Founding AE hired in three weeks for a seed-stage AI security startup

Fortis secured a retained mandate to recruit a US-based founding Account Executive for a seed-funded, pre-revenue AI security startup based in San Francisco. A shortlist of four candidates was delivered within four days, and the successful candidate accepted the offer within three weeks of the retained mandate.

The challenge

The founders needed someone with founding AE and early-stage experience, alongside knowledge of AI security. Previous success in an established sales organisation alone would not meet the brief.

Why Fortis was selected

The business considered six recruiters, including firms introduced by its VC and others it had found independently. Fortis was selected for the retained search after helping design the brief and demonstrating a strong understanding of the market, with an emphasis on speed and accuracy.

The search and outcome

Fortis submitted four candidate resumes within four days. Three candidates progressed to first interviews, and all three reached late stages. One received an offer and accepted within three weeks. A second candidate was also considered appointable and would have received an offer had the preferred candidate declined.

The successful hire had previously been a founding sales team member at an AI startup, bringing relevant experience for the company's stage.

What this demonstrates

A clearly defined brief and focused market knowledge helped produce an actionable shortlist quickly, giving the founders a preferred hire and an appointable alternative.

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Client and candidate identities have been withheld for confidentiality.