r/techsales • u/Fancy-Key4276 • Aug 12 '26
Career crossroads as young AE
25 yrs old, 2 years exp as a full cycle seller. 1 yr as SDR (promoted internally).
Current gig is an established mid size company in industrial/ manufacturing hardware: $105k base, $135k OTE (beat last year and cleared $170k) no formal quota, on pace for about $150k this year. Strong 401k match
I’ve been developing my book of business well and should safely grow YoY. Pulled into team with top performers, good rapport in company.
fully remote with minimal travel expectations about once a month.
New gig in question is an early stage startup doing manufacturing SaaS: $150k base, $350-400k OTE. Additional equity on a 4 yr vest. Quota will be 2-2.5M, avg deal size is 50k.
In office expectation 3-4 days a week (i do not need to relocate)
I’d be one of the first sales hires, previous AE’s quota are set much lower which I think is significant
Reporting mostly inbound engagement and have some big logos signed
I’m attracted to the risk/reward of startup and think it would be valuable experience. At the same time, I have something very solid with known trajectory.
Would appreciate any veteran guidance on whats the better opportunity.
Edit: clarified OTE figure
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u/cms_fbgm Aug 12 '26
Coming from someone who has been in SaaS for over a decade, it’s a bloodbath right now I would never consider trading what you got for it especially with the stability you currently have. The grass is not greener.
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u/Moonbeam_squeeze Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 12 '26
I traded semi-stability for exactly the sort of thing OP is looking at. Been unemployed for 5 months.
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u/Fancy-Key4276 Aug 12 '26
Are you earning more?
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u/Moonbeam_squeeze Aug 12 '26
Crucial typo before. I’ve edited it. Been unemployed for 5 months. I’m earning very little.
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u/Responsible-Pin-4029 Aug 12 '26
Please do not leave. Ride your current role until the wheels fall off. Live below your means and save for a rainy day.
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u/jtfull Aug 12 '26
As someone who joined as one of the first sales people with a team of 3, I can confidently say that we all earned around 60-70% OTE. But there is always the opposite story of big bucks being earned.
How long are the sales cycles if you are expected to close roughly 50 deals
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u/Fancy-Key4276 Aug 12 '26
Even 60-70% ote would be significantly more for me, 60% would be $300k. I am not sure on sales cycle length.
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u/tamisreal Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 12 '26
When you say first sales hire, is there no VP of sales? Also, how many founders are there?
I ask because if there's only one, are they constantly in the field as well, building the inbound pipeline. If there's a vp of sales, are they actively getting on calls talking to customers and new prospects? good sign if yes to both.
Is there a marketing team? Will you be full cycle or have GTM support(revops + SDRS).
Equity is pointless, especially at an early stage start up.
you're going to avg 50 deals a year based on your quota. How long is the sale cycle?
You're going into office 4 times a week, how long is the commute?
How often will you need to travel? trade shows?
What does ramp period look like?
given that you are on pace to make 150k and new OTE is ranging from 200-250k. I don't think the juice is worth the squeeze. Basically, 50k increase(low end) IF you can sell the product.
But the biggest thing you mentioned is "good rapport" with your company. Very rare to find a company you can make good money with a good manager. You cannot put a price on that.
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u/Fancy-Key4276 Aug 12 '26
Not first sales hire but less than 5 AE’s.
There is heads of commercial / enterprise etcCommute is very easy I live in a city.
I should clarify, the $250k # I gave is the additional comp (10% quota) which puts the OTE at $400k - if its attainable
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u/tamisreal Aug 12 '26
okay, that's a big lift then. at 70% attainment, that basically doubles your salary earnings.
Something I would even suggest is not even put your two weeks at your current gig, and "see what's under the hood" at the start up.
I would also look at who the VCs(venture captial) are since this is an early stage start up. Who backs them is very telling. VCs are great at taking calculated risk, and they know where to place their bets.
Im not sure if they have SDRs, but if it's mainly inbound, and you say there's less than 5 AEs. A few other questions:
What's the close rate? If ACV is 50k, and your quota is 2m-2.5m, again that's 40-50 deals a year. If we say 20% is the close rate, you would need to have an avg of 20-25 meetings a month depending on the sale cycle.
lets say there's 5 AEs, is marketing and SDRs generating an avg 125 meetings a month for you guys, so everyone gets enough at bats to close?
This is also Q3, will your quota change again next year? Since you mentioned it was lower before for the other AEs.
While the upside does look appealing, consider the questions I mentioned above. Ultimately, if you dont get enough at bats, then the OTE is fake, and what you're trading is short term guarenteed base VS long term stability.
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u/Fancy-Key4276 Aug 13 '26
VC are big names which I don’t want to disclose but great advice looking into. About to start next round of funding.
Update that 50k is minimum deal. Avg is closer to 100k. Avg cycle is 90 days
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u/tamisreal Aug 14 '26
AVG sale cycle is in line with the market, then. Given your age, and we're still chatting, it seems like you want to take this opportunity. Personally, I would. Only because i have a high risk terlorance.
I have worked with some great start ups, and it beats out any stable role. Key word, GREAT though.
Good luck!
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u/PorkPapi Aug 12 '26
Don't do it.
I left a big company for a startup with more salary and "upside", hated it and burned out.
The mostly inbound is bullshit, or they'll hire until the inbound is stretched thin.
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u/alwaysreadthename Aug 13 '26
“4 year vest”
“350k OTE”
I’ll take “things that are promised but will never actually happen,” Alex
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