Application Guide

How to Apply for Associate - Business Development

at Enduring Planet

🏢 About Enduring Planet

Enduring Planet is unique as a specialized financial services provider exclusively focused on climate-focused startups and small businesses, offering non-dilutive financing that allows founders to retain equity. The company operates at the intersection of climate innovation and finance, making it ideal for mission-driven professionals who want to support sustainable businesses while working in a fast-paced startup environment. Their remote-first structure across the U.S. provides flexibility while working on meaningful climate solutions.

About This Role

This Associate - Business Development role involves driving the full sales funnel for climate financing products, from prospecting climate startups through closing deals and contract negotiation. You'll directly impact climate innovation by connecting sustainable businesses with the capital they need to grow, while building relationships across the climate tech ecosystem. The role requires balancing analytical qualification of leads with relationship-building conversations about financial needs.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with reviewing your CRM pipeline and prioritizing outreach to climate startups at different funnel stages, followed by discovery calls with founders to understand their financing needs and growth plans. You'd collaborate with internal teams to scope potential engagements, update deal progress in the CRM, and work on outbound campaigns targeting specific climate sectors. The day would balance analytical work (qualifying leads, tracking metrics) with relationship-building conversations and potentially preparing for industry events.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Enduring Planet Is Looking For

  • Has 2-4 years of B2B services sales experience, ideally in professional services (consulting, legal, CFO services) or lending/financial services
  • Demonstrates specific experience with CRM pipeline management and can show examples of owning and meeting sales targets
  • Combines strong analytical skills for lead qualification with exceptional relationship-building abilities for conversations about financing
  • Shows genuine curiosity about climate solutions and finance, with bonus points for existing connections in climate startup communities

📝 Tips for Applying to Enduring Planet

1

Quantify your business development achievements specifically in B2B services sales - include metrics like pipeline value, conversion rates, or deal sizes

2

Highlight any experience with climate/sustainability companies or projects, even if tangential - Enduring Planet specifically serves this niche

3

Demonstrate your CRM proficiency by mentioning specific platforms you've used (Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.) and how you've maintained pipelines

4

Show how you've worked in fast-paced environments by describing specific deadlines you've met or how you've managed multiple moving pieces

5

Include examples of how you've built relationships with founders or operators, as this role involves direct conversations with startup leadership

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Explain why you're specifically interested in climate finance and how your experience aligns with serving climate-focused startups", 'Provide a concrete example of managing a complex sales pipeline from prospecting to closure in B2B services', 'Demonstrate your understanding of non-dilutive financing and why it matters to climate entrepreneurs', 'Show how you balance analytical qualification with relationship-building in sales conversations']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Study Enduring Planet's specific financing products and recent deals mentioned on their website or news coverage
  • → Research the climate startup ecosystem in the U.S. - identify key sectors, accelerators, and pain points for early-stage climate companies
  • → Understand the difference between non-dilutive and dilutive financing and why this matters to climate founders
  • → Look into industry events Enduring Planet might attend (like Climate Tech conferences) and familiar names in climate finance

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk me through how you would prospect for climate startups in under-tapped segments and qualify them for financing
2 Describe your experience with contract negotiation for professional or financial services deals
3 How do you maintain organization and momentum across multiple deals in different stages of the pipeline?
4 What strategies would you use to build channel partnerships in the climate startup ecosystem?
5 How would you explain non-dilutive financing to a founder who's only familiar with equity fundraising?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying with generic sales experience without tailoring your application to climate/sustainability or financial services
  • Failing to demonstrate specific CRM and pipeline management experience - this role requires active pipeline ownership
  • Showing lack of understanding about non-dilutive financing or the specific needs of climate-focused businesses

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Enduring Planet!

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