Sales Business Development -- Startups

Microsoft Microsoft · Big Tech · Shanghai, Shanghai, China · Sales Business Development

This role is for a Sales Business Development professional focused on the startup ecosystem in the Greater China region. The individual will interface with founders, accelerators, incubators, and investors to drive high-impact initiatives and support startup growth. The role requires a blend of business and technical acumen to engage effectively with startups and evangelize Microsoft's value and innovation. Responsibilities include identifying high-potential startups, building relationships, advising on Microsoft platforms and resources, and working with account management teams. The ideal candidate has experience in structured environments like major technology companies, late-stage startups, investment banking, or consulting, with a strong understanding of market, business, product, and technical challenges.

What you'd actually do

  1. Serve as a key member of CSI team in driving the necessary business insights, strategic and technical relationships with top startups and key stakeholders of these top startups to establish meaningful business relationships.
  2. Participate actively in startup community events of all kinds to identify high potential startups and build personal relationship to startup founders and influencers.
  3. Evangelize Microsoft’ value and innovation culture to startup founders and ensure they have full awareness and access to the full spectrum of the resources and services Microsoft has to offer.
  4. Work closely with founders to ensure they’re successfully engaging with Microsoft platform, making sure they have the technical and business resource required for optimal customer experience, and identifying additional opportunities for them to work more deeply with Microsoft’s business units.
  5. Work with and advise account management teams on solution selling and establishing executive relationships in their key accounts.

Skills

Required

  • 7-10+ years of total professional work experience
  • 3+ years of experience and knowledge directly in the startup and venture capital ecosystem
  • 3+ years of experience working within the technology industry (foundation model/Gen AI, game, auto, semiconductor, Fin-tech, SaaS, Healthcare, etc.)
  • Passion for startups with innate desire to work with startup founders and help them grow
  • Ability to think and work creatively to develop unique value propositions for the local startups through collaboration with venture firms and investor community
  • Strong leadership with demonstrated ability to work effectively across internal and external organizations
  • Demonstrated BD mindset to help customers achieve business goals beyond just selling products/services and marketing
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in Chinese and English
  • Bachelor’s degree required

Nice to have

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
  • Startup founder/CXO experience
  • MBA or equivalent from a top 20 school
  • Technical/Cloud background in software development, mobile Internet, or engineering
  • Well networked in the startup ecosystem and a regular at key startup events

What the JD emphasized

  • business and technical background
  • structured and rigorous environment
  • think strategically about market, industry, business, product and technical challenges
  • convey compelling data-driven decisions
  • work collaboratively to build consensus
  • startup and venture capital ecosystem
  • technology industry (foundation model/Gen AI, game, auto, semiconductor, Fin-tech, SaaS, Healthcare, etc.)
  • Passion for startups
  • innate desire to work with startup founders and help them grow
  • think and work creatively
  • Strong leadership
  • demonstrated ability to work effectively across internal and external organizations
  • Demonstrated BD mindset
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in Chinese and English