Business Development Director (Saas + AI – Startup)

About our Client

Our client is an AI technology startup based in Kuala Lumpur with proprietary AI-powered 3D avatar technology — transforming any 2D image into a hyper-realistic, animatable 3D avatar.

The Role

We are looking for a BD Director to own B2B revenue generation across the APAC region (Southeast Asia, Greater China, North Asia, ANZ).

This is a founding, hands-on, individual contributor role.

• Team: None. You build it after proving the model.
• Warm leads: None. You generate your own pipeline.
• Marketing support: None. You are the commercial engine.
• Focus: 80% sales (closing deals) / 20% BD (partnerships)

Key Responsibilities

Close B2B Sales (Priority)

• Personally source, pitch, and close deals with gaming studios, platforms, and enterprises across APAC
• Convert early interest into paid pilots, API contracts, and licensing deals

Build the BD Pipeline

• Identify and close partnerships (game engines, platforms, ecosystem players) that feed your sales pipeline
• Structure revenue-sharing and integration agreements

Create the Commercial Playbook

• Define ICP (ideal customer profile), messaging, pricing models, and outbound sequences
• Build a repeatable sales motion from scratch

Feed Product Strategy

• Bring customer feedback to the CEO and product team

Requirements

Must-Have

• B2B sales experience: Closed SaaS, API, or technology deals in an early-stage startup
• International experience: Sold into at least one market outside your home country (any region — US, Europe, Middle East, APAC, etc.)
• Hunter mentality: Generate your own leads from cold outbound, networks, research. No need for warm leads or marketing support.
• Resilience: Handle long sales cycles and rejection without quitting
• Startup fit: Comfortable with chaos, no processes

Nice-to-Have (Advantages)

• APAC market experience (Southeast Asia, China, Korea, Japan, ANZ)
• Gaming, AI, or avatar industry background
• Technical fluency (APIs, SDKs, integrations)

Why You Should Apply

Build from zero

• Create the revenue engine, playbook, and team from the ground up. Nothing inherited.

Direct access to CEO

• No middle management. Work directly with the founder on company-defining decisions.

Patient leadership

• They understand long sales cycles. They fix the product and market together.

Real equity upside

• You are employee #1 in revenue. If they win, you win meaningfully.

APAC scope

• Build across the fastest-growing tech region in the world.

Please be informed that only shortlisted candidate will be notified.

For more information, you may reach out to Jamie at her email at jamie.tan@peoplelake.asia or WhatsApp her at +6012 238 9953