Team8 Stealth Mode Startup-Business Development Lead,Strategic Partnership

Description

We are looking for a high-energy, relationship-driven Business Development Lead to help shape our commercial footprint and support the growth of a category-defining company in the AI infrastructure space.

This is a unique opportunity to work closely with the founders, GTM leaders, and product teams as we build strategic relationships across the AI ecosystem – including enterprise buyers, design partners, platform teams, and other market-shaping stakeholders. You will help create and expand a high-value network in the heart of the Silicon Valley ecosystem, turning market access into real business momentum.

This role is based in the San Francisco Bay Area / Silicon Valley and is designed for someone who is deeply connected to the local AI infrastructure community.

Responsibilities

• Drive GTM success by identifying and engaging prospective customers, design partners, and strategic stakeholders that can accelerate the company’s commercial traction.
• Build and deepen relationships with senior decision-makers across AI infrastructure, platform, engineering, and innovation organizations in the U.S. market.
• Develop and manage a strategic ecosystem of enterprise contacts, partners, advisors, and early adopters who can support product-market fit and long-term growth.
• Represent the company externally at major industry events, executive roundtables, private gatherings, and high-value 1:1 meetings across the Valley and broader U.S. market.
• Work closely with founders and internal stakeholders to turn market feedback into actionable business, product, and GTM insights.
• Support strategic growth initiatives by facilitating targeted introductions, gathering structured market input, and helping shape early commercial opportunities.
• Own pipeline visibility and execution discipline by leveraging modern CRM and sales intelligence tools to manage outreach, engagement, and follow-up.
• Act as a key external voice for the company within the AI infrastructure ecosystem, building trusted relationships that can translate into revenue, partnerships, and strategic advantage.

Requirements:

• 3-5+ years of experience in business development, partnerships, strategic sales, or go-to-market roles, ideally in AI infrastructure, developer tools, cloud, data infrastructure, MLOps, or adjacent technical domains.
• Direct experience working with enterprise technology buyers and highly technical stakeholders.
• Strong familiarity with the AI infrastructure startup and venture landscape, with a clear understanding of how category leaders are built and scaled.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills, executive presence, and the ability to create trust quickly with senior external stakeholders.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to turn market insights into actions and identify high-leverage business opportunities.
• Fluent English speaker and writer with polished communication skills.
• Experience using modern CRM and sales enablement tools.
• Team player with high energy, entrepreneurial mindset, and a strong bias toward execution.

Advantages

• Prior experience in a successful AI infrastructure, cloud, data, or developer-first startup.
• Strong personal network across founders, GTM leaders, platform teams, and enterprise innovation leaders in the Bay Area.
• Experience supporting early-stage or venture-backed companies through founder-led sales and early market development.
• Track record of curating high-value customer, ecosystem, or community-facing engagements.

We offer a base salary range of $150,000–$200,000 (USD), depending on experience, seniority, and location within the US, along with a meaningful equity package and a comprehensive benefits plan.