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Guide

Sales Survival Kit

Before posting a mission or applying, let's take 2 minutes to align on sales vocabulary. Behind the technical terms, there are simply different stages in the sales cycle.

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The sales cycle explained simply

Sales almost always follow the same path. At UPFLO, each role maps to a stage in this cycle.

  1. 01

    Find prospects

    Identify companies and people who might be interested in the product or service.

    1
  2. 02

    Get a meeting

    Reach out to prospects via email, LinkedIn, or phone to secure a first conversation.

Sales roles explained simply

Each role steps in at a specific point in the cycle. Here are the 6 profiles you'll encounter most often.

Steps 1–2

Setter (SDR / BDR)

Find prospects and book meetings

The setter prospects via LinkedIn, email, or phone. They identify the right companies and fill the sales calendar. Often the first hire in a startup.

Quick summary

RoleMain missionCycle steps
Setter (SDR / BDR)Find prospects and book meetingsSteps 1–2
Full-Cycle Sales Rep (B2B)Manage the entire sales cycleSteps 1–5
Sales EngineerExplain the technical solutionStep 3
CloserClose the deal

Glossary

Terms you'll hear often in the sales world.

Pipeline+

The list of ongoing sales opportunities. All deals at different stages of progress.

Lead+

A company or person potentially interested in the product. A lead is not yet a customer.

ICP (Ideal Customer Profile)+

The ideal customer type for a product. Defining your ICP helps target the right prospects and avoid wasting time.

Why this page exists

At UPFLO, we want to prevent a classic mistake: asking for a closer when you need a setter, or hiring a full-cycle sales rep when the startup should be testing its market first.

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2
  • 03

    Present the solution

    Explain how the product solves the prospect's problem, often through a demo or call.

    3
  • 04

    Close the deal

    Negotiate terms, handle objections, and get the contract signed.

    4
  • 05

    Retain the customer

    Support the customer after the sale to ensure satisfaction and grow the relationship.

    5
  • Steps 1–5

    Full-Cycle Sales Rep (B2B)

    Manage the entire sales cycle

    They do it all: prospecting, meetings, demos, negotiation, and closing. A complete hunter. Common in small teams.

    Step 3

    Sales Engineer

    Explain the technical solution

    They step in when the product is complex (technical software, industrial solutions, IT products). The bridge between tech and sales.

    Step 4

    Closer

    Close the deal

    The closer steps in after meetings. They handle negotiation, address objections, and finalize the signature. Goal: turn opportunities into customers.

    Step 5

    Account Manager

    Grow existing accounts

    Unlike hunters, they manage existing accounts, grow revenue, and upsell additional services. Often dedicated to key accounts.

    Step 5

    Customer Success Manager

    Retain customers

    After the sale, the CSM supports the customer, ensures product adoption, and prevents churn. Goal: satisfaction and retention.

    Step 4
    Account ManagerGrow existing accountsStep 5
    Customer Success ManagerRetain customersStep 5
    Cold outreach+

    Contacting someone who doesn't know the product yet. As opposed to warm outreach (already identified contact).

    Conversion+

    The moment a prospect becomes a customer. The conversion rate measures how effective the sales process is.

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