Sales & Operations Materclass: Highlights from Start it Academy
Let’s be real: for most startups, sales can feel like climbing a mountain with no map. Struggling to price your product? Wondering how to land those elusive first clients? Drowning in manual processes when you should be scaling? You’re not alone. That’s why Academy Day 5 at Start it Hub Leuven was designed to tackle these exact challenges.
On November 12th, our startup founders got practical insights, expert advice, and real-world strategies to dominate sales and streamline operations. Here’s what went down:
Top takeaways to improve your sales as a startup
1. Price Like a Pro
The day began with Ingrid Willems, presenting on behalf of pricing expert Omar Mohout, on how startups can master pricing strategies. The big lesson? "Pricing isn’t set in stone — it’s a tool for growth. Adapt it to match your market and your value."
2. Cracking B2B Sales
René Knecht and examples from our Spring Cohort '24 showed how to nail that crucial first contact with B2B clients.
The secret? Personalize. Every. Interaction. Understand your client’s pain points and speak their language.
3. Automate Your Way to Success
Guus Verbeek explored Sales Automation & Data-Driven Decision Making, highlighting tools and techniques to optimize sales processes. Our partner HubSpot shared practical advice on harnessing the power of data:
"Bring all your data together. Know who your customers are, and understand their intentions. With the right data, you can automate tasks, emails, and workflows, saving time while creating a personalized customer experience".
Key takeaway: Integrating your tools into a unified platform makes it easier for startups to manage customer relationships, turning today’s startups into tomorrow’s unicorns.
4. The CEO’s Sales Journey
Manuel Martin-Rabadán didn’t sugarcoat it: "Think about your exit strategy from day one. It sets your path and keeps you focused."
And for startups? The toughest sales challenge is clear: "Landing your first 20 clients. That’s where it all begins."
Good sales strategy for startups
Sales and operations aren’t just departments; they’re the backbone of every successful startup. On ur latest Academy Day we delivered the tools to tackle these challenges and take your business to the next level.
Missed it? Don’t sweat it. 2025 Academy Days are coming, and you can be part of the action. Pre-register now for the next Start it @KBC cohort and get ready to crush your goals.