We were introduced to SurrealDB, an AI-native, multi-model database, when they were beginning to build their first sales team in North America. Following detailed conversations around our approach, methodology and market coverage, we were selected to partner with the founders to design and deliver their founding sales hires.
SurrealDB was founded in London in 2022. The AI-native database is designed as a single data and logic layer for AI agents, knowledge graphs, real-time applications, and OLTP applications requiring multiple data types.
At a pivotal moment in the company’s growth journey, where the business was moving from product validation to commercialization, they needed to establish its first go‑to‑market function in America to unlock global revenue growth.
SurrealDB had a strong product and growing market interest but no established sales infrastructure to convert demand into predictable revenue. The challenge was not simply to hire salespeople, but to design and build a founding sales team capable of operating in a fast‑paced scale‑up environment, while still bringing the rigour and credibility required to sell enterprise solutions.
This was made more complex by:
Getting this wrong would have materially slowed their ability to scale.
SurrealDB needed a partner who could access high‑calibre, hard‑to‑reach commercial talent and move at pace. They chose 3Search because of our:
They wanted more than a recruiter - they needed a partner who could help shape the function. As such, Oliver Amos partnered with SurrealDB on a retained basis to design and deliver their founding US sales team.
The engagement included:
This was a true partnership approach, with continuous feedback loops and alignment throughout. Through this work, Oliver allowed SurrealDB to make confident hiring decisions quickly and without risk.
3Search successfully placed four founding sales hires in the US:
These hires significantly strengthened SurrealDB’s commercial capability and laid the foundations for a world‑class go‑to‑market function. The team is now in place to take a market‑leading product to market and support the company’s next phase of growth.
After reviewing a number of potential partners, we chose to work with Olly and the team at 3Search to hire our founding sales team in the US, and we were very pleased with the outcome. From the outset, Olly provided clear advice, honest market feedback and a consultative approach that helped us shape the search effectively. Building an early sales team is a critical stage for any business, so it was important to work with a partner who understood both the quality of talent required and the pace we needed to move at. 3Search delivered a strong and diverse shortlist, which we highly valued, and gave us confidence that we were seeing candidates from across the market. The process resulted in four excellent hires: two SDRs and two Account Executives. The team understood the calibre, profile, and cultural fit we needed for our first GTM hires in the US, and their support made a meaningful difference to the process. We will absolutely engage 3Search again as we continue to build out our go‑to‑market function, and I would happily recommend them to other founders and business leaders looking to hire great commercial talent.
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