Full-Time

Commercial Account Executive

Posted on 1/4/2025

Kong

Kong

501-1,000 employees

API management and connectivity solutions provider

Data & Analytics
Enterprise Software

Compensation Overview

$90k - $100kAnnually

+ Sales Incentives

Senior

Remote in USA

Category
Field Sales
Sales & Account Management
Required Skills
Salesforce
Requirements
  • 5+ years of experience in commercial sales (<1k employees), with a proven track record of closing complex deals in a SaaS, cloud, or enterprise software environment.
  • Demonstrated success in selling to small to medium enterprises, particularly to senior-level executives and across multiple departments.
  • Strong consultative selling skills, with the ability to understand customer needs and present compelling solutions that drive business outcomes.
  • Excellent communication and negotiation skills, capable of managing high-stakes conversations and building lasting relationships with stakeholders.
  • A results-driven mindset, with a passion for meeting and exceeding sales goals and revenue targets.
  • Experience working with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce) and leveraging data to forecast accurately and track sales metrics.
  • Knowledge of open-source software, APIs, or infrastructure software is highly advantageous.
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment, taking ownership of your sales territory and adapting to changing market dynamics.
  • Analytical and strategic thinking, with a knack for identifying business growth opportunities and devising plans to capitalize on them.
Responsibilities
  • Develop and execute sales strategies to target commercial customers, focusing on building and maintaining a robust pipeline that drives long-term growth.
  • Own the entire sales cycle, from prospecting and initial outreach to contract negotiations and closing deals, while consistently meeting or exceeding revenue targets.
  • Collaborate with internal teams, including product, marketing, and customer success, to ensure a seamless sales experience and alignment on customer needs.
  • Identify customer pain points and align our solutions to address these, delivering customized product demos and presentations tailored to their specific business needs.
  • Build and nurture relationships with C-level executives and key decision-makers within target accounts, establishing yourself as a trusted advisor and ensuring customer satisfaction and retention.
  • Lead account planning efforts by researching potential customers, understanding industry trends, and developing strategies to win new business and grow existing accounts.
  • Monitor and manage sales activities and results, accurately forecasting opportunities and keeping detailed records of interactions and progress in CRM systems.
  • Stay updated on industry trends, competitor offerings, and market changes to position our product effectively and maintain a competitive edge.
  • Contribute to business growth initiatives, providing feedback to product and marketing teams to influence product development and go-to-market strategies.
  • Represent Kong with professionalism, acting as a brand ambassador at industry events, conferences, and customer meetings.

Kong focuses on API management and connectivity, providing tools that help businesses manage, secure, and optimize their APIs for better communication between software applications. Its main product, the Kong Gateway, is a high-performance API gateway that can handle up to 50,000 transactions per second, while Kong Konnect offers a SaaS platform for API management and Kong Mesh manages microservices. Unlike competitors, Kong combines open-source technology with enterprise solutions, allowing clients to access core features for free while offering premium services. The company's goal is to enhance developer productivity, security, and performance for a diverse range of clients in a rapidly growing market.

Company Stage

Series E

Total Funding

$334.7M

Headquarters

San Francisco, California

Founded

2017

Growth & Insights
Headcount

6 month growth

-3%

1 year growth

-5%

2 year growth

-7%
Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Kong raised $175 million to enhance AI connectivity, boosting its market position.
  • Kong's Premium Technology Partner Program fosters innovation and expands its ecosystem.
  • Kong's focus on API security aligns with rising demand due to AI-enhanced threats.

What critics are saying

  • Rapid AI evolution may outpace Kong's current API security measures.
  • Increased competition from AI API leaders like OpenAI and Google pressures Kong to innovate.
  • New executive appointments may disrupt existing customer relationships or internal processes.

What makes Kong unique

  • Kong offers a high-performance API gateway supporting 50,000 transactions per second per node.
  • Kong's open-source model attracts a wide range of clients, from startups to enterprises.
  • Kong Insomnia 10 introduces GenAI capabilities, enhancing API development and testing efficiency.

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Benefits

Weekly Donut Chats

Home Office Stipend

Flexible Time Off & Dedicated Unplug Days

Virtual Events

INACTIVE