

Founders Session: GTM by Design: Aligning Talent, Comp & Culture from Seed to Scale
GTM by Design: Aligning Talent, Comp & Culture from Seed to Scale
This session, co-hosted by Peak, Bluebird and EquityPeople, is designed for founders scaling from Seed to Series B.
Join us for a panel & conversational style event exploring how GTM structures evolve across funding stages and how to make the right executive hiring decisions at each inflection point. We will unpack when to hire a CRO versus a VP Sales or VP CS, how to avoid costly mis hires, and how to structure compensation and equity in a way that fuels performance without breaking your burn.
Expect practical frameworks, real examples, and candid discussion with peers navigating similar growth challenges.
How GTM evolves and how to prevent common mistakes in hiring executives by Machiel Kunst (Bluebird) & Thijs Dijkman (Peak)
How GTM structure changes by funding stage (Seed to Series B)
When to hire a CRO vs VP Sales or VP CS
Common hiring missteps in early-stage GTM and how to avoid them
Compensation plans for GTM & Execs: base, variable, equity by Tamas Varkonyi (EquityPeople) & Jelle van Jaarsveld (Bluebird)
Structuring comp across GTM and executive roles (CRO, VP Sales, VP CS) and how to align it with your culture
When to flex on base/variable vs offer more equity
Flexible comp models: Should candidates be able to trade cash for ownership?
Case studies: Real examples of comp structures that worked — and didn’t
Agenda
9.00-9.30 arrival, coffee & tea
9.30-11.00 round table conversation with breakfast
11:00-11:30 stick around for more networking & coffee