About the Job & Shakudo

At Shakudo, we are building the world’s first operating system for data and AI. We use the term operating system in the truest sense of the word. Like iOS, Windows and Linux, Shakudo’s end-to-end OS offers ever-evolving, automatically operated, best-of-breed open-source components tailored to each business's unique needs.

As we continue to grow, we're in search of exceptional Business Development Representatives (BDR), tasked with leading our outbound efforts in our target industries. As a BDR, your role will be pivotal in how Shakudo grows market presence in mid-market businesses and enterprises, generates solution-oriented opportunities, and increases the number of companies that build data products on Shakudo.

You’re someone who has experience in selling Data/AI/ML infrastructure, IT solutions, system integration, or digital consulting—and you enjoy engaging deeply with CIOs, CTOs, VPs, Directors, and other tech leaders.

Why this role?

Shakudo is growing quickly, and we’re looking to expand our go to market efforts in business development. We have strong product market fit with our customers, and want to scale out our awareness with targeted outbound activity.

There is no shortage of BDR roles on the market, so we wanted to share why ours is unique:

Fast track to AE: Ideal candidates will be mentored into the role within 12 months.

Engage with buyers on some of the most innovative data products in the market.

Key Responsibilities:

Represent the Shakudo brand, by being a professional, creative and curious salesperson.
Research and build compelling solution fit narratives to engage potential buyers.
Intimately understand Shakudo customers, and the value they get from the product.
Develop relationships and engage with both technical users and economic buyers.
Own inbound qualification, and targeted outbound activities into our key target markets.
Partner with the marketing team to develop and experiment on key messaging and ideal customer profiles (ICPs).
Design account plans to hit and over deliver on pipeline generation targets.

Requirements:

Previous experience in high-volume enterprise outbound sales (cold calling)
Experience generating $100K+ deal opportunities
Have a real curiosity to keep learning the latest trend across data, AI and ML landscapes
Be able to untangle complex sets of requirements and break them into simple actionable steps
1 year in a BDR or full-cycle AE role
Highly organized, and ability to use CRM (Hubspot), Slack, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, and GSuite software
Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders in multiple positions
Ability to thrive and make effective decisions in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in technical focused domain (ex. engineering, computer science, mathematics etc.)
Willingness to relocate to Toronto, ON, Canada preferred

Shakudo offers a high-impact package: competitive salary, meaningful equity so you share in the upside of transformational technology, and top-tier health benefits that have you fully covered. We provide 16+ weeks of pregnancy leave top-up and a flexible vacation policy—because building transformational technology requires supporting the people who build it. More importantly, you'll work on technology that matters.

This role is based onsite to support the high security requirements of our clients and enable effective collaboration. We have a welcoming office environment, fully stocked with snacks, regular team outings (summer boat cruise, escape room, etc.), and a strong focus on maintaining a healthy work-life balance while doing meaningful, impactful work together.

Shakudo is an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We foster diversity and inclusivity and welcome applications from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.

About the company

Shakudo provides an operating system for data and artificial intelligence stacks that helps teams build, deploy, and manage AI products. The platform works by automating DevOps tasks and integrating over 170 different open-source and commercial tools into a single environment that can be self-hosted for better data security. It distinguishes itself from competitors by creating compatibility between many different software tools, which prevents companies from being locked into a single vendor's ecosystem. The company's goal is to reduce engineering overhead and complexity so that data science teams can focus on developing AI solutions more quickly.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

Series A

Total Funding

$17M

Headquarters

Toronto, Canada

Founded

2021

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

Wittington Ventures led Shakudo's $7 million February 17, 2026 strategic round.
Loblaw said Shakudo cut AI deployment from six months to same-day delivery.
Whitecap's June 2026 case study shows Shakudo expanding from analytics into advanced AI.

What critics are saying

Shakudo depends on regulated-enterprise wins; losing Loblaw damages credibility by 2027.
AWS, Databricks, and Snowflake compress Shakudo's differentiation through bundled platforms.
One serious governance failure turns Shakudo into an existential compliance liability.

What makes Shakudo unique

Shakudo runs inside customer VPCs, keeping models and data under enterprise control.
Its February 17, 2026 launch bundled Kaji, AI Gateway, and Compass governance.
Loblaw and Whitecap adopted Shakudo in 2026 for standardized in-house AI operations.

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Benefits

Professional Development Budget

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

12%

1 year growth

2 year growth

BetaKit

Feb 17th, 2026

Toronto's Shakudo converts customers into investors with $7M Series A2 raise

Toronto-based Shakudo has raised $7 million USD in a Series A2 round led by Wittington Ventures, the venture arm of the Weston family's holding company that controls Loblaw and Shoppers Drug Mart. The round attracted investment from existing customers, including CentralReach executives who personally backed the company. Founded in 2021, Shakudo provides AI infrastructure software that helps enterprises deploy AI tools securely within their existing systems. Loblaw reportedly reduced its AI development cycles from six months to same-day delivery using Shakudo's platform. The round included participation from Golden Ventures, GreatPoint Ventures, and RTP Global, bringing total funding to approximately $18 million USD. The company has grown sevenfold since its $7.2-million USD Series A in early 2023 and plans to raise a larger Series B within two years.

Shakudo

Feb 17th, 2026

Shakudo raises $7M to power sovereign enterprise AI with new autonomous agents

Shakudo, a platform providing operating systems for enterprise AI, has raised $7 million in a strategic funding round led by Wittington Ventures, a venture capital firm affiliated with Loblaw Companies Limited. The round included participation from existing investors Golden Ventures, GreatPoint Ventures and RTP Global, as well as personal investments from enterprise customers. The San Francisco and Toronto-based company will use the funding to expand its US operations and launch two new products: Kaji, an autonomous AI agent running within customers' Virtual Private Clouds, and Shakudo AI Gateway, a control plane for managing models and agents across organisations. Shakudo's platform deploys natively within customers' infrastructure, ensuring intellectual property remains within the organisation whilst targeting regulated industries including nuclear energy, healthcare and financial services.

BetaKit

Jul 5th, 2023

Shakudo closes $9.5M Series A to help companies adopt generative AI

Toronto-based Shakudo has secured $9.5 million CAD in Series A funding to help companies launch artificial intelligence products more quickly and cost-effectively.

BetaKit

Nov 3rd, 2021

Rebranded Shakudo raises $4.2 million to expand reach of AI platform

Toronto-based software startup Shakudo has rebranded from DevSentient, raising $4.2 million CAD in seed funding to expand the reach of its AI platform for data science and ML teams.

Shakudo

Business Development Representative

About the job

Key Responsibilities:

Requirements:

About the company

Get referred to Shakudo

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

What critics are saying

What makes Shakudo unique

Benefits

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

1 year growth

2 year growth