Business Development Associate

About Abaka AI

Abaka AI is a trusted data partner for AI companies, providing data solutions for Generative AI, Embodied AI, and Automotive AI. With headquarters in Silicon Valley and teams in Paris, Singapore, and Tokyo, Abaka AI offers a catalog of off-the-shelf datasets and comprehensive data collection and annotation services.

About The Role

Abaka AI is seeking a Business Development Associate to expand its customer base. This is an early-career, full-cycle sales role focused on building commercial judgment and growing into an independent business development professional. You will own leads from initial outreach through closing, working with a mentor to understand customer needs, develop solutions, structure deals, and navigate internal capabilities. The role involves outbound prospecting, pipeline development, customer meetings, sample and pilot coordination, proposal preparation, and supporting pricing and contract discussions. The ideal candidate is proactive, commercially curious, and comfortable learning technical concepts.

Key Responsibilities

• Own business development opportunities from initial prospecting through qualification, discovery, proposal development, negotiation, and close.
• Research and identify prospective customers across AI, technology, and other relevant industries.
• Conduct outbound prospecting through LinkedIn, email, events, referrals, and other channels to build a strong pipeline.
• Lead and participate in customer meetings to understand technical requirements, business priorities, budgets, timelines, and decision-making processes.
• Evaluate whether prospective opportunities align with Abaka AI’s serviceable capabilities and commercial priorities.
• Develop a strong understanding of Abaka AI’s datasets, data collection and annotation services, and technical capabilities.
• Coordinate with project management, technical, research, and operations teams to design solutions for prospective customers.
• Arrange and manage data samples, demonstrations, pilot projects, and other technical evaluations.
• Prepare proposals, pricing materials, contracts, and other commercial documentation.
• Participate in pricing, contract, and commercial negotiations.
• Maintain accurate and organized records of leads, customer requirements, opportunities, follow-ups, and pipeline activity.
• Build long-term customer relationships and identify opportunities for repeat orders, expanded projects, and new use cases.
• Participate in regular pipeline reviews and proactively communicate risks, blockers, and next steps.
• Work toward defined revenue and performance goals while progressing toward independent ownership of the full sales cycle.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Business development, sales, partnerships, account management, or another relevant customer-facing role.
• SDR, BDR, sales associate, or another outbound or full-cycle sales role is preferred.
• Experience with B2B SaaS, technology, AI, data services, or other technical products is a plus.
• Basic understanding of the B2B sales cycle.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfortable initiating conversations with new prospects through LinkedIn, email, events, and other outbound channels.
• Ability to ask thoughtful questions, understand customer needs, and translate those needs into actionable internal requirements.
• Tech-savvy and able to learn new products, technical concepts, industries, and sales tools quickly.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented.
• Proactive about seeking context, asking questions, and collaborating with internal teams.
• Coachable and receptive to feedback.
• Self-driven, adaptable, and comfortable taking ownership in a fast-paced startup environment.
• Strong sense of urgency and accountability.

Qualifications

• 0–2 years of experience in business development, sales, partnerships, account management, or another relevant customer-facing role.
• New graduates with strong internship, sales, or entrepreneurial experience are encouraged to apply.