Business Development Representative

About FirstPrinciples

At FirstPrinciples, we're building Theo, the AI platform for R&D teams. By bringing together an organization's data, the world's research, and their choice of AI models and tools, we're creating a unified platform designed for verifiable scientific work.

We're a small, ambitious team at an early stage of growth, tackling complex technical challenges and building something with the potential to meaningfully change how R&D teams work.

We're looking for people who thrive in fast-paced environments, take ownership, adapt quickly, and aren't afraid to experiment. You'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact, work closely with talented people across disciplines, and help shape both our technology and the company as we grow.

Why This Role Exists:

We're looking for a Business Development Representative to help us generate pipeline, identify new opportunities, and shape how we bring Theo to market. This isn't a role where you'll follow an established playbook. You'll help build one.

You'll thrive here if you're curious, resourceful, and energized by a fast-paced startup environment where priorities evolve quickly. We're looking for someone who takes ownership, isn't afraid to experiment, and is excited to make a meaningful impact as we grow.

What You'll Do

• Generate and qualify new business opportunities through proactive outbound prospecting, including cold calls, email, LinkedIn, and other creative approaches.

• Research and identify potential customers across R&D organizations, building an understanding of their challenges, workflows, and opportunities for AI adoption.

• Develop a deep understanding of Theo and confidently communicate its value to prospective customers.

• Lead initial discovery and qualification conversations to understand customer needs and identify strong opportunities for our Account Executives.

• Partner closely with Account Executives and leadership to build pipeline, refine messaging, and improve our sales approach.

• Experiment with new prospecting strategies, test different messaging, and use what you learn to improve results.

• Maintain accurate prospect, account, and activity information in Salesforce to support pipeline visibility and follow through.

• Share customer insights and market feedback with our Product and Engineering teams to help shape our product and go-to-market strategy.

• Take ownership of your pipeline and work toward monthly qualified opportunity targets, continuously looking for ways to improve performance.

• Contribute beyond your day-to-day responsibilities when needed. We're a small team, and everyone plays a role in moving the business forward.

Who You Are

• You have 1-3 years of experience in sales, business development, or a customer-facing role, ideally in B2B SaaS.

• You're proactive, resourceful, and comfortable figuring things out without a playbook.

• You thrive in fast-paced environments where priorities shift and ambiguity is part of the job.

• You're resilient, persistent, and comfortable with rejection.

• You're curious about AI and enjoy learning how complex technology solves real-world problems.

• You're a strong communicator who can build relationships and engage technical stakeholders.

• You take ownership, move quickly, and focus on outcomes rather than just activity.

• You're eager to learn, open to feedback, and excited to grow into an Account Executive role.

What You'll Get

• The opportunity to help build our go-to-market motion from the ground up.

• Direct exposure to leadership and experienced sales professionals.

• A clear opportunity to develop toward an Account Executive role.

• The chance to work with cutting-edge AI technology transforming R&D.

• A fast-moving, collaborative startup environment where your ideas and contributions matter.