Founding Commercial Associate ($80k-$100k + Equity) at Lounge

About the role

As the first commercial hire at Lounge, you will partner directly with the CEO to build our repeatable sales motion from scratch. You'll manage the full customer lifecycle, from outbound prospecting and running demos for university administrators to closing deals and ensuring long-term success. This role is perfect for a proactive builder eager to scale a high-growth startup.

Why this role is remarkable

• Work directly with the founder/CEO as the company's first dedicated commercial hire, offering unparalleled exposure to startup growth and strategy.
• Join a seed-stage company with significant existing traction, already operating at scale with 300K+ students and 200+ campuses globally.
• Transition from a hands-on contributor to a key architect of the company's commercial playbook, influencing product roadmap and messaging through direct market feedback.

What you will do

• Execute full-cycle sales including targeted prospecting, outbound outreach across multiple channels, and booking qualified meetings with university decision-makers.
• Lead product demonstrations and discovery calls to articulate the value of Lounge, while managing complex procurement and contract negotiations to close deals.
• Own the post-sale relationship by onboarding new university partners and identifying opportunities for renewal or expansion to ensure long-term customer success.

The ideal candidate

• Possesses a highly resilient and commercially minded attitude with a strong interest in building a company's commercial engine from the ground up.
• Demonstrates exceptional organizational skills, capable of managing high-volume outbound campaigns alongside multiple ongoing prospect and customer conversations simultaneously.
• Communicates effectively with the ability to learn complex product features quickly and explain them simply to university administrators and student affairs leaders.

Location: New York, USA

Salary: $80k–$100k + Equity