Business Development & Partnership (INTERNSHIP)

About Hightable

• Hightable is a global, invite-only community of seasoned founders, CXOs, and industry experts.
• They help startups with funding, mentorship, market access, and community on a single platform.
• Their work includes fundraising support, go-to-market strategy, global expansion, talent, and expert mentorship.
• They host mixers, conferences, and ecosystem events to connect startups with investors, mentors, and innovators.
• They work with a network of partners across the startup ecosystem.

About the Role

• Sit in the Founder’s Office and work directly with the Founder on business development and partnerships.
• This is a hands-on, high-ownership, target-driven role.
• Find and approach new startups, partners, sponsors, and ecosystem players, and convert conversations into memberships and partnerships.
• Gain insight into building and scaling a startup community and GTM platform.

Monthly Targets

• 15 new client acquisition meetings per month
• 3 new memberships closed per month
• 3 event partnerships closed per month
• Progress reviewed weekly, results reviewed monthly.

Key Responsibilities

• Business Development & Client Acquisition

• Identify and research startups and founders benefiting from Hightable's community and services.

• Build target lists by stage, sector, funding status, and fit.

• Reach out via LinkedIn, email, WhatsApp, and calls to book discovery meetings.

• Achieve 15 qualified new client meetings per month.

• Clearly and confidently pitch Hightable’s value (funding access, mentorship, GTM support, and community).

• Consistently follow up with leads until conversion or closure.

• Membership Conversion

• Convert qualified prospects into paying Hightable members (target: 3 per month).

• Understand founder needs and match them to the appropriate Hightable offering.

• Handle questions and objections, keeping communication moving towards closure.

• Support new members during onboarding to ensure immediate value.

• Encourage referrals from existing members.

• Partnership Development

• Build and nurture relationships with investors, accelerators, incubators, corporates, and startup communities.

• Identify collaboration opportunities that add value for Hightable members (e.g., co-hosted events, referral tie-ups, ecosystem alliances).

• Prepare partnership proposals and decks, and follow up on terms and next steps.

• Support the Founder in partnership discussions and negotiations.

• Track partnership opportunities and surface the most promising ones.

• Event Partnerships

• Approach sponsors, venue partners, community partners, media partners, and ecosystem organizations for Hightable events.

• Close 3 event partnerships per month.

• Coordinate with partners before, during, and after events.

• Support event execution: invites, attendee lists, registrations, and on-ground coordination.

• Pipeline & CRM Management

• Log every lead, conversation, and next step in the CRM or tracking sheet.

• Maintain accurate and updated data daily.

• Monitor the funnel from outreach to meeting, conversion, and closure, flagging 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.

• Attend meetings with prospects and partners, take notes, and track action items.

• Research startups, investors, competitors, and market trends, sharing useful insights.

• Reporting & Accountability

• Share daily or weekly updates on outreach, meetings booked, memberships, and partnerships progressed.

• Report monthly performance against targets.

• Flag blockers early and propose solutions.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Dedicated and focused individual with a strong sense of ownership and follow-through.
• Strong written and spoken English, with confidence in communicating with senior individuals.
• Comfort working towards numbers and monthly targets.
• Good research, follow-up, and organization skills.
• Resilience: Persistent and professional when facing rejection or slow responses.
• Ability to commit to the full 6 months and work from the office six days a week.
• Students, recent graduates, or individuals in a BBA, MBA, or related program (any stream with the right attitude).
• Basic comfort with Google Workspace, LinkedIn, and AI tools.
• Prior internship or experience in sales, business development, outreach, or partnerships is good to have.
• Exposure to events, community building, or startup ecosystems is good to have.
• An active LinkedIn presence and a good network is good to have.
• Interest in startups, venture capital, and networking is 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 role is not suitable for those needing 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.
• Certificate of internship and recommendation on successful completion.