Business Development

Job Overview

Hume AI is looking for a Business Development operator to help build and run an executive-level business development program alongside our CEO. Contribute to our endeavor to ensure that AI is guided by human values, the most pivotal challenge (and opportunity) of the 21st century.

About Us

Hume AI is a Series B startup dedicated to building artificial intelligence that is directly optimized for human well-being. As the first company to release speech language models, we’re focused on expanding our research to encompass audio understanding models and evaluation platforms for enterprises.

Our goal is to enable a future in which technology draws on an understanding of human emotional expression to better serve human goals. As part of our mission, we also conduct groundbreaking scientific research, publish in leading scientific journals like Nature, and support a non-profit, The Hume Initiative, that has released the first concrete ethical guidelines for empathic AI (www.thehumeinitiative.org). You can learn more about us on our website (https://hume.ai/) and read about us in WIRED, Forbes, and Venturebeat.

About the Role

In this role, you will work closely with Andrew, Hume’s CEO, to identify valuable relationships, open thoughtful conversations, and keep business development initiatives moving. You will help shape the program itself, including research, prioritization, outreach preparation, and follow-through.

This is an early-career opportunity for someone with strong commercial instincts, excellent communication skills, and the initiative to operate close to leadership. The work includes supporting executive outreach through Andrew’s network and LinkedIn, with an emphasis on judgment, relevance, and relationship quality.

What You’ll Do

• Research companies, decision-makers, and potential partners to identify relevant business development opportunities.
• Prepare concise account research, relationship context, and tailored outreach for executive conversations.
• Help organize and operate the CEO’s business development program, including outreach through his network and LinkedIn.
• Coordinate follow-ups, maintain clear records, and ensure promising conversations have an owner and next step.
• Prepare briefing materials and capture useful context before and after meetings.
• Work with the team to understand Hume’s capabilities and communicate their relevance to prospective partners.
• Track activity and outcomes, identify what is working, and improve the program over time.
• Take ownership of projects that help convert an initial conversation into a productive relationship.

What You’ll Bring

• Evidence of initiative and follow-through in business development, sales, partnerships, operations, or another demanding environment.
• Excellent written communication and the ability to write a concise, thoughtful message for an executive audience.
• Strong research skills and judgment about which people and opportunities deserve attention.
• Organizational discipline, attention to detail, and reliable follow-up across several active workstreams.
• The ability to build trust, handle sensitive information thoughtfully, and communicate well with senior stakeholders.
• Curiosity about AI and the ability to learn a technical product well enough to explain its relevance.
• Comfort working with ambiguity and taking responsibility in a small, fast-moving team.

Bonus Points

• Experience supporting a founder, executive, or early-stage go-to-market team.
• Experience with account research, relationship management, CRM tools, or LinkedIn-based business development.
• Exposure to enterprise software, developer tools, or API products.
• A record of sustained achievement in collegiate athletics or another setting requiring teamwork, resilience, and disciplined execution.