Founding AE at AI SaaS – $200K Base + Growth Path in Columbus
Career & Market Insight
This is a high-upside "Founding AE" role at an early-stage AI B2B SaaS company — a compelling opportunity for ambitious sales professionals who want to shape a company's go-to-market strategy from the ground up, not just execute an existing playbook.
Compensation context: A $150K–$200K base is at or above market for a 2–5 year AE at an early-stage startup (typical range is $100K–$160K base). The OTE (on-target earnings) with commissions on a $1M+ quota could push total comp well above $300K, making this financially competitive even against mid-market enterprise AE roles at larger firms.
Career development signals:
- Building sales playbooks and piloting new processes develops VP/Head of Sales-level skills early.
- Selling AI tools into accounting firms is a niche with strong tailwinds — this expertise will be in high demand as AI adoption accelerates in professional services.
- The explicit mention of "help lay groundwork for building and leading a sales team" signals a likely path to Sales Manager or VP of Sales.
Green flags: Founder-led growth already validated, six-figure deal sizes, clear quota target. Watch for: No mention of equity, which is unusual for a founding AE role — clarify this during interviews. Also confirm whether the $150K–$200K is truly base or inclusive of OTE.
Headquarters: United States
URL: https://truetalentsolutionspartners.com
About the Role
A growing AI-focused B2B software company is hiring a Founding Account Executive to take ownership of its sales motion and build on founder-led growth. You will manage enterprise sales from prospecting through close and help establish the foundation for a future sales team.
What You'll Do
- Own the full sales cycle, including outbound prospecting, cold calls, email, conferences, product demonstrations, and contract negotiations.
- Sell to partners and practice leaders at large accounting firms, managing deals in the mid-five- to high-six-figure range with sales cycles of three to five months.
- Scope and lead two- to four-week pilots, often in competitive evaluations, and convert successful pilots into enterprise contracts.
- Develop sales playbooks for messaging, outreach sequences, pilot structure, and closing in close partnership with company leadership.
- Target approximately $1 million in first-year sales and help lay the groundwork for building and leading a sales team.
What We're Looking For
- Two to five years of experience as a quota-carrying account executive at an early-stage B2B SaaS startup.
- A record of closing six-figure B2B software deals through multi-month enterprise sales cycles.
- Experience building and self-sourcing pipeline through cold calling, email, and industry events.
- Entrepreneurial experience in an early-stage startup environment.
- U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.
Compensation & Benefits
Base salary is $150,000 to $200,000 annually. Visa sponsorship is not available.
Location
Remote within the United States.
To apply: https://weworkremotely.com/remote-jobs/true-talent-solutions-partners-founding-account-executive
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this role truly remote or is there an office requirement?
What is the base salary for this Founding Account Executive position?
Can international candidates or visa holders apply?
What type of companies will I be selling to in this role?
Is there an opportunity to move into sales leadership from this role?
