
Faz Zavahir
Verified Expert in Sales
Sales Expert
Brussels, Belgium
Toptal member since March 25, 2026
Faz is a senior B2B sales operator with 25 years of experience working with funded startups and growth-stage companies across Europe. He is typically engaged when outbound is inconsistent, pipelines are fragmented, or revenue lacks predictability. He is brought in to fix underperforming sales systems and establish a predictable revenue engine. His work focuses on ICP, go-to-market strategy, and scalable outbound systems.
Project Highlights
Expertise
- B2B Sales
- Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
- Enterprise Sales
- Go-to-market Strategy
- Lead Qualification
- Revenue Operations (RevOps)
- Sales Pipeline Management
- Sales Strategy
Work Experience
Head of Business Development, Institutional and Startup Markets
Redline Capital Management
- Advised Series A and B startups on ICP definition, go-to-market strategy, and outbound system design, enabling transition from zero pipeline to structured revenue generation.
- Built and implemented CRM-driven outbound and qualification frameworks, improving pipeline consistency and conversion visibility across early-stage companies.
- Delivered $300+ million in new business across institutional investors and asset managers through structured commercial strategy and relationship-led enterprise sales.
- Scaled annual revenue from €20 million to €45 million within 3 years by restructuring commercial focus toward high-value accounts and improving pipeline efficiency.
- Closed a €10 million enterprise contract through an 18-month multi-stakeholder negotiation with C-suite decision-makers.
- Built and led a sales team of 35+, establishing performance frameworks and consistently delivering €10+ million in annual targets.
- Improved client retention by 20% through structured account management and long-term relationship development.
Senior Sales and Business Development Manager
Hoss Intropia
- Scaled revenue by 75% across European markets by restructuring outbound strategy and focusing on high-value customer acquisition.
- Built and managed a portfolio of 450+ clients through disciplined outbound prospecting and structured market expansion.
- Led a multinational team of 25 sales associates, improving overall performance by 30% through clear targets, coaching, and pipeline management.
- Launched new product lines across direct and partner channels, increasing market penetration by 20% within 24 months.
- Designed and implemented forecasting and pipeline tracking systems, improving revenue visibility and planning accuracy.
Senior Business Development Manager
Oldenbourg Corporation
- Secured high-value enterprise contracts worth €849,000, €800,000, and €475,000 through targeted outbound and structured sales execution in the German market.
- Exceeded annual revenue targets by 120%, delivering consistent year-on-year growth.
- Built a partner network of 40+ national and international brands, expanding commercial reach across European markets.
- Led and developed a team of 10 sales representatives, improving productivity by 45% through structured coaching and performance management.
- Established strategic partnerships that created a scalable channel for consistent new business generation.
Business Development Manager, Venture Portfolio and Startup GTM
Balderton Capital
- Supported 20+ venture-backed startups in building early commercial functions, defining ICP, GTM strategy, and outbound pipeline from pre-revenue stage.
- Designed outbound and positioning strategies that enabled founders to secure early enterprise clients and establish initial revenue traction.
- Advised founders on commercial messaging and pipeline structure, improving conversion rates and accelerating early-stage growth.
- Built relationships with institutional partners, co-investors, and strategic buyers to support portfolio expansion across European markets.
- Analyzed pipeline and commercial performance data to guide GTM decisions and improve revenue visibility for investment teams.
Project History
Built GTM and Outbound System from Zero, Generating Qualified Pipeline in 90 Days
Defined ICP, built outbound infrastructure, and deployed CRM systems, enabling a Series A startup to generate its first consistent pipeline of qualified opportunities within 90 days.
A Series A-funded startup had no structured commercial function, no defined ICP, and no outbound pipeline. Early traction was inconsistent and not translating into predictable revenue.
I rebuilt the go-to-market foundation from the ground up, defining the ideal customer profile, restructuring messaging, and implementing a targeted outbound system using Clay and Lemlist. He also deployed a CRM-driven pipeline with clear qualification frameworks and conversion tracking.
This resulted in a consistent flow of qualified opportunities within 90 days, giving the company its first reliable commercial engine and a foundation for scalable revenue growth.
Scaled B2B Sales Team to 25 and Increased Revenue by 75% Across European Markets
Rebuilt a fragmented sales function, scaling a team to 25 and implementing structured pipeline and forecasting systems, resulting in 75% revenue growth and acquisition of 450+ clients across European markets.
A growth-stage international business had fragmented sales operations across multiple European markets, with no consistent pipeline structure, forecasting, or performance visibility.
I took ownership of the commercial function, rebuilding the sales organization by introducing structured pipeline management, clear qualification frameworks, and repeatable outbound processes. He recruited and scaled a team of 25 sales associates while aligning market expansion with a focused, high-value account strategy.
This resulted in 75% revenue growth, acquisition of over 450 clients, and a measurable improvement in pipeline accuracy and sales performance across key European markets.
The focus was on building a repeatable revenue engine rather than relying on individual performance, ensuring long-term scalability across regions.
Enterprise Contract Acquisition
Led full-cycle enterprise sales, securing €2+ million in contracts and building a strategic partner network, exceeding annual targets by 120% in a highly competitive German market.
A German-market B2B business needed to accelerate enterprise contract acquisition and establish a scalable partner ecosystem to support growth.
I led the full enterprise sales cycle, from prospecting through to multi-stakeholder negotiation with C-suite decision-makers. Simultaneously, I built a strategic partner network of over 40 national and international brands to expand commercial reach and create a consistent pipeline of high-value opportunities.
This resulted in over €2 million in closed contracts across three enterprise deals, exceeding annual revenue targets by 120% and establishing a scalable foundation for continued market expansion.
Fixing Demo-to-close Conversion for a B2B SaaS Platform
Improved demo-to-close conversion from 9% to 22% by restructuring ICP, tightening qualification, and implementing a structured 48-hour post-demo follow-up system.
The client was a B2B SaaS platform struggling with inconsistent conversions despite a steady flow of demos. The core issue was not lead volume but a disconnect between the demo narrative, buyer workflow, and post-demo follow-up.
I was brought in to diagnose and fix the conversion gap. I redefined the ICP to remove low-intent segments and aligned the demo structure to reflect how end users actually evaluated and adopted the product. Qualification criteria were tightened before demos to ensure higher intent.
Post-demo, I introduced a structured 48-hour follow-up system focused on reinforcing value, handling objections early, and guiding prospects toward a clear next step. CRM stages were rebuilt to reflect real buying behavior rather than internal assumptions.
As a result, demo-to-close conversion increased from 9% to 22%, pipeline quality improved, and sales cycles shortened due to better alignment between sales messaging and buyer expectations.
Built a High-volume Outbound Calling Engine Generating Qualified Meetings and Pipeline
https://www.unify.onlConducted 35+ discovery conversations daily, built a repeatable outbound calling process, and consistently generated qualified meetings and pipeline opportunities for a fast-growing technology business.
A growing technology company needed a structured outbound sales process to generate qualified meetings and create a more predictable pipeline. Existing outreach efforts lacked consistency, making it difficult to identify sales-ready opportunities and maintain momentum within the funnel.
I was brought in to execute a high-volume outbound calling strategy, engaging decision-makers across target accounts, conducting discovery conversations, qualifying opportunities, handling objections, and securing meetings for the commercial team. Alongside outbound execution, I maintained CRM discipline, tracked conversion metrics, refined qualification criteria, and provided feedback to improve targeting and messaging.
The engagement resulted in 35+ meaningful discovery conversations per day, consistent generation of qualified meetings, improved pipeline visibility, and a repeatable outbound process that supported ongoing revenue growth. This project demonstrated the ability to combine disciplined outbound execution with commercial judgment, ensuring activity translated into genuine sales opportunities rather than simply increasing call volume.
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Management
London School of Economics - London, UK
Certifications
AI in Sales and Marketing
Oxford Home Study
AI for Sales Optimization
Oxford Home Study
Sales Training for High Performing Teams
HubSpot Academy
Skills
Tools
Salesforce, Apollo, Pipedrive
Demand Generation
Cold Calling, Email Outreach
Competencies
Communication, B2B, eCommerce, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Sales Coaching
Sales Strategies
Outbound Sales, Request for Proposal (RFP), Consultative Selling, Solution Selling
Roles
Business Development Representative (BDR), Account Executive, Account Manager, Sales Development Representative (SDR), Sales Enablement, Customer Success
Other
HubSpot CRM, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Clay, Fullenrich, Instantly, Business Strategy, Financial Analysis, Market Research, Strategic Planning, Business Development, New Business Development, Business Development Management, International Business, Enterprise Sales, Sales Pipeline Management, Sales Forecasting, Account Management, Key Account Management, Contract Negotiation, B2B Lead Generation, Team Leadership, SaaS Sales, Sales, Sales Management, B2B Sales Management, Sales Process Management, Client Acquisition, Territory Management, Partnership Management, Sales Pipelines, Revenue Growth, B2B Sales, Sales Strategy, Market Expansion, Go-to-market Strategy, ICP Definition, AI-powered Outbound, CRM Automation, Full Cycle Sales, Outbound Prospecting, CRM Systems, Partnerships, Strategic Account Expansion, Smartlead, Lemlist, Zapier, ChatGPT, Claude, Revenue Operations (RevOps), Sales Operations, Demand Generation Strategy, Customer Acquisition Strategy, Enterprise Account Management, Channel Sales, Sales Systems Design, Sales Automation Tools, Workflow Automation & System Integration, Data-driven Sales Strategy, Business Management, Appointment Setting, Deal Closure, Sales Negotiations, Objection Handling, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), EMEA, Cold Outreach, Growth Strategy, Lead Generation, Lead Conversion, Sales Leadership, Growth Strategy, Go-to-market (GTM) Strategies, Marketplaces, Two-sided Marketplaces, Business Development, Early-stage Startups, Strategy, Growth, Outreach, Pitch Preparation, Lead Qualification, ROI, RFPs, Sales Support, Business to Business (B2B), B2B2C, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Leads, Product Positioning, Opportunity Qualification, Social Selling, Software as a Service (SaaS), SaaS, Email Marketing, Monday.com, Shopify, Social Media, AI Tools, Product Strategy, Business Strategy, Pricing Models, Value Proposition, HubSpot, Inbound Sales, Team Management, Supply Chain, Sales & CRM Platforms, Client Engagement, Client Relationship Management, Customer Support, Lead Nurturing, Funnel Optimization, Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO), CRM, Agentic AI, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), Sales AI, Sales Growth, Product Marketing, Customer Acquisition, Customer Retention, Data Analytics, Sales Enablement, Workflow Automation, Make (formerly Integromat), Tech Sales, Product Management, Strategic Marketing, Stripe, Sales Process Optimization, Go-to-market (GTM) Strategies, Consumer Behavior, Sales practices, Management training, Go-to-market (GTM) Strategies, Growth Marketing, Paid Advertising, Influencer Marketing, LinkedIn Ads, Category Management, FMCG, Product Strategy, Software as a Service (SaaS), Zapier, Account Management, Business Development, Growth Strategy, Partnerships, Marketing Strategy, Email Sales, Campaign Management, Lead Management, Sales Training, Social Media, Marketing, SaaS Product Marketing, Social Media Marketing (SMM), Startups, GoHighLevel, Lead Magnet, Demand Generation, Inside Sales, COO, Process Improvement, Pricing, HubSpot, Lead Generation, Market Research & Analysis, Email Marketing, Sales, Fintech, Reporting, Metrics, Field Sales, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Consulting, B2B Partnerships, Relationship Based Networking, Strategic Partnerships, Content Creation, Landing Page Optimization, Data, Analytics, Retail Sales, Data Analytics, Stakeholder Management, Marketing Operations, OEM Sales, Klaviyo, Profit & Loss (P&L), API Integration, AI Agents, Discovery call, Pipeline Generation
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