Partnerships Intern, Alliances & GTM

About the Role

Akaike Technologies is seeking a Partnerships Intern to support the GTM lead in developing and managing the company's partner channel. This role involves working with agencies, platforms, system integrators, and cloud marketplaces to promote AI products and services. Interns will gain hands-on experience with real accounts, partners, and decision-making processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner Identification: Build and qualify partner lists based on archetypes (agencies, SIs, SaaS platforms, marketplaces, networks). Screen partners against predefined criteria, including their practice area, target buyer, overlap with Akaike's offerings, client base size, and identification of a decision-maker.
• Partner Research: Conduct thorough research on shortlisted partners and create one-page fit notes detailing their offerings, clients, how Akaike's solutions can integrate, key contacts, and potential objections.
• Outreach Execution: Draft partnership-focused outreach messages (email, LinkedIn, call scripts) highlighting specific reasons for engagement. Manage outreach sequences, track responses, and schedule initial calls for the GTM lead.
• Pipeline Management: Maintain the partner pipeline in HubSpot, tracking stages, next steps, owners, and dates.
• Deal Progression Support: Prepare pre-call briefs, document partner call notes, send follow-ups within 24 hours, and follow up on open items (NDAs, scoping templates, proposals, intro requests).
• Collateral Development: Assist in creating and maintaining partner collateral, including one-pagers, capability decks, co-branded campaign outlines, FAQs, and objection-handling documents. Ensure client references are anonymized correctly.
• Reporting: Own the weekly partnerships scorecard for GTM sync meetings, reporting on partners contacted, calls booked, stage movement, and blockers.

Tools & Technologies

• HubSpot
• LinkedIn Sales Navigator
• Apollo
• Google Workspace
• AI tools (for research and drafting)

Qualifications

• Final-year student or recent graduate (MBA, BBA, engineering, or similar), OR 0–1 years of experience in sales, partnerships, BD, or consulting.
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills, with the ability to write clearly and concisely.
• Strong research capabilities, able to generate a comprehensive fit note within an hour.
• Highly organized with a proactive approach to tracking and following up on open items.
• Comfortable interacting with founders and senior stakeholders on calls.
• Interest in B2B AI and the ability to explain AI products in simple terms.

Good to Have

• Exposure to quick-commerce, D2C, CPG, pharma, or BFSI sectors.
• Prior internship experience in a startup GTM, BD, or alliances team.
• Hands-on experience with HubSpot, Sales Navigator, or Apollo.
• Basic understanding of deck and one-pager design.

What You'll Get

• Direct mentorship from the GTM lead, with exposure to the COO and CEO on partner negotiations.
• Involvement in the full partnership lifecycle, from prospecting to launch.
• Access to tools and training, including HubSpot, Sales Navigator, Apollo, AI tooling, and internal playbooks.
• A potential path to a full-time Partnerships or BD role for high performers.
• Opportunity to build a portfolio of real work, including fit notes, outreach materials, collateral, and documented partner plays.