Business Development Associate at Beacon Software in San Francisco, CA

Business Development Associate

Location: Toronto, ON; San Francisco, CA

WHO WE ARE

Beacon Software is building a new kind of software holding company—one that is designed by founders for founders. The Beacon difference:

• Permanent Commitment: We purchase software companies with the intention of holding them indefinitely.
• Flexible Terms & Transition: We are flexible in our approach to both structure and capital.
• Growth & Technology DNA: We offer a comprehensive platform of software modules, shared services, and world-class Silicon Valley talent to enable you to increase the scale of your ambition and out-innovate your competition.
• Transparent & Decisive: We know an entrepreneur’s time is valuable. We work hard to make our diligence and closing process as transparent and expedient as possible.

About the Team

Beacon Software is on a mission to build a generational holding company of niche software solutions. Our team is composed of experienced professionals from leading technology companies such as Instacart, Airbnb, and Databricks, and top-tier investment firms like D1 Capital and Sequoia Capital. Together, we bring a technology-led and product-driven approach to finding, acquiring, and growing software businesses.

Our core values guide us:

• Honesty: We are truth-seekers who believe human relationships generate alpha. Trust is earned over a lifetime and lost in an instant.
• Hunger: We play to win, hold ourselves to high standards, and take pride in our responsibility to customers, partners, and each other.
• Humility: We believe in learning from anyone at any time. Strong beliefs are held weakly to acknowledge being wrong along the way.
• Horizon: We seek to build a generational software company and embrace compounding growth over decades.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

As a Business Development Associate, you will play a critical role in Beacon’s acquisition strategy by identifying, researching, and engaging directly with software companies to join the Beacon family. You will work closely with Beacon’s leadership and M&A teams to support the entire deal process—from initial outreach to deal closing. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of Beacon’s growing portfolio of software companies.

Responsibilities

• Identify niche vertical market software companies aligned with Beacon’s acquisition strategy.
• Conduct outreach through email, phone calls, and meetings to engage with company founders and CEOs.
• Build and nurture long-term relationships with software entrepreneurs, understanding their business challenges and growth opportunities.
• Assist in the initial evaluation of potential acquisition targets by gathering and analyzing financial and operational data.
• Maintain and grow Beacon’s deal pipeline by actively sourcing new business opportunities.
• Collaborate with Beacon’s M&A and leadership teams throughout the due diligence and deal execution process.
• Support deal negotiations by coordinating communication between internal stakeholders and prospective sellers.

WHO YOU ARE

• A driven, proactive individual with 1-3 years of experience in M&A business development, sales, or a related field, ideally in the software or technology sector.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage and influence entrepreneurs and business leaders.
• Love the sales process and are genuinely interested in getting to know people and are intellectually curious about entrepreneurship/business
• Analytical with an attention to detail, and eager to learn about acquisitions and deal-making in the software industry.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• A self-starter who thrives in a collaborative team environment and is passionate about achieving/exceeding targets.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in outreach, relationship-building, or lead generation.
• A basic understanding of financial statements, SaaS business models, or M&A processes.
• Interest in software, technology, and the broader acquisition ecosystem.