Business Development, Private Equity Lead

About Decagon

Decagon stands as a premier conversational AI platform that empowers brands to provide bespoke concierge-level customer experiences. The company's technology is utilized by leading enterprises such as Avis Budget Group, Block's Cash App and Square, Chime, Oura Health, and Hunter Douglas to deploy AI-driven agents that enable personalized, engaging interactions over voice, chat, email, SMS, and more.

Decagon is dedicated to revolutionizing customer service by moving beyond traditional support models to faster resolutions, richer dialogues, and stronger relationships. The company is supported by renowned investors including a16z, Accel, Bain Capital Ventures, Coatue, and Index Ventures, among others.

Operating as an in-office organization, Decagon fosters a culture centered on excellence and rapid progress, guided by core principles: Just Get It Done, Invent What Customers Want, Winner's Mindset, and The Polymath Principle.

Role Overview

As Decagon experiences rapid growth, it seeks a Business Development, Private Equity Lead to join the Founder's Office and accelerate expansion efforts. This critical role involves nurturing and strengthening Decagon's executive relationships across major enterprises, private equity firms, strategic alliances, and the wider technology and investment landscape.

This position is strategic and relationship-centric, aimed at propelling Decagon’s US market growth by forging trusted executive connections and translating them into impactful commercial and partnership results.

The lead will collaborate closely with Decagon’s founders, executives, and go-to-market leaders to identify, cultivate, and secure high-value relationships with senior leaders at Fortune 500 companies, burgeoning tech firms, and PE/VC-backed portfolios. Serving frequently as the initial point of contact for executives, the role demands delivering clear value in every engagement.

This is not a conventional sales position; success depends heavily on sound judgment, executive presence, and agility in founder-driven, ambiguous environments. The ideal candidate thrives working alongside senior executives, excels in fast-paced, unstructured contexts, engages effectively both face-to-face and via modern go-to-market tools, and deeply respects entrepreneurs and operators navigating complex businesses.

Key Responsibilities

• Expand and maintain Decagon’s executive network across the U.S., encompassing enterprise clients, private equity firms, strategic partners, and investors.
• Collaborate with Decagon's founders on high-profile, complex enterprise deals.
• Foster relationships with C-level and VP executives in customer experience, operations, technology, and digital transformation.
• Manage strategic partnerships, including with PE firms, systems integrators, ecosystem allies, and PE-backed platforms.
• Drive Decagon adoption within PE portfolios.
• Use executive ties to speed enterprise evaluations, influence build-or-buy decisions, and create urgency.
• Represent Decagon at executive briefings, private dinners, industry events, and partner meetings nationwide.
• Exercise strong commercial judgment to prioritize top opportunities across regions and sectors.
• Contribute to refining Decagon's U.S. market growth strategy through direct feedback.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years in strategic growth, partnerships, enterprise go-to-market, or roles adjacent to founders.
• Proven capability to establish trust with senior executives, VC/PE investors, and operators, closing complex, relationship-focused deals.
• Outstanding executive presence and communication prowess.
• Sound decision-making skills for deal, partner, and market prioritization.
• Ability to function effectively in fast-changing, ambiguous, low-process settings.
• Willingness to travel as needed.

Work Environment and Travel

This role is based in-office in New York or San Francisco, requiring regular travel for meetings, customer interactions, and industry events, with close collaboration expected with the founder and executive team.

Benefits

• Flexible vacation policy tailored to local standards (e.g., 25 days statutory leave in the UK).
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their families.
• Life insurance and disability benefits.
• Retirement plan options like 401K or pension.
• Parental leave.
• Fertility and family planning assistance through Carrot.
• Daily provided lunches and snacks at the office.

Compensation

The salary range for this full-time position is $192,000 to $240,000 annually.