We are looking for a Business Development Manager for an on-device AI middleware startup for the gaming industry. The Startup provides developers with an AI runtime that acts as a "DirectX for AI", a standardized layer for running AI models locally on end-user devices. Small, horizontal team of senior builders with no hierarchy, no corporate games, everyone operates as a peer.

Responsibilities:

Build the outbound function from scratch. Define the ideal customer profile (ICP), conduct market research, and build target account lists. We are still experimenting with channels, so the BD owns finding what works. Outreach is both manual and automated; the BD writes the copy and runs the sequences.

Run discovery calls and demos. Run discovery calls and product demos independently for non-technical conversations; involve the company's technical lead for deeper technical discussions.

Own the sales pipeline in HubSpot. Keep CRM clean, track stage-by-stage conversion, report weekly to the founders on pipeline health and learnings.

Drive industry events end-to-end. Build target meeting lists, schedule sessions, organize side events, prepare agendas. Travel to selected events approximately every 2-3 months. PR and event marketing are handled by the existing marketing/PR team. BD focuses on networking, scheduling meetings with prospects, and bringing back qualified leads.

Maintain ongoing relationships with prospects, customers, and partners that the BD has brought in, including platform contacts engine and middleware partners, and similar accounts.

Source and develop new partnerships — engine vendors, middleware companies, AI providers, ecosystem players. The BD scopes opportunities and drives them forward, with founder support on commercial terms.

Build a personal AI/automation stack to scale own output: LLM-powered lead research, message personalization, agentic workflows. The company already operates internal n8n-based systems the BD can build on top of, but the BD is free to design their own setup.

Support the founding team on cross-functional and operational work: preparing meeting and trip agendas, helping coordinate event logistics and travel, assisting with investor materials, grant applications, and sales decks on request. Marketing lead, designer, and product team are available for collateral work. BD drafts and owns when relevant.

Translate market signal into product direction. Share customer feedback with the technical team to inform product development. Pass technical documentation requests to the technical team.


Requirements:

Higher education. Business, marketing, communications, IT, or related field preferred. Specific degree is less important than demonstrated capability.

3-5 years in B2B business development, sales, or partnerships, ideally at a tech company (SaaS, dev tools, AI, or similar).

Demonstrated track record of lead generation, outbound outreach, and managing a sales pipeline.

Experience with international clients and remote work.

Gaming industry experience is a strong plus but not mandatory; genuine passion for video games is required.

Event/conference experience (organizing or attending B2B industry events) is a plus.

High autonomy. Operates with 90%+ ownership — sets own priorities, drives execution, closes loops without being chased. We don't manage process; we build outcomes together.

Builder mindset. Comfortable in early-stage startup chaos. Takes initiative rather than waiting for instructions. Proactively tests new approaches, learns from failures, and iterates. Comes with both ideas and concrete plans to execute them.

Strong follow-through. Finishes what they start. No half-completed tasks, no silent drop-offs.

Multitasking with focus. Can run outbound, events, partnerships, and ad-hoc operations in parallel and switch context without dropping balls.

Genuinely AI-curious. Wants to build personal agentic workflows and use AI as a real force multiplier, not as a shortcut to skip thinking. Hands-on experience with LLM tooling, automation platforms (n8n, Make, Zapier), or agent frameworks is a strong plus; willingness to learn fast is the baseline requirement.

Strong written and verbal communication. Can represent the company to senior stakeholders, investors, technical leads, and partners without hand-holding. Native-level clarity in English.

Real gamer. Genuine passion for video games — actively plays games and follows the gaming industry.

Cultural fit for a horizontal team. No bosses, no corporate games. Everyone is a peer. Looking for someone who is charged up, opinionated, builds, and operates like a founding-team member in spirit (even if not in title).

Open to international business trips approximately every 2-3 months.

Fully remote work, with overlap windows for Central European time zone.


Computer skills

CRM systems,

LinkedIn Sales Navigator and outreach automation tools,

Google Workspace,

AI tools — confident user of LLMs (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini); ability to build agentic AI workflows and automate routine tasks is a strong plus,

Comfort with picking up new tools and platforms quickly.


Languages:

English — fluent (C1 or higher); business-level written and spoken, comfortable in live calls with international clients and investors.

Russian — plus, not mandatory.


Salary:

USD 1,200-1,800 gross per month (depending on candidate seniority and experience). Paid in USD via Independent Contractor Agreement (ICA).

Net depends on the candidate's individual tax status in Armenia (IE/sole proprietor regime typically applies).


Compensation package:

 

Monthly USD payment via ICA. Eligible for equity grant (stock options under the company's ESOP) after successful completion of probation period — exact grant size depends on candidate seniority and offered case-by-case. Performance bonuses possible based on results.


Social package:

Standard employer-side social benefits do not apply under the ICA structure (the contractor handles their own statutory obligations under Armenian self-employment rules). Company provides paid vacation days and flexible sick leave.


Probation period: 

3 months