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LightSource

AI-powered sourcing platform for manufacturers

Founding BDR

Full-Time
$70k - $90k/yr+ Uncapped commission + Performance bonus + Early-employee equity
Mid
San Francisco, CA, USA
In Person
Sales & Account ManagementSales Development Representative

About the job

Requirements
  • Have 2–3+ years of experience in a high-growth BDR or SDR role; SaaS or enterprise software experience is preferred.
  • Have a proven track record of being a top 10% performer.
  • Have experience with modern sales stacks and prospecting tools.
  • Clearly articulate complex value propositions and create immediate enthusiasm.
  • Use written and verbal communication skills to carry out the role.
Responsibilities
  • Build the outbound playbook from scratch, including messaging, sequencing, targeting, and multi-threading strategies.
  • Drive top-of-funnel growth for Account Executives.
  • Design and implement the inbound qualification process as marketing scales.
  • Consistently meet and exceed activity and meeting quotas.
  • Partner with Account Executives and leadership to align on weighted pipeline goals.
  • Use modern sales stacks, including HubSpot, Apollo, Outreach, Clay, and AI go-to-market tools, to maximize efficiency.
  • Help hire and mentor future business development representatives as the team grows.
  • Serve as the first point of contact for future customers and develop the sales development function.
Desired Qualifications
  • SaaS or enterprise software experience.
  • Located in or willing to relocate to San Francisco, Boulder/Denver, or Seattle; this is not strictly required.

About the company

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LightSource

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Website

LightSource.ai provides an AI-powered sourcing platform for manufacturing companies to manage procurement. It helps compare supplier bids, manage bills of materials, and identify cost-saving opportunities by extracting insights from daily operations and public data. The platform enables five-minute RFQs, team collaboration on strategic sourcing, and easy collection of supplier quotes. The company uses a subscription model to deliver ongoing updates and value, differentiating itself with AI-driven insights and integrated BOM and RFQ workflows.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

Series A

Total Funding

$33.5M

Headquarters

San Francisco, California

Founded

2021

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • July 2026 launch reported 3,300-plus items processed and 250-plus quote formats in two months.
  • LightSource named to Hackett Group's 2026 50 to Watch and ProcureTech100.
  • The company says ARR grew 10x over 18 months, signaling strong enterprise pull.

What critics are saying

  • LightSource serves procurement teams still trapped in email and Excel, so adoption friction stays high.
  • Legacy suites from SAP, Coupa, and Ivalua can bundle sourcing into existing contracts by 2027.
  • If AI scoring misprices BOMs, one bad award destroys trust and slows renewals immediately.

What makes LightSource unique

  • LightSource built direct-materials sourcing, not indirect spend, targeting BOM-heavy manufacturing workflows.
  • Its July 29, 2026 AI Workforce automates item ingestion, RFQs, supplier activation, award optimization.
  • Amazon, Conair, Canada Goose, and Shure trust it for enterprise procurement.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Unlimited Paid Time Off
  • Flexible Work Hours
  • Hybrid Work Options
  • 401(k) Plan
  • 401(k) Company Match
  • Conference Attendance Budget
  • Professional Development Budget
  • Wellness Program
  • Mental Health Support

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

3%

1 year growth

10%

2 year growth

14%
SalesTech Star
Oct 14th, 2026
LightSource centralizes supply chain data for Blue Bird, making sourcing decisions 2 days faster.

LightSource centralizes supply chain data for Blue Bird, making sourcing decisions 2 days faster. Blue Bird's average cycle time dropped from 16 days to 14 days since moving to AI-native operating system for direct materials, LightSource. When fragmented, siloed data became the biggest supply chain bottleneck for Blue Bird, one of the largest school bus manufacturers in the United States, they turned to LightSource to bring its sourcing operations into the future. A nearly 100 year old business, Blue Bird recognized the need for tools to automate manual work, freeing them to focus on strategic priorities. Their buyers can now take a sourcing project from creation to launch in under 20 minutes, which means they get to market faster and spend less time on set up. "There was no centralized data or database to contact suppliers or update critical spreadsheets, we were not providing our buyers the tools that they needed to be successful," said Jeff Vanassche, VP of Purchasing, at Blue Bird. LightSource is the only direct materials operating system purpose-built to connect engineering, procurement, and suppliers. For Blue Bird, that meant a centralized platform that connects suppliers directly with buyers, keeps the database intact in one place, and establishes accountability on both sides. "Everything related to our sourcing was all over the place. There was no good way to do it. Emailing the suppliers, emailing spreadsheets back and forth," said Jeff Vanassche, VP of Purchasing at Blue Bird. "We needed some kind of systematic way to do that, and that's where LightSource came in." With AI now capable of automating up to 95% of routine procurement tasks, teams can instead focus on strategic work. Aside from removing the cumbersome, operational tasks, Blue Bird uses LightSource as a repository built for compliance, with the controls and records they need to fall back on if they're ever audited. "Our partnership with Blue Bird has reaffirmed why we built LightSource in the first place," said CEO and Co-Founder of LightSource, Spencer Penn. "Their buyers can now take a sourcing project from creation to launch in under 20 minutes, which means they get to market faster and spend less time on set up. That frees them to leverage supplier relationships, grow strategic partnerships, and focus on the work that moves their business forward."

The Mirror Democrat and Savanna Times-Journal
Oct 12th, 2026
LightSource wins DPW's 2026 Startup Growth Award.

LightSource wins DPW's 2026 Startup Growth Award. * 4 hrs ago San Francisco, CA / Storyteller / Oct 12, 2026 / LightSource, the direct materials operating system purpose-built to connect engineering, procurement, and suppliers, today announced it has won the 2026 Startup Growth Award from DPW, one of the industry's most important conferences. "Direct materials is the most under-invested corner of procurement, and it deserves better technology," said Spencer Penn, co-founder and CEO of LightSource. "I've attended DPW every year for the last four years, and standing on that stage to receive this award always felt like a bit of a pipe dream. Winning it is the kind of validation you can't manufacture yourself." The growth-stage award recognizes procurement and supply chain tech startups that are building, scaling, and innovating in the industry. LightSource's AI-native platform automates the entire supply-management lifecycle, from sourcing potential suppliers and managing requests for quotes to comparing bids and helping teams collaborate, so manufacturers can bring products to market faster. LightSource was selected from more than 200 startup applicants, advancing first to the 10 semifinalists and then to the top three finalists. Each finalist delivered a timed presentation and took questions from a panel of 20 judges made up of C-suite practitioners, industry analysts, and top consulting partners. The judges weighed market traction, business potential, innovation, team strength, and competitive differentiation before naming LightSource the winner in a final vote. Innovation was central to the company's pitch, which highlighted LightSource AI Workforce, a set of AI capabilities launched in July that handle the manual work of sourcing, from item ingestion and data cleanup to RFQ setup, supplier follow-up, and award optimization. LightSource serves original equipment manufacturers and other manufacturing businesses, including Fortune 500 and Global 2000 organizations and private equity-backed companies. Since its launch, $100 billion in direct materials has been sourced through the LightSource platform. Customers include Amazon, Canada Goose, Conair, and HelloFresh. About LightSource LightSource is the direct materials operating system purpose-built to connect engineering, procurement, and suppliers, so innovators always know what their products cost and launch faster. Unlike legacy suites built for indirect spend, LightSource is built for direct materials and NPI velocity. Trusted by Amazon, Conair, Canada Goose, and Shure. For more information, visit lightsource.ai Media Contacts Public Relations

Business Wire
Sep 18th, 2026
LightSource named a finalist for DPW's 2026 Startup Growth Award.

LightSource named a finalist for DPW's 2026 Startup Growth Award. SAN FRANCISCO-(BUSINESS WIRE)-LightSource, the direct materials operating system purpose-built to connect engineering, procurement, and suppliers, today announced that it has been named a finalist for DPW's 2026 Startup Awards in the Growth Stage category. "We're honored to be named a finalist for the DPW Growth Award, especially in such a competitive category," said Spencer Penn, Co-Founder and CEO of LightSource. "LightSource has achieved incredible growth over the past few years as we've continued to innovate and build technology for direct materials, which remains one of the most underserved segments of the procurement technology industry." The growth stage award recognizes procurement and supply chain tech startups with annual recurring revenue of $2M to $10M that are building, scaling, and innovating in the industry. LightSource's AI-native platform automates the entire supply-management lifecycle, including sourcing potential suppliers, managing requests for quotes, comparing bids, and helping teams collaborate. One of the more unique aspects of DPW's Growth Award is the live pitch. LightSource will present on stage at the Startup Arena to plead their case by showcasing growth milestones and the company's journey. After the timed presentation will be a Q&A with the esteemed judging panel, followed by putting it to a vote. For Growth Stage finalists, judges weigh market traction and business potential most heavily, alongside innovation, team strength, and competitive differentiation. Last year, LightSource grew 300% and expects to grow at a similar rate this year, with 200% growth projected for 2027 and 2028. To date, the platform has processed more than $1B in spend. LightSource serves original equipment manufacturers and manufacturing businesses, including Fortune 500 and Global 2000 organizations and private equity-backed companies. Customers include Amazon, Canada Goose, Conair, and HelloFresh. LightSource will present live on Sept. 30 and winners will be announced the following day, Oct. 1, at center stage. For more information about DPW, visit dpw.ai About LightSource LightSource is the direct materials operating system purpose-built to connect engineering, procurement, and suppliers, so innovators always know what their products cost and launch faster. Unlike legacy suites built for indirect spend, LightSource is built for direct materials and NPI velocity. Trusted by Amazon, Conair, Canada Goose, and Shure. For more information, visit lightsource.ai More News From LightSource SAN FRANCISCO-( BUSINESS WIRE )-LightSource, an operating system for direct materials sourcing for enterprise procurement, today announced the launch of LightSource AI Workforce, five new capabilities that eliminate the manual work of sourcing in stages where time is spent most: data analytics, item ingestion, RFQ's, and supplier activation. Now procurement teams can instead focus on strategic work, bringing products to market faster at lower cost.More than 20 years after the first sourcing soft... SAN FRANCISCO-( BUSINESS WIRE )-LightSource, an AI-powered sourcing platform built for enterprise procurement, announced today that it has been named to The Hackett Group's 2026 50 to Watch as part of its annual assessment of the global procurement technology market. The program recognizes emerging, leading and enduring solution providers shaping the procurement technology market. The lists are compiled by The Hackett Group's Solution Intelligence analysts, formerly the Spend Matters(TM) analyst t... SAN FRANCISCO-( BUSINESS WIRE )-LightSource, an AI-powered sourcing platform built for enterprise procurement, today announced its selection to the 2025/26 ProcureTech100 list... LightSource. Release Versions

Procurement Magazine
Jul 30th, 2026
LightSource's AI Workforce to transform direct sourcing.

LightSource's AI Workforce to transform direct sourcing. July 30, 2026 LightSource unveiled five AI capabilities designed to automate manual sourcing tasks, letting procurement teams focus on strategy and speed LightSource has announced the arrival of its AI workforce, showcasing five new capabilities which aim to wipe out the manual work of sourcing in stages where time is most spent - data analytics, item ingestion, RFQs and supplier activation. It believes that these new tools will allow procurement teams to instead focus on strategic work, bringing products to market faster at lower cost. LightSource, which is an operating system for direct materials sourcing for enterprise procurement, says that even though it has been more than 20 years since the first sourcing software, only 18% of procurement teams use a professional sourcing tool. The firm says its platform is built for the 82% left behind, an AI-native operating system for direct materials sourcing that connects engineering, procurement and suppliers from first concept to award and gives AI the ability to act, not just advise. "The direct procurement professional has been under-tooled for decades," said Spencer Penn, CEO and Co-Founder of LightSource. "We built LightSource to fix that. These new capabilities give CPOs the ability to act, not just advise, across the full sourcing cycle." "The direct procurement professional has been under-tooled for decades " Spencer PennCEO and Co-Founder of LightSource Five new capabilities target the full sourcing cycle. Ask LightSource: Get instant answers without digging through spreadsheets. Users can ask plain-English questions about spend, suppliers, pipeline or sourcing history and receive data-grounded answers that standardise reporting and surface actionable insights for teams. Item Ingestion & Data Clean-Up: Turn any file into clean item data. Drawings, spreadsheets, PDFs and images can simply be dropped in, with LightSource extracting and enhancing new and existing item properties and merging data to create consistency across items and BOMs, with relationships kept intact. RFX Setup: Go from two weeks to 15 minutes. AI-built quote format templates create a standardised structure that boosts efficiency, cuts formatting time and can be reused across teams for future RFX events. Supplier Activation: Suppliers respond without the chase. Questions are answered instantly, deadline reminders go out automatically and quotes arrive clean regardless of the format suppliers submit in. Award Optimisation: Award with confidence. Users describe their requirements in plain language and set custom constraints, from cost to location to lead times, then optimise every scenario with outputs ready for negotiation and award. "Every sourcing cycle, supplier interaction and award decision makes the system sharper," adds Idan Mintz, CTO and Co-Founder of LightSource. "That compounding context is the difference between a tool that assists and one that changes how a team works." "Every sourcing cycle, supplier interaction and award decision makes the system sharper " Idan MintzCTO and Co-Founder of LightSource Built on trust, proven at scale. With more than 3,300 items processed and upwards of 250 quote formats created in the first two months, LightSource AI Workforce is live and built on an architecture that separates AI reasoning from data operations. The platform, which is trusted by Amazon, Conair, Canada Goose and Shure, requires user approval before anything executes, creating a meaningful distinction for teams who have been burned by AI that fabricates figures. The mission to help support direct procurement has always been at the heart of LightSource. Speaking to Procurement Magazine, Spencer outlines that he believes in modern manufacturing, digital transformation often stumbles at the boundary between direct and indirect procurement. Indirect spend, the tail-spend category covering office supplies and travel, has seen substantial innovation. Direct materials, by contrast, remain stuck in manual processes. Spencer describes this disparity through a vivid analogy: "The way I describe it is that indirect procurement is like UPS when it picks up a package. It has to route it and drop it off. It's a one-time flow and it's done. And then direct materials are much more like the plumbing in a building. You have to set it up right."

Business Wire
Jul 29th, 2026
LightSource launches AI sourcing platform for 82% of procurement teams still using email and Excel

LightSource, an operating system for direct materials sourcing, has launched LightSource AI Workforce, featuring five capabilities designed to automate procurement tasks. The platform targets the 82% of procurement teams still relying on email and Excel, offering tools for data analytics, item ingestion, RFQs, and supplier activation. The AI Workforce includes Ask LightSource for instant data queries, automated item ingestion from various file formats, RFX setup reducing preparation time from two weeks to 15 minutes, supplier activation with automated follow-ups, and award optimisation with custom constraints. In its first two months, the platform processed 3,300-plus items and created 250-plus quote formats. LightSource requires user approval before executing any actions. The company serves clients including Amazon, Conair, Canada Goose, and Shure.