BD & Strategic Partnership (INTERNSHIP)

About Hightable

• Hightable is a global, invite-only community of seasoned founders, CXOs, and industry experts.
• We help startups with Money, Mentor, Market: funding, mentorship, market access, and community in one platform.
• Our work includes fundraising support, go-to-market strategy, global expansion, talent, and expert mentorship.
• We host mixers, conferences, and ecosystem events that connect startups with investors, mentors, and innovators.
• We work with a network of partners across the startup ecosystem.

About the Role

• You will sit in the Founder’s Office and work directly with the Founder on business development and strategic partnerships.
• This is a hands-on, high-ownership, target-driven role, not a support-only internship.
• You will open doors with startups, investors, corporates, and ecosystem players, and help turn conversations into memberships and partnerships.
• You will see how a startup community and GTM platform is built and scaled from the inside.

Monthly Targets

• 15 new client acquisition meetings per month
• 3 new memberships closed per month
• 3 event partnerships closed per month
• Progress is reviewed every week, and results are reviewed every month.

Key Responsibilities

• Business Development & Client Acquisition
• Identify and research startups and founders who would benefit from Hightable’s community and services.
• Reach out through LinkedIn, email, WhatsApp, and calls to book discovery meetings.
• Achieve 15 qualified new client meetings every month.
• Pitch Hightable’s value (funding access, mentorship, GTM support, and community) clearly and confidently.
• Follow up consistently with every lead until it converts or is closed out.
• Membership Conversion
• Convert qualified prospects into Hightable members, with a target of 3 per month.
• Understand each founder’s needs and match them to the right Hightable offering.
• Handle questions and objections, and keep communication smooth until closure.
• Support new members during onboarding so they get value from day one.
• Event Partnerships
• Identify and approach sponsors, venue partners, community partners, media partners, and ecosystem organisations for Hightable events.
• Close 3 event partnerships every month.
• Prepare partnership proposals and decks, and follow up on terms and deliverables.
• Coordinate with partners before, during, and after events.
• Support event execution: invites, attendee lists, registrations, and on-ground coordination.
• Strategic Partnerships
• Build and nurture relationships with investors, accelerators, incubators, corporates, and startup communities.
• Explore collaborations that create value for Hightable members, such as co-hosted events, referrals, and ecosystem tie-ups.
• Support the Founder in preparing for partnership discussions and negotiations.
• Track partnership opportunities and surface the most promising ones to the Founder.
• Pipeline & CRM Management
• Build and maintain target lists of startups, investors, and partners.
• Log every lead, conversation, and next step in the CRM or tracking sheet.
• Keep data accurate and updated daily.
• Monitor the funnel from outreach to meeting, conversion, and closure, and flag gaps early.
• Founder’s Office Support
• Prepare meeting briefs, background research, and follow-up notes for the Founder.
• Draft decks, proposals, emails, and outreach messages.
• Join meetings with prospects and partners, take notes, and track action items.
• Research startups, investors, competitors, and market trends, and share useful insights.
• Reporting & Accountability
• Share a daily or weekly update on outreach, meetings booked, memberships, and partnerships progressed.
• Report monthly performance against targets.
• Flag blockers early and propose solutions.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Strong written and spoken English, with confidence communicating with senior people.
• Comfort working toward numbers and monthly targets.
• Good research, follow-up, and organisation skills.
• Resilience: persistent and professional even when facing rejection or slow responses.
• Basic comfort with Google Workspace, LinkedIn, and AI tools.

Qualifications

• A dedicated and focused person who takes ownership and finishes what they start.
• Ability to commit to the full 6 months and work from office six days a week.
• Students, recent graduates, or anyone in a BBA, MBA, or related program (any stream is welcome if the attitude is right).
• Prior internship or experience in sales, business development, outreach, or partnerships (Good to Have).
• Exposure to events, community building, or startup ecosystems (Good to Have).
• An active LinkedIn presence and a good network (Good to Have).
• Interest in startups, venture capital, and networking (Good to Have).

Mindset We Value

• High ownership and a bias for action.
• Curiosity and willingness to learn quickly.
• Reliability: doing what you say you will do, on time.
• Professionalism, discipline, and respect for deadlines.
• Hunger to grow and take on more responsibility.

Internship Details

• Duration: 6 months (full-time)
• Stipend: ₹10,000 per month
• Mode: Work from Office only
• Location: BTM Layout, Bengaluru
• Working days: Monday to Saturday
• Timings: 10 AM to 7 PM
• This is a full-time, 6-month internship.
• You must be present in the BTM Layout office Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 7 PM.
• You are expected to take full ownership of your monthly targets.
• This role is not suitable for those who need remote or flexible work, or who cannot commit to 6 months.

What You Will Gain

• Direct mentorship from the Founder.
• Exposure to founders, investors, CXOs, and the startup ecosystem.
• Real experience in business development, partnerships, negotiation, and deal closure.
• Hands-on learning in event partnerships and community building.
• A strong network and a performance record you can show.
• Certificate of internship and recommendation on successful completion.