Sales Manager Event Exhibitions (Start-up Ecosystem)

Client of Salt

Overview:

Join a leading exhibitions and innovation platform, championing the start-up community across Africa and the Middle East. This is a growth-focused sales role where you will shape start-up zones, pitch stages, and innovation features, while building partnerships with founders, VCs, accelerators, and innovation hubs. If you thrive in fast-paced, high-impact environments and have a strong network in the start-up ecosystem, this is the next step in your commercial career.

Responsibilities:

• Identify and engage start-ups, venture capital firms, accelerators, and innovation agencies to participate in exhibitions and showcases.
• Translate start-up ecosystem knowledge into targeted sales strategies that drive exhibitor, sponsorship, and feature uptake.
• Build and maintain a high-quality pipeline across Africa and the Middle East, delivering against revenue targets.
• Collaborate with marketing, content, and operations to design start-up zones, pitch stages, and innovation features that attract founders and investors.
• Represent the business at start-up and tech events to generate leads, elevate brand presence, and deepen ecosystem ties.
• Manage key accounts using CRM best practice, ensuring accurate forecasting and measurable ROI.
• Mentor junior team members and share market insights to uplift team capability.

Requirements:

• Degree in Business, Innovation, or a related field.
• 5 to 8 years of experience in start-up sales, venture capital, accelerator programmes, or B2B event sales to start-ups.
• Proven network across Africa and the Middle East start-up ecosystem, with a strong track record of closing B2B deals.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills with founders, investors, and ecosystem partners.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced exhibitions environment, with regional travel as required.
• CRM proficiency and strong time management.

Next Steps:

If you are commercially driven and passionate about enabling start-ups to scale through high-impact platforms, please apply with your CV. Only successful applicants will be contacted due to the high demand for this position.

Salt is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.