At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive sales growth by engaging new leads and booking meetings with potential clients.
- Company: Join Rilla, a fast-growing startup revolutionising outside sales with innovative software.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, private health insurance, unlimited holiday, and a learning stipend.
- Other info: Opportunity for rapid career advancement within a supportive and diverse team.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team and grow your sales skills in an exciting startup environment.
- Qualifications: No sales experience required; just a passion for learning and helping customers.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 110000 £ per year.
Who We Are
Rilla’s the leading virtual ridealong software for outside sales. Think home improvement, housebuilders, and other sales people who talk to customers face to face. Sales reps talk, our mobile app records their conversations, and our AI automatically transcribes and analyses their conversations to help them improve their sales. Our vision is to bring the power of conversation intelligence from the Zoom meeting and the call centre to the more than 10M sales people who work offline. We are one of the fastest growing startups in the world right now and in history. We’re backed by Crystal Huang of Google Ventures, and Byron Deeter (one of the best investors of all time) from Bessemer Venture Partners, the top Cloud investor in the world. Cloud 100 Rising Star company.
The Role
As a Founding Sales Development Representative, you will be working directly with the Head of Sales to take Rilla from 0 to 1 in the UK & EMEA. This is a startup within a startup, with outsized responsibility and opportunity for growth. Your main priority will be to help us evangelise the power of conversation intelligence to more companies that sell offline. While sales experience is a plus, it is not required. This role is for an exceptional person who happens to be interested in sales. Our team is built with elite athletes from top universities across the world, former founders, and people who've demonstrated excellence in something demanding — banking, consulting, athletics, startups, coaching, anywhere grit and performance matter.
What You’ll Do
- Own the top of the sales funnel, prospect, research, and engage new leads daily
- Book qualified meetings for the Head of Sales through cold calling, email, and LinkedIn outreach
- Reactivate cold leads and build pipeline from scratch
- Travel to industry conferences to engage prospects and book demos on the spot
- Follow up with inbound and conference leads through calls and email
- Become a genuine expert on our product, our customers, and how great salespeople sell
We Don't Just Hire Top Performers. We Build Them.
Sales coaching is not a side benefit at Rilla. It's the product. We build software that makes salespeople better, and we use it on ourselves. Every rep on our team is coached with the same tools we sell. Most companies say they care about your development. At Rilla, it's why we exist. When you join as an SDR, you enrol in Rilla Sales Academy, a structured training programme designed to take you from zero to enterprise rep:
- Foundations: Cold calling, prospecting, multi-threading, finding active leads
- Conversation skills: Opening sequences, discovery questions, active listening, mirroring
- Advanced selling: Demo storytelling, closing sequences, objection handling, next steps
You graduate when the Head of Sales' calendar is full and we need you to step into the Account Executive role and start closing. If you perform, that will happen by week 5. This is not a "two years as an SDR" role. We don't hire outside AEs — every single AE at this company has been promoted from within.
Who You Are
- A customer obsessive. Someone who deeply cares about delighting clients and solving their pains, not about vanity metrics.
- An infinite learner. You are always looking to learn more and learn faster. You feel uneasy when you get complacent, and you're constantly seeking discomfort.
- A team player. You love giving and receiving feedback and learning and growing as a team.
- Unafraid of failure. You take risks. You see failure as an opportunity to learn, grow, and be better the next time.
- Affinity for the unconventional. You get a kick out of rejecting conventional wisdom. And you're not afraid to try weird, crazy, and quite possibly stupid ideas.
- Extremely focused. You practice extreme focus in everything you do. You're always looking to prioritise your time and resources for maximum efficiency.
Nice to Have
- Former or current elite-level athlete — if you've competed nationally or won titles, even better
- Top percentile in something exceptional — academics, competitions, club leadership, anything that shows you operate at a high level
- You've sold something before — door knocking, summer job, side hustle, lemonade stand, doesn't matter. If you've had to convince someone to buy, that counts.
- Fluent or business proficient in multiple European languages
Compensation & Benefits
- OTE: £60,000–£110,000 (base + commission)
- Private health insurance (medical and dental)
- Pension scheme
- Enhanced parental leave
- Fertility benefits
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks 6 days a week in our London office
- Gym membership
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Unlimited holiday (not accrual-based — take what you need)
- £750 annual learning and development stipend
- Tech equipment
Right to Work & Equal Opportunity
Applicants must have the existing right to work in the UK. We are unable to sponsor visas or provide work authorisation for this role. Rilla is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees — we welcome applications regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
Founding Sales Development Representative - UK & EMEA employer: Rilla
Rilla is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and development, offering a unique opportunity to join a fast-growing startup in the heart of London. With a strong focus on sales coaching through the Rilla Sales Academy, employees are equipped with the tools and training needed to excel in their careers, while enjoying generous benefits such as unlimited holiday, private health insurance, and a vibrant work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. Join us to be part of a team that not only values performance but also invests in your journey to becoming a top sales professional.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Sales Development Representative - UK & EMEA
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Rilla's products and their impact on sales teams. This will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute to their mission during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Attend industry conferences and events where you can meet potential colleagues and clients. Don’t be shy—introduce yourself and share your enthusiasm for conversation intelligence!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Whether it’s cold calling or engaging on LinkedIn, make sure you can clearly articulate why conversation intelligence matters. Role-play with friends or use our resources to refine your approach.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up! After any interaction, whether it’s a meeting or a casual chat, send a quick thank you note or message. It shows you’re proactive and genuinely interested in building relationships.
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Sales Development Representative - UK & EMEA
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself:When you're writing your application, let your personality shine through! We want to see the real you, so don’t be afraid to show your passion for sales and how you connect with customers.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with what we’re looking for. Mention specific examples that demonstrate your customer obsession and learning mindset.
Show Your Grit:We love candidates who aren’t afraid of a challenge! Share any experiences where you’ve faced setbacks and how you turned them into learning opportunities. It’s all about that growth mindset!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves.
How to prepare for a job interview at Rilla
✨Know Your Product Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you understand Rilla's virtual ridealong software and how it benefits sales reps. Familiarise yourself with the features, the target audience, and the unique selling points. This will help you demonstrate your genuine interest in the product and show that you're ready to evangelise its power.
✨Showcase Your Grit and Performance
Since Rilla values candidates who have demonstrated excellence in demanding fields, be prepared to share specific examples from your past experiences. Whether it's athletics, academics, or any challenging role, highlight how you've overcome obstacles and what you've learned from those experiences.
✨Emphasise Your Customer Obsession
Rilla is looking for someone who genuinely cares about solving client pains. During the interview, share stories that illustrate your customer-centric approach. Discuss how you've gone above and beyond to delight clients and how you plan to do the same at Rilla.
✨Be Ready to Embrace Failure
The ideal candidate at Rilla sees failure as a learning opportunity. Prepare to discuss times when things didn't go as planned and how you turned those experiences into valuable lessons. This mindset aligns perfectly with Rilla's culture of growth and development.
