At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and scale revenue engines for innovative AI and SaaS ventures.
- Company: AINAD, a dynamic UK-based venture studio focused on AI and tech-enabled startups.
- Benefits: Flexible work structure, competitive pay, and significant autonomy in shaping revenue strategies.
- Other info: Collaborate closely with founders and enjoy a hands-on role in early-stage ventures.
- Why this job: Make a real impact across multiple startups while building commercial systems from the ground up.
- Qualifications: Senior experience in B2B SaaS or AI-led products with a proven track record in revenue growth.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
AINAD is looking for a Chief Revenue Officer-in-Residence to design, test and scale the revenue engines of our AI-native, tech-enabled ventures, while shaping the commercial playbook for the studio as a whole.
About AINAD: AINAD is a UK-based venture studio that builds and scales AI and SaaS companies across sectors like health, education, fintech and productivity. We act as a hands-on co‑founder to our ventures, providing product, engineering, growth, capital and operating support so they can move from concept to scale faster and with more structure.
The Role: As CRO-in-Residence, you are the senior commercial leader across the studio. You will:
- Act as fractional/embedded CRO for selected early-stage ventures, designing their GTM and revenue engines from 0 → 1 and 1 → early scale.
- Define and refine the “AINAD way” of building revenue, shared frameworks, metrics and playbooks that can be used across the portfolio.
- This is not a traditional single-company CRO role. It’s a strategist–operator position for someone who loves building commercial systems from first principles, working closely with founders across multiple startups.
What You’ll Do:
- Define target segments, ICPs and initial wedges into the market for selected ventures.
- Design founder-led sales motions (who to sell to, how, with what narrative and proof) and evolve them toward repeatable playbooks.
- Build sales processes and revenue ops foundations: pipeline stages, qualification criteria, CRM setup, reporting and forecasting.
- Shape pricing, packaging and commercial models (subscriptions, usage-based, seat-based, pilots/POCs) appropriate to buyer and product.
- Run or oversee early revenue activities: discovery calls, demos, pilots, deal structuring and post-mortems.
- Work with marketing leadership and founders to align ICPs, messaging, lead definitions and handoffs between marketing and sales.
- Support hiring and onboarding of the first commercial hires (AEs, AMs, SDRs, RevOps) when ventures are ready.
- Coach founders to become confident commercial leaders – pipeline reviews, target setting, deal reviews and performance management.
- Define and track core commercial metrics (pipeline coverage, win rates, cycle times, CAC/payback, ARR/NRR) and use them to inform decisions.
- Contribute to investor narratives and fundraising materials by articulating GTM strategy, traction and scale plans.
What We’re Looking For:
- Senior commercial experience in roles such as CRO, VP Sales, VP Revenue, Head of Commercial or similar in B2B SaaS and/or AI-led products.
- Proven track record of taking revenue from 0 → 1 and 1 → early scale, including building founder-led sales and then professionalising the function.
- Strong understanding of B2B GTM models (enterprise, mid-market, PLG/hybrid, partner/channel) and when to use which.
- Deep familiarity with sales process design, CRM usage, forecasting, compensation design and revenue reporting.
- Commercially sharp and data-literate – comfortable with ARR, NRR, CAC, LTV, payback and pipeline metrics.
- Excellent communication and storytelling skills with customers, founders and investors.
- Comfortable working across multiple ventures, context-switching while maintaining strategic depth.
- High ownership, low ego, and a genuine enjoyment of early-stage ambiguity and hands-on building.
What We Offer:
- A “CRO with leverage” role: apply your commercial expertise across multiple AI and SaaS ventures rather than a single company.
- Significant autonomy to define how revenue is designed and scaled at both studio and portfolio level.
- Close collaboration with founders, product leaders, marketers and investors on ambitious, early-stage ideas.
- Flexible structure (full-time or high-commitment fractional, to be agreed) with competitive compensation and meaningful upside aligned to impact.
- The opportunity to shape the commercial DNA of a venture studio and help multiple startups avoid common GTM and revenue pitfalls.
Location: Hybrid / flexible, with a preference for candidates who can spend meaningful time in the UK (especially London) and occasionally join in-person sessions with founders and the studio team.
If you’re a senior commercial leader who enjoys building revenue engines from scratch and wants to do that across several AI-native ventures, we’d love to hear from you. Please apply with your CV/LinkedIn and a short note on why this CRO-in-Residence role at AINAD appeals to you.
CRO-in-Residence in London employer: AINAD
AINAD is an exceptional employer for those seeking to make a significant impact in the AI and SaaS sectors. With a collaborative work culture that fosters innovation and autonomy, employees have the unique opportunity to shape the commercial strategies of multiple ventures while enjoying flexible working arrangements. The company prioritises professional growth, offering hands-on experience and the chance to work closely with founders and industry leaders in a dynamic environment based in the UK.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land CRO-in-Residence in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential contacts on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio or case studies that highlight your achievements, make sure to share them during interviews or networking chats. This is your chance to demonstrate how you can help scale revenue engines and contribute to multiple ventures.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews! Research AINAD and its ventures thoroughly. Understand their market, challenges, and how your experience aligns with their needs. Tailor your pitch to show how you can define and refine their revenue strategies.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the AINAD team and contributing to their mission.
We think you need these skills to ace CRO-in-Residence in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the CRO-in-Residence role. Highlight your experience in building revenue engines and working with early-stage ventures. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Note:In your application, include a short note explaining why this role at AINAD excites you. Be genuine and specific about what draws you to the position and how you can contribute to our mission.
Showcase Your Metrics:We love data! When detailing your past experiences, include key metrics that demonstrate your success in driving revenue growth. This will help us understand your impact and how you can bring that to our ventures.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at AINAD
✨Know Your Numbers
As a CRO-in-Residence, you'll need to be comfortable with metrics like ARR, NRR, and CAC. Brush up on these figures and be ready to discuss how you've used them in past roles to drive revenue growth.
✨Understand the AINAD Way
Familiarise yourself with AINAD's approach to building revenue engines. Think about how you can contribute to defining and refining their commercial playbook, and come prepared with ideas on how to implement effective GTM strategies.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Mindset
This role is all about strategy and execution. Be ready to share examples of how you've designed sales processes from scratch and scaled them effectively. Highlight your experience in working across multiple ventures and how you manage context-switching.
✨Engage with Founders' Perspectives
Since you'll be coaching founders, demonstrate your understanding of their challenges. Prepare to discuss how you've helped early-stage companies build confidence in their commercial strategies and what methods you've found effective in guiding them.
