commercial playbook rather than inherit one
Meaningful early-stage equity and a path to broader GTM leadership
Intellectually demanding work across complex industries, sophisticated clients and high-stakes decisions

Nice-to-haves

None flagged.

Application prep

Use the role’s language and application details while tailoring your materials.

Keywords to mirror

Platform: ashby
Effort: quick