Head of Business Development (Ads / Monetization / Revenue)

This role is with one of our portfolio company.

Role Overview:

We're looking for a Head of Business Development to build and scale the partnerships and alliances engine. This is a 1→10 role — you'll define the strategy, close high-impact partnerships, and turn them into meaningful growth, engagement, and revenue. This role sits at the intersection of growth, product, and brand, and demands someone who can walk into a room with a CMO or CEO and own the conversation. You'll own both the revenue partnerships charter and the user acquisition engine, working directly alongside founders and leadership.

Roles & Responsibilities:

1. Revenue Partnerships

• Own and drive the revenue partnerships charter — co-branded campaigns, affiliate deals, and advertiser relationships
• Build direct relationships with large brand marketing teams and agency partners
• Sell the company's platform (impressions, engagement, reach among India's consumers) as a media and distribution vehicle
• Structure sustainable, high-value commercial deals that compound over time

2. Brand & Lifestyle Alliances

• Position the company as a lifestyle brand deeply resonant with audiences
• Drive partnerships with fashion, music, content, and youth-first brands
• Conceptualize and execute high-impact co-branded campaigns

3. Merchant & Payments Ecosystem

• Expand the company's presence across teen-friendly online and offline merchants
• Drive partnerships with QSR chains, e-commerce platforms, OTT, and gaming brands
• Increase transaction frequency and stickiness through relevant merchant coverage

4. Institutional Partnerships

• Build alliances with schools, colleges, coaching institutes, and youth communities
• Drive trust-led onboarding at scale

5. User Acquisition via Partnerships

• Build partnerships that unlock high-quality user acquisition at scale
• Identify and onboard partners across gaming, edtech, creator ecosystems, and youth platforms
• Create scalable distribution funnels via integrations and co-branded experiences

Requirements

Must-Haves:

• 12+ years in business development, ad sales, partnerships, or strategic alliances
• Strong, proven network across large media and brands agencies
• Deep understanding of digital advertising and ad monetisation- ability to package and sell the company's platform traffic, clicks, and impressions as a high-value media asset to brands and agencies
• Track record of building and scaling revenue-generating partnerships with large advertisers
• Exceptional storytelling and strategic thinking — able to lead CXO-level conversations with authority
• Raw intelligence and sharp product and business instincts — comfortable operating alongside founders and C-suite
• Data-driven approach to evaluating and structuring deals
• Strong negotiation skills and high ownership mindset
• Builder mentality — thrives in ambiguity and moves fast
• Strong network across consumer platforms and brands

Good to Haves:

• Prior experience in working in a consumer internet, product-led companies
• Familiarity with creator ecosystems
• AI-native mindset

What Success Looks Like

• Revenue is the scoreboard — own it, grow it, and be accountable to it from day one
• Significant share of new user acquisition driven via partner channels
• Reduction in CAC through scalable alliances
• Growth in monthly transactions per user