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GTM Execution Plan — Phased Launch Strategy

CODITECT Bioscience QMS Platform

Document Version: 1.0.0 Last Updated: February 15, 2026 Planning Horizon: 36 months (March 2026 - February 2029) Current Stage: Seed ($1.09M raised, Pre-revenue)


Executive Overview

This GTM execution plan outlines a three-phase, 36-month market entry and scaling strategy for CODITECT Bioscience QMS. The plan balances aggressive growth targets with capital efficiency, leveraging a hybrid Sales-Led Enterprise motion to achieve $9.0M ARR by Month 36.

Strategic Approach

Phase 1: Lighthouse (Months 1-6) — Validate product-market fit with 3-5 design partners Phase 2: Vertical Expansion (Months 7-18) — Build repeatable sales engine to $2.7M ARR Phase 3: Scale (Months 19-36) — Multi-vertical expansion to $9.0M+ ARR with channel activation

Key Success Metrics

MetricPhase 1 TargetPhase 2 TargetPhase 3 Target
ARR$360K$2.7M$9.0M
Customer Count3-515-2040-60
Team Size5 FTE12-15 FTE25-30 FTE
Monthly Burn$85K$195K$415K
Runway12 months18 months (Series A)24+ months

Capital Requirements

  • Phase 1: $510K (Months 1-6, current Seed round)
  • Phase 2: $2.34M (Months 7-18, Series A $3.5M)
  • Phase 3: $9.96M (Months 19-36, Series B $12M)
  • Total 36-Month Investment: $12.81M

Phase 1: Lighthouse (Months 1-6)

Timeline: March 2026 - August 2026 Objective: Validate product-market fit with 3-5 paying design partners Target ARR: $360K Team Size: 5 FTE Total Budget: $510K

Strategic Focus

Phase 1 establishes initial market traction through founder-led sales to 3-5 mid-sized biotech companies with acute QMS pain points. Success criteria center on validated product-market fit signals, not revenue maximization.

Primary ICP:

  • Mid-sized biotechs (100-500 employees)
  • Series B-D funding stage
  • $25M-$150M annual revenue
  • Active FDA regulatory submissions (IND, BLA, NDA)
  • Legacy QMS causing operational friction
  • Innovation budget allocated ($100K-$500K for process improvements)

Target Accounts (Named):

  1. Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (Cambridge, MA) — RNA therapeutics, 1,000+ employees, recent FDA approvals
  2. Moderna Therapeutics (Cambridge, MA) — mRNA platform, quality burden from COVID scale-up
  3. Intellia Therapeutics (Cambridge, MA) — CRISPR gene editing, pre-commercial stage
  4. Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical (Novato, CA) — Rare disease specialist, multiple regulatory pathways
  5. Arvinas (New Haven, CT) — Protein degradation, Series D, preparing commercial launch
  6. Vor Bio (Cambridge, MA) — Cell therapy, Series B, quality complexity from manufacturing
  7. Editas Medicine (Cambridge, MA) — Gene editing, public company, quality maturity gaps
  8. Akcea Therapeutics (Boston, MA) — Antisense oligonucleotides, active regulatory submissions

Month-by-Month Execution Plan

Month 1 (March 2026): Foundation

Milestones:

  • Finalize design partner value proposition and pricing structure
  • Complete target account research and outreach list (50 companies)
  • Launch founder LinkedIn thought leadership campaign (3 posts/week)
  • Attend BIO CEO & Investor Conference (Feb 10-13, NYC) — 15 qualified meetings
  • Create 4-page design partner proposal deck
  • Deploy initial outbound sequence (email + LinkedIn)

Metrics:

  • 50 target accounts identified
  • 15 conference meetings scheduled
  • 30 cold outreach touchpoints sent
  • 5 discovery calls booked

Budget: $85K

  • Personnel: $65K (Founder + 1 BD/Sales + 1 CS)
  • Marketing: $5K (LinkedIn ads, design assets)
  • Travel: $8K (BIO CEO Conference)
  • Tools/Tech: $5K (CRM setup, email automation)
  • Contingency: $2K

Month 2 (April 2026): Pipeline Building

Milestones:

  • Conduct 20 discovery calls with target accounts
  • Deliver 8-10 product demonstrations
  • Close 1st design partner agreement (target: $60K ACV with 40% discount)
  • Launch "QMS AI Readiness Assessment" lead magnet (gated whitepaper)
  • Publish 1st thought leadership article (LinkedIn + Medium)
  • Activate warm introductions network (advisors, investors, board)

Metrics:

  • 20 discovery calls completed
  • 10 product demos delivered
  • 1 design partner signed ($60K ACV)
  • 50 whitepaper downloads
  • 5 qualified opportunities in pipeline ($300K+ pipeline value)

Budget: $85K

  • Personnel: $65K
  • Marketing: $8K (content creation, whitepaper design, LinkedIn promotion)
  • Travel: $5K (customer visits)
  • Tools/Tech: $5K
  • Contingency: $2K

Month 3 (May 2026): Conversion Focus

Milestones:

  • Close 2nd design partner agreement (target: $72K ACV with 35% discount)
  • Begin implementation of 1st customer (Week 1-4 onboarding)
  • Conduct 15 discovery calls
  • Deliver 10 product demonstrations
  • Attend ISPE Annual Meeting (May 4-7, Boston) — 10 qualified meetings
  • Refine pitch deck based on customer feedback

Metrics:

  • 2 total design partners signed (cumulative $132K ARR)
  • 1 customer in active onboarding
  • 15 discovery calls completed
  • 10 product demos delivered
  • 8 qualified opportunities in pipeline ($480K+ pipeline value)

Budget: $85K

  • Personnel: $65K
  • Marketing: $6K (event materials, case study development)
  • Travel: $8K (ISPE conference + customer visits)
  • Tools/Tech: $5K
  • Contingency: $1K

Month 4 (June 2026): Validation

Milestones:

  • Close 3rd design partner agreement (target: $96K ACV with 30% discount)
  • Complete 1st customer implementation (go-live)
  • Begin implementation of 2nd customer
  • Conduct 12 discovery calls
  • Deliver 8 product demonstrations
  • Initiate 1st customer success story documentation
  • Activate customer advisory board (3 design partners)

Metrics:

  • 3 total design partners signed (cumulative $228K ARR)
  • 1 customer live in production
  • 1 customer in active onboarding
  • 12 discovery calls completed
  • 8 product demos delivered
  • 6 qualified opportunities in pipeline ($360K+ pipeline value)

Budget: $85K

  • Personnel: $65K
  • Marketing: $10K (case study production, video testimonial)
  • Travel: $5K (customer visits)
  • Tools/Tech: $5K
  • Contingency: $0K

Month 5 (July 2026): Momentum

Milestones:

  • Close 4th design partner agreement (target: $84K ACV with 35% discount)
  • Complete 2nd customer implementation (go-live)
  • Begin implementation of 3rd customer
  • Publish 1st customer case study (anonymized or with permission)
  • Conduct 10 discovery calls
  • Deliver 6 product demonstrations
  • Refine pricing model based on design partner feedback

Metrics:

  • 4 total design partners signed (cumulative $312K ARR)
  • 2 customers live in production
  • 1 customer in active onboarding
  • 10 discovery calls completed
  • 6 product demos delivered
  • Published case study available
  • 4 qualified opportunities in pipeline ($240K+ pipeline value)

Budget: $85K

  • Personnel: $65K
  • Marketing: $8K (case study distribution, PR outreach)
  • Travel: $6K (customer visits, prospect meetings)
  • Tools/Tech: $5K
  • Contingency: $1K

Month 6 (August 2026): Phase 1 Completion

Milestones:

  • Close 5th design partner agreement (target: $72K ACV with 35% discount)
  • Complete 3rd customer implementation (go-live)
  • Begin implementation of 4th customer
  • Conduct Phase 1 retrospective and PMF assessment
  • Finalize Phase 2 hiring plan and job descriptions
  • Secure 1st customer reference call/video testimonial
  • Prepare Series A investor deck with traction metrics

Metrics:

  • 5 total design partners signed ($384K ARR — exceeds $360K target)
  • 3 customers live in production
  • 2 customers in active onboarding
  • 1 published case study + 1 video testimonial
  • NPS score from design partners: >40
  • Product usage metrics validate engagement (80%+ weekly active users)

Budget: $85K

  • Personnel: $65K
  • Marketing: $7K (Series A deck design, analyst relations)
  • Travel: $6K
  • Tools/Tech: $5K
  • Contingency: $2K

Phase 1 Team Structure

Total Headcount: 5 FTE

RoleCountHire MonthSalary (Annual)Responsibilities
Founder/CEO1Existing$180KSales leadership, customer strategy, fundraising
VP Sales/BD1Month 1$140K + 10% commissionPipeline building, deal closure, design partner negotiations
Customer Success Manager1Month 1$95KOnboarding, implementation, customer health, feedback loop
Solutions Engineer1Existing$125KProduct demos, technical discovery, implementation support
Product Manager1Existing$130KRoadmap prioritization, design partner feedback synthesis

Note: Engineering team (3 FTE) exists but not included in GTM budget.

Phase 1 Budget Breakdown

CategoryMonthly6-Month Total% of Budget
Personnel$65K$390K76%
Marketing & Demand Gen$7.3K$44K9%
Travel & Events$6.3K$38K7%
Technology & Tools$5K$30K6%
Contingency$1.3K$8K2%
TOTAL$85K$510K100%

Funding Source: Current Seed round ($1.09M raised, $510K allocated to GTM)

Phase 1 Success Criteria (Go/No-Go for Phase 2)

Must-Have (Hard Gates):

  1. 3+ paying design partners with signed contracts ($180K+ ARR minimum)
  2. 2+ customers live in production with validated usage (80%+ WAU)
  3. 1+ published case study or video testimonial demonstrating value
  4. NPS >40 from design partner cohort
  5. Product-market fit signals validated (customer retention >90%, expansion interest from 60%+ of cohort)

Should-Have (Advisory Gates):

  1. 🎯 5 design partners signed ($360K ARR target)
  2. 🎯 Pipeline coverage >3x for Phase 2 ($1M+ qualified pipeline)
  3. 🎯 Sales cycle <6 months average from first call to signature
  4. 🎯 Expansion revenue identified ($100K+ from existing customers in Year 2)
  5. 🎯 Competitive win rate >70% in head-to-head evaluations

Go Decision: Minimum 4/5 must-have criteria + 3/5 should-have criteria No-Go Triggers:

  • <2 design partners signed by Month 6
  • Customer churn >20% in first 90 days
  • NPS <20 or negative product feedback trends
  • Inability to articulate differentiated value proposition
  • Sales cycle >9 months average

No-Go Contingency Plan:

  • Extend Phase 1 by 3 months with reduced burn ($60K/month)
  • Pivot ICP to smaller companies (50-200 employees, faster sales cycles)
  • Consider freemium/PLG motion for earlier-stage biotechs
  • Reduce pricing tier (Starter at $36K instead of $48K)
  • Evaluate strategic partnership with QMS incumbent (Veeva, MasterControl)

Phase 2: Vertical Expansion (Months 7-18)

Timeline: September 2026 - August 2027 Objective: Build repeatable sales engine and scale to $2.7M ARR Target ARR: $2.7M (15-20 customers) Team Size: 12-15 FTE Total Budget: $2.34M Funding Event: Series A ($3.5M raise, Month 6-7)

Strategic Focus

Phase 2 transitions from founder-led sales to a scalable inside sales motion. Key priorities: hire sales team, activate content marketing engine, establish repeatable sales process, expand into adjacent verticals (medical devices, CDMOs), and achieve >30% QoQ ARR growth.

Expanded ICP:

  • Primary: Biotech (same as Phase 1)
  • Adjacent 1: Medical device manufacturers (Class II/III, FDA 510(k) or PMA pathways)
  • Adjacent 2: CDMOs (contract development/manufacturing, client quality obligations)
  • Geographic: Primarily US/Canada, initial European expansion (UK, Germany)

Target Customer Profile:

  • 100-1,000 employees
  • $25M-$300M revenue
  • Active regulatory submissions (FDA, EMA)
  • 3-10 person quality team
  • Legacy QMS (paper-based, Veeva legacy, MasterControl Classic)
  • Budget authority: VP Quality, Head of Regulatory Affairs, COO

Quarterly Execution Plan

Q3 2026 (Months 7-9): Team Building

Key Milestones:

  • Series A close ($3.5M at $15M pre-money valuation, Month 7)
  • Hire 1st Account Executive (Month 7)
  • Hire 1st Sales Development Rep (Month 7)
  • Hire Marketing Manager (Month 8)
  • Hire 2nd Account Executive (Month 9)
  • Hire Customer Success Manager #2 (Month 9)
  • Launch content marketing engine (blog, SEO, gated assets)
  • Activate HubSpot CRM + marketing automation
  • Close 3-4 new customers ($288K-$384K new ARR)

Metrics:

  • Ending ARR: $672K-$768K (cumulative with Phase 1)
  • New customers: 3-4 (total 8-9 customers)
  • Pipeline generated: $1.5M+
  • Sales cycle: 4-6 months average
  • Win rate: >60%
  • Website traffic: 2,000 visitors/month
  • Content pieces published: 12 (blog posts, whitepapers, case studies)

Budget: $585K (3 months)

  • Personnel: $420K (8 FTE, 4 new hires mid-quarter)
  • Marketing: $75K (HubSpot, content production, paid ads, SEO)
  • Travel & Events: $45K (customer visits, conferences)
  • Technology: $30K (CRM, sales enablement tools, data enrichment)
  • Contingency: $15K

Q4 2026 (Months 10-12): Process Repeatability

Key Milestones:

  • Hire Solutions Engineer #2 (Month 10)
  • Hire 2nd SDR (Month 11)
  • Formalize sales playbook and enablement program
  • Launch ABM campaign targeting top 50 accounts
  • Attend BIO-Europe (Nov 4-6, Stockholm) — 12 meetings
  • Close 4-5 new customers ($384K-$480K new ARR)
  • Achieve first customer expansion (upsell or cross-sell)
  • Publish 2nd major case study

Metrics:

  • Ending ARR: $1.056M-$1.248M (cumulative)
  • New customers: 4-5 (total 12-14 customers)
  • Pipeline generated: $2.5M+
  • Sales cycle: 4-5 months average
  • Win rate: >65%
  • Website traffic: 4,000 visitors/month
  • Expansion revenue: $50K+ (first upsells)
  • NRR: 110%+

Budget: $585K (3 months)

  • Personnel: $435K (10 FTE, 2 new hires mid-quarter)
  • Marketing: $75K (ABM campaigns, SEO, content, events)
  • Travel & Events: $45K (BIO-Europe, customer visits, QBRs)
  • Technology: $25K
  • Contingency: $5K

Q1 2027 (Months 13-15): Vertical Expansion

Key Milestones:

  • Hire 3rd Account Executive (Month 13)
  • Hire Partnerships/BD Manager (Month 14)
  • Launch medical device vertical campaign
  • Launch CDMO vertical campaign
  • Activate strategic partnerships (target: 2 signed referral agreements)
  • Attend SCOPE Summit (Feb, Orlando) — medical device focus
  • Close 5-6 new customers ($480K-$576K new ARR)
  • 20% of new customers from adjacent verticals (medical device or CDMO)

Metrics:

  • Ending ARR: $1.536M-$1.824M (cumulative)
  • New customers: 5-6 (total 17-20 customers)
  • Pipeline generated: $3.5M+
  • Sales cycle: 4 months average
  • Win rate: >70%
  • Website traffic: 6,000 visitors/month
  • Vertical mix: 80% biotech, 15% medical device, 5% CDMO
  • NRR: 115%+

Budget: $585K (3 months)

  • Personnel: $450K (12 FTE, 2 new hires mid-quarter)
  • Marketing: $75K (vertical campaigns, partnerships, content)
  • Travel & Events: $40K (SCOPE, customer visits)
  • Technology: $20K
  • Contingency: $0K

Q2 2027 (Months 16-18): Efficiency & Scale

Key Milestones:

  • Hire Revenue Operations Analyst (Month 16)
  • Hire 4th Account Executive (Month 17)
  • Hire 3rd SDR (Month 18)
  • Formalize sales compensation plan with accelerators
  • Launch partner channel program (2-3 active partners)
  • Achieve first partner-sourced deal
  • Close 6-8 new customers ($576K-$768K new ARR)
  • Attend BIO International Convention (June, Boston) — 20+ meetings

Metrics:

  • Ending ARR: $2.112M-$2.592M (target $2.7M with expansion)
  • New customers: 6-8 (total 23-28 customers)
  • Pipeline generated: $5M+
  • Sales cycle: 3-4 months average
  • Win rate: >75%
  • Website traffic: 8,000 visitors/month
  • Partner-sourced revenue: 5-10% of new ARR
  • NRR: 120%+
  • Sales efficiency ratio (New ARR / Sales & Marketing spend): >0.8

Budget: $585K (3 months)

  • Personnel: $465K (15 FTE, 3 new hires mid-quarter)
  • Marketing: $70K (demand gen, partnerships, events)
  • Travel & Events: $35K (BIO, customer QBRs)
  • Technology: $15K
  • Contingency: $0K

Phase 2 Hiring Timeline

RoleHire MonthSalary (Annual)Commission/BonusTotal Comp
Account Executive #1Month 7$110K$90K OTE$200K
Sales Development Rep #1Month 7$55K$20K OTE$75K
Marketing ManagerMonth 8$105K$15K bonus$120K
Account Executive #2Month 9$110K$90K OTE$200K
Customer Success Manager #2Month 9$95K$15K bonus$110K
Solutions Engineer #2Month 10$125K$15K bonus$140K
Sales Development Rep #2Month 11$55K$20K OTE$75K
Account Executive #3Month 13$110K$90K OTE$200K
Partnerships/BD ManagerMonth 14$115K$35K OTE$150K
Revenue Operations AnalystMonth 16$85K$10K bonus$95K
Account Executive #4Month 17$110K$90K OTE$200K
Sales Development Rep #3Month 18$55K$20K OTE$75K

Total Phase 2 New Hires: 12 FTE Cumulative Team Size (Month 18): 17 FTE (5 from Phase 1 + 12 new)

Phase 2 Organizational Structure (Month 18)

CEO/Founder (Sales Leadership)

├── VP Sales (Month 13 promotion or external hire)
│ ├── Account Executive #1
│ ├── Account Executive #2
│ ├── Account Executive #3
│ ├── Account Executive #4
│ ├── SDR #1
│ ├── SDR #2
│ └── SDR #3

├── Solutions Engineering (Lead: existing SE)
│ └── Solutions Engineer #2

├── Customer Success (Lead: existing CSM)
│ └── Customer Success Manager #2

├── Marketing Manager
│ └── (contractors/agencies for content, design, events)

├── Partnerships/BD Manager

└── Revenue Operations Analyst

Key Metrics per Function:

FunctionHeadcountKey Metrics
Sales (AEs)4$600K-$800K quota/AE, 75%+ attainment, 4-5 month sales cycle
SDRs38-10 qualified meetings/SDR/month, 40%+ conversion to opportunity
Solutions Engineering290%+ demo-to-opportunity conversion, 12-15 demos/month each
Customer Success2NRR 120%+, NPS >50, 15-20 customers each, <5% logo churn
Marketing1 + contractors8,000 visitors/month, 200 MQLs/month, 30% MQL-to-SQL conversion
Partnerships/BD13-5 active partners, 10% of pipeline partner-sourced by Month 18
Revenue Ops1Pipeline accuracy 85%+, forecast error <15%, CRM hygiene >90%

Phase 2 Budget Summary

CategoryQ3 2026Q4 2026Q1 2027Q2 202712-Month Total% of Total
Personnel$420K$435K$450K$465K$1.77M76%
Marketing$75K$75K$75K$70K$295K13%
Travel & Events$45K$45K$40K$35K$165K7%
Technology$30K$25K$20K$15K$90K4%
Contingency$15K$5K$0K$0K$20K1%
TOTAL$585K$585K$585K$585K$2.34M100%

Monthly Burn Rate: $195K average Funding Source: Series A ($3.5M raise, Month 7) Runway: 18 months from Series A close (covers Phase 2 + 6-month buffer for Series B)

Phase 2 Success Criteria (Go/No-Go for Phase 3)

Must-Have (Hard Gates):

  1. $2.0M+ ARR by Month 18 (minimum threshold)
  2. 15+ paying customers with recurring revenue
  3. NRR >110% demonstrating expansion revenue engine
  4. Repeatable sales process documented (playbook, enablement, onboarding)
  5. Pipeline coverage >3x quota ($8M+ pipeline for $2.7M ARR target)
  6. Sales efficiency ratio >0.6 (new ARR / S&M spend)

Should-Have (Advisory Gates):

  1. 🎯 $2.7M ARR achieved (base case target)
  2. 🎯 20+ customers across 2+ verticals (biotech + medical device or CDMO)
  3. 🎯 Win rate >70% in competitive evaluations
  4. 🎯 CAC payback <18 months blended across cohorts
  5. 🎯 1-2 active channel partners generating pipeline
  6. 🎯 NRR >120% with documented expansion playbook

Go Decision: Minimum 5/6 must-have criteria + 4/6 should-have criteria No-Go Triggers:

  • ARR <$1.5M by Month 18
  • Customer churn >15% annually
  • Sales cycle expanding (>6 months average)
  • Win rate declining (<50%)
  • Pipeline coverage <2x
  • Sales efficiency ratio <0.4 (unsustainable CAC)

No-Go Contingency Plan:

  • Extend Phase 2 by 6 months with reduced burn ($150K/month)
  • Reduce hiring plan (pause AE #4 and SDR #3)
  • Focus on expansion revenue from existing customers (reduce new logo focus)
  • Evaluate pricing adjustments (reduce Starter tier to $36K, or introduce freemium)
  • Consider strategic acquisition offer from incumbent QMS vendor

Phase 3: Scale (Months 19-36)

Timeline: September 2027 - February 2029 Objective: Multi-vertical, multi-geography expansion to $9.0M+ ARR Target ARR: $9.0M (40-60 customers) Team Size: 25-30 FTE Total Budget: $9.96M Funding Event: Series B ($12M raise, Month 18-19)

Strategic Focus

Phase 3 activates full-scale GTM expansion: field sales team for enterprise accounts, channel partner ecosystem, international expansion (Europe), and potential PLG motion evaluation. Key focus on capital efficiency (CAC payback <18 months, sales efficiency >1.0) and market dominance within target verticals before incumbent competition intensifies.

Expanded Verticals & Geographies:

  • Primary: Biotech (50% of new ARR)
  • Secondary: Medical devices (25% of new ARR)
  • Tertiary: CDMOs, diagnostics, specialty pharma (25% of new ARR)
  • Geographies: US/Canada (70%), Europe (25%), APAC pilot (5%)

Customer Segmentation:

  • SMB (100-500 employees): Inside sales, $48K-$96K ACV, 3-4 month sales cycle
  • Mid-Market (500-2,000 employees): Field sales, $96K-$240K ACV, 5-6 month sales cycle
  • Enterprise (2,000+ employees): Named account strategy, $240K-$500K+ ACV, 9-12 month sales cycle

Quarterly Execution Plan

Q3 2027 (Months 19-21): International & Enterprise

Key Milestones:

  • Series B close ($12M at $45M pre-money valuation, Month 19)
  • Hire VP Sales (Month 19, external executive hire)
  • Hire 1st Field Account Executive (Month 19, enterprise focus)
  • Hire International Sales Manager (Month 20, UK/EU)
  • Hire Solutions Engineer #3 (Month 20)
  • Hire Customer Success Manager #3 (Month 21)
  • Hire Marketing Manager #2 (Demand Gen specialist, Month 21)
  • Open European office (virtual/co-working, London or Berlin)
  • Launch enterprise tier campaign ($240K+ ACV)
  • Attend BIO-Europe (Nov, Hamburg) — 15 meetings
  • Close 8-10 new customers ($768K-$960K new ARR)

Metrics:

  • Ending ARR: $3.48M-$3.96M (cumulative)
  • New customers: 8-10 (total 31-38 customers)
  • Pipeline generated: $8M+
  • Sales cycle: SMB 3mo, Mid-Market 5mo, Enterprise 9mo (blended 5mo)
  • Win rate: >75%
  • Customer mix: 60% SMB, 30% Mid-Market, 10% Enterprise
  • Geographic mix: 75% US, 20% Europe, 5% other
  • NRR: 125%+

Budget: $1.245M (3 months)

  • Personnel: $930K (21 FTE, 6 new hires)
  • Marketing: $180K (demand gen, international campaigns, enterprise ABM)
  • Travel & Events: $90K (BIO-Europe, enterprise account visits, international travel)
  • Technology: $30K (international tools, sales engagement platform)
  • Contingency: $15K

Q4 2027 (Months 22-24): Channel Activation

Key Milestones:

  • Hire 2nd Field AE (Month 22)
  • Hire Partner Channel Manager (Month 22)
  • Hire SDR #4 (Month 23)
  • Hire Account Executive #5 (inside sales, Month 24)
  • Launch formal partner program with tiering (Silver/Gold/Platinum)
  • Sign 3-5 active channel partners (systems integrators, QMS consultants, Big 4 advisory)
  • First partner-closed deal ($100K+ ACV)
  • Attend PDA Annual Meeting (pharmaceutical industry, March) — 10 meetings
  • Close 10-12 new customers ($960K-$1.152M new ARR)

Metrics:

  • Ending ARR: $4.44M-$5.112M (cumulative)
  • New customers: 10-12 (total 41-50 customers)
  • Pipeline generated: $10M+
  • Partner-sourced pipeline: 15% of total
  • Partner-closed revenue: 5-10% of new ARR
  • Win rate: >75%
  • NRR: 130%+

Budget: $1.245M (3 months)

  • Personnel: $960K (25 FTE, 4 new hires)
  • Marketing: $165K (partner co-marketing, demand gen)
  • Travel & Events: $75K (PDA, partner enablement, customer visits)
  • Technology: $30K (partner portal, sales intelligence)
  • Contingency: $15K

Q1 2028 (Months 25-27): Market Dominance

Key Milestones:

  • Hire 3rd Field AE (Month 25)
  • Hire Customer Success Manager #4 (Month 25)
  • Hire Revenue Operations Manager (Month 26, promote analyst or external hire)
  • Hire Account Executive #6 (Month 27)
  • Hire SDR #5 (Month 27)
  • Launch customer community program (user conference planning)
  • Activate 2nd international market (Germany or Canada)
  • First customer over $500K ACV (Enterprise Plus tier)
  • Close 12-15 new customers ($1.152M-$1.44M new ARR)

Metrics:

  • Ending ARR: $5.592M-$6.552M (cumulative)
  • New customers: 12-15 (total 53-65 customers)
  • Pipeline generated: $12M+
  • Enterprise customer %: 15-20% of customer base
  • Geographic mix: 65% US, 30% Europe, 5% other
  • NRR: 135%+
  • Sales efficiency ratio: >1.0

Budget: $1.245M (3 months)

  • Personnel: $990K (28 FTE, 5 new hires)
  • Marketing: $150K (customer community, international expansion)
  • Travel & Events: $75K (customer visits, international)
  • Technology: $30K
  • Contingency: $0K

Q2 2028 (Months 28-30): Efficiency Optimization

Key Milestones:

  • Hire Marketing Manager #3 (Product Marketing, Month 28)
  • Hire Solutions Engineer #4 (Month 28)
  • Hire SDR Manager (Month 29, manage team of 5)
  • Hire Account Executive #7 (Month 30)
  • Formalize sales tiers with specialized roles (SMB vs Enterprise AEs)
  • Launch self-serve pricing calculator or product tour (PLG evaluation)
  • Achieve 50% of new ARR from expansion + upsells (existing customers)
  • Close 12-15 new customers ($1.152M-$1.44M new ARR)

Metrics:

  • Ending ARR: $6.744M-$7.992M (cumulative)
  • New customers: 12-15 (total 65-80 customers)
  • Pipeline generated: $15M+
  • Expansion ARR: 50% of total new ARR
  • CAC payback: <15 months blended
  • Win rate: >80%
  • NRR: 140%+

Budget: $1.245M (3 months)

  • Personnel: $1.02M (31 FTE, 4 new hires)
  • Marketing: $135K (product marketing, PLG experiments)
  • Travel & Events: $60K (user conference planning, customer QBRs)
  • Technology: $30K (PLG tools, analytics)
  • Contingency: $0K

Q3 2028 (Months 31-33): PLG Validation (Optional)

Key Milestones:

  • Hire Product-Led Growth Manager (Month 31, if PLG validated)
  • Hire Customer Success Manager #5 (Month 31)
  • Hire 4th Field AE (Month 32)
  • Hire Account Executive #8 (Month 33)
  • Launch freemium tier or free trial (if PLG decision is GO)
  • Host 1st annual customer conference (150-200 attendees)
  • Partner ecosystem generating 20%+ of pipeline
  • Close 15-18 new customers ($1.44M-$1.728M new ARR)

Metrics:

  • Ending ARR: $8.184M-$9.72M (cumulative)
  • New customers: 15-18 (total 80-98 customers)
  • Pipeline generated: $18M+
  • Partner-sourced revenue: 15-20% of new ARR
  • PLG conversions: 5-10% of new ARR (if launched)
  • NRR: 140%+

Budget: $1.245M (3 months)

  • Personnel: $1.05M (35 FTE if PLG, 32 FTE if not)
  • Marketing: $120K (user conference, PLG marketing)
  • Travel & Events: $45K (conference hosting, reduced travel)
  • Technology: $30K (PLG infrastructure)
  • Contingency: $0K

Q4 2028 - Q1 2029 (Months 34-36): Series C Preparation

Key Milestones:

  • Hire VP Marketing (Month 34, external executive hire)
  • Hire 5th Field AE (Month 34)
  • Hire SDR #6 (Month 35)
  • Hire Customer Success Manager #6 (Month 36)
  • Launch vertical-specific product SKUs (biotech vs medical device vs CDMO)
  • Prepare Series C materials ($25M+ raise at $120M+ valuation)
  • Achieve $9M+ ARR milestone
  • Close 15-20 new customers ($1.44M-$1.92M new ARR)

Metrics:

  • Ending ARR: $9.624M-$11.64M (target $9-10M conservative)
  • New customers: 15-20 (total 95-118 customers)
  • Pipeline generated: $25M+
  • Logo retention: >90%
  • NRR: 145%+
  • Sales efficiency ratio: >1.2
  • CAC payback: <12 months

Budget: $1.866M (6 months, Months 34-36)

  • Personnel: $1.485M (38-40 FTE, 6 new hires across 6 months)
  • Marketing: $225K (Series C positioning, vertical campaigns, brand)
  • Travel & Events: $105K (investor roadshow, conferences, customer QBRs)
  • Technology: $45K
  • Contingency: $6K

Phase 3 Hiring Timeline

RoleHire MonthSalary (Annual)Commission/BonusTotal Comp
VP Sales19$180K$120K OTE$300K
Field Account Executive #119$130K$130K OTE$260K
International Sales Manager20$120K$80K OTE$200K
Solutions Engineer #320$125K$15K bonus$140K
Customer Success Manager #321$95K$15K bonus$110K
Marketing Manager #2 (Demand Gen)21$115K$20K bonus$135K
Field Account Executive #222$130K$130K OTE$260K
Partner Channel Manager22$120K$60K OTE$180K
Sales Development Rep #423$60K$25K OTE$85K
Account Executive #524$110K$90K OTE$200K
Field Account Executive #325$130K$130K OTE$260K
Customer Success Manager #425$95K$15K bonus$110K
Revenue Operations Manager26$110K$20K bonus$130K
Account Executive #627$110K$90K OTE$200K
Sales Development Rep #527$60K$25K OTE$85K
Marketing Manager #3 (Product Marketing)28$120K$20K bonus$140K
Solutions Engineer #428$125K$15K bonus$140K
SDR Manager29$85K$30K OTE$115K
Account Executive #730$110K$90K OTE$200K
Product-Led Growth Manager31 (optional)$130K$30K bonus$160K
Customer Success Manager #531$95K$15K bonus$110K
Field Account Executive #432$130K$130K OTE$260K
Account Executive #833$110K$90K OTE$200K
VP Marketing34$170K$80K bonus$250K
Field Account Executive #534$130K$130K OTE$260K
Sales Development Rep #635$60K$25K OTE$85K
Customer Success Manager #636$95K$15K bonus$110K

Total Phase 3 New Hires: 27 FTE Cumulative Team Size (Month 36): 44 FTE (17 from Phases 1+2 + 27 new) GTM Team Only: 40 FTE (excludes engineering, product, operations)

Phase 3 Organizational Structure (Month 36)

CEO/Founder

├── VP Sales
│ ├── Field Sales (Enterprise)
│ │ ├── Field AE #1 (East Coast Enterprise)
│ │ ├── Field AE #2 (West Coast Enterprise)
│ │ ├── Field AE #3 (Central Enterprise)
│ │ ├── Field AE #4 (International Enterprise)
│ │ └── Field AE #5 (Medical Device Vertical)
│ │
│ ├── Inside Sales (SMB/Mid-Market)
│ │ ├── AE #1 (Biotech SMB)
│ │ ├── AE #2 (Biotech SMB)
│ │ ├── AE #3 (Medical Device SMB)
│ │ ├── AE #4 (CDMO/Specialty Pharma)
│ │ ├── AE #5 (Mid-Market)
│ │ ├── AE #6 (Mid-Market)
│ │ ├── AE #7 (Mid-Market)
│ │ └── AE #8 (International SMB)
│ │
│ ├── Sales Development (SDR Manager)
│ │ ├── SDR #1
│ │ ├── SDR #2
│ │ ├── SDR #3
│ │ ├── SDR #4
│ │ ├── SDR #5
│ │ └── SDR #6
│ │
│ ├── International Sales Manager (UK/EU)
│ │
│ └── Partner Channel Manager

├── VP Marketing
│ ├── Marketing Manager #1 (Marketing Operations)
│ ├── Marketing Manager #2 (Demand Generation)
│ ├── Marketing Manager #3 (Product Marketing)
│ └── Product-Led Growth Manager (optional)

├── Solutions Engineering Lead
│ ├── Solutions Engineer #2
│ ├── Solutions Engineer #3
│ └── Solutions Engineer #4

├── Customer Success Lead
│ ├── CSM #2
│ ├── CSM #3
│ ├── CSM #4
│ ├── CSM #5
│ └── CSM #6

└── Revenue Operations Manager
└── Revenue Operations Analyst

Key Metrics per Function (Month 36):

FunctionHeadcountKey Metrics
Field Sales (Enterprise)5$1.2M quota/AE, 80%+ attainment, 9-12 month sales cycle, $250K+ ACV
Inside Sales (SMB/Mid-Market)8$800K quota/AE, 85%+ attainment, 3-5 month sales cycle, $80K-$180K ACV
SDRs610-12 qualified meetings/SDR/month, 50%+ conversion to opportunity
Solutions Engineering492%+ demo-to-opportunity, 15-18 demos/month each, enterprise technical win rate >85%
Customer Success6NRR 140%+, NPS >60, 15-18 customers each, <5% logo churn, 50%+ expansion rate
Marketing4 + agencies20K visitors/month, 400 MQLs/month, 35% MQL-to-SQL, $500K pipeline/month
Partnerships15-8 active partners, 20% of pipeline partner-sourced, 15% of revenue partner-closed
Revenue Ops2Pipeline accuracy 90%+, forecast error <10%, deal velocity tracking, 95%+ CRM hygiene

Phase 3 Budget Summary

CategoryMonths 19-21Months 22-24Months 25-27Months 28-30Months 31-33Months 34-3618-Month Total% of Total
Personnel$930K$960K$990K$1,020K$1,050K$1,485K$6,435K65%
Marketing$180K$165K$150K$135K$120K$225K$975K10%
Travel & Events$90K$75K$75K$60K$45K$105K$450K5%
Technology$30K$30K$30K$30K$30K$45K$195K2%
Contingency$15K$15K$0K$0K$0K$6K$36K<1%
Partner Programs$0K$0K$0K$0K$0K$0K$1,870K*19%
TOTAL$1,245K$1,245K$1,245K$1,245K$1,245K$1,866K$9,961K100%

*Partner program costs (co-marketing funds, partner incentives, enablement) are embedded in Marketing and Technology budgets across quarters.

Monthly Burn Rate: $415K average (Months 19-33), $622K (Months 34-36) Funding Source: Series B ($12M raise, Month 19) Runway: 24+ months from Series B close (covers Phase 3 + 6-month buffer for Series C)

Phase 3 Success Criteria (Series C Readiness)

Must-Have (Hard Gates):

  1. $9.0M+ ARR by Month 36 (base case target)
  2. 40+ paying customers across 3+ verticals
  3. NRR >130% with documented expansion playbook
  4. Logo retention >90% annually
  5. Sales efficiency ratio >1.0 (new ARR / S&M spend)
  6. CAC payback <18 months blended across all segments

Should-Have (Advisory Gates):

  1. 🎯 $10M+ ARR achieved (optimistic case)
  2. 🎯 60+ customers with 15-20% enterprise mix ($240K+ ACV)
  3. 🎯 NRR >140% demonstrating strong expansion motion
  4. 🎯 Geographic diversification: 25%+ revenue from international markets
  5. 🎯 Partner ecosystem: 15-20% of new ARR partner-sourced
  6. 🎯 Competitive win rate >80% vs. incumbents (Veeva, MasterControl)
  7. 🎯 Expansion revenue >50% of total new ARR (land-and-expand proven)

Go Decision (Series C): Minimum 5/6 must-have criteria + 5/7 should-have criteria Series C Target: $25M raise at $120M-$150M pre-money valuation (8-10x ARR multiple)


GTM Organizational Design Evolution

Phase 1 Team (Months 1-6)

Total Headcount: 5 FTE Focus: Founder-led sales, customer validation

FunctionHCKey Roles
Sales2Founder/CEO (sales lead), VP Sales/BD
Solutions Engineering1Solutions Engineer
Customer Success1CSM
Product1Product Manager

Phase 2 Team (Months 7-18)

Total Headcount: 17 FTE Focus: Inside sales scale, repeatable process

FunctionHCKey Roles
Sales8CEO, VP Sales/BD, 4 AEs, 3 SDRs
Solutions Engineering22 Solutions Engineers
Customer Success22 CSMs
Marketing1Marketing Manager
Partnerships1Partnerships/BD Manager
Revenue Operations1Revenue Ops Analyst
Product1Product Manager
Engineering1(not GTM, but supporting)

Phase 3 Team (Months 19-36)

Total Headcount: 44 FTE (40 GTM) Focus: Field sales, channel, international, efficiency

FunctionHCKey Roles
Sales20VP Sales, 5 Field AEs, 8 Inside AEs, SDR Manager, 6 SDRs
Solutions Engineering4SE Lead, 3 SEs
Customer Success6CS Lead, 5 CSMs
Marketing5VP Marketing, 3 Marketing Managers, PLG Manager (optional)
Partnerships2International Sales Manager, Partner Channel Manager
Revenue Operations2RevOps Manager, RevOps Analyst
Product2Product Managers (not in GTM budget)
Engineering3(not GTM)

Budget Summary (36-Month Total)

Phase-by-Phase Investment

PhaseDurationPersonnelMarketingTravelTechnologyContingencyTotalCumulative
Phase 16 months$390K$44K$38K$30K$8K$510K$510K
Phase 212 months$1,770K$295K$165K$90K$20K$2,340K$2,850K
Phase 318 months$6,435K$975K$450K$195K$36K$9,961K*$12,811K

*Includes $1.87M embedded partner program costs.

Functional Budget Allocation (36-Month Total)

FunctionPhase 1Phase 2Phase 3Total% of Total
Personnel (Salaries + Benefits)$390K$1,770K$6,435K$8,595K67%
Marketing & Demand Gen$44K$295K$975K$1,314K10%
Travel & Events$38K$165K$450K$653K5%
Technology & Tools$30K$90K$195K$315K2%
Partner Programs$0K$0K$1,870K$1,870K15%
Contingency$8K$20K$36K$64K<1%
TOTAL$510K$2,340K$9,961K$12,811K100%

Cash Burn Analysis

PeriodMonthly BurnQuarterly BurnCumulative BurnFunding EventCash Balance
Months 1-6 (Phase 1)$85K$255K$510KSeed ($1.09M)$580K
Month 7$195K$705KSeries A ($3.5M)$3,375K
Months 8-18 (Phase 2)$195K$585K$2,850K$1,230K
Month 19$415K$3,265KSeries B ($12M)$11,965K
Months 20-36 (Phase 3)$415K avg$1,245K$12,811K$2,154K

Fundraising Trigger Points:

  • Series A trigger: Month 5-6 (close Month 7) when Phase 1 ARR >$300K and PMF validated
  • Series B trigger: Month 17-18 (close Month 19) when ARR >$2M and sales process repeatable
  • Series C trigger: Month 35-36 (close Month 37-39) when ARR >$9M and NRR >135%

Runway Buffer:

  • End of Phase 1: 6.8 months until Series A needed
  • End of Phase 2: 6.3 months until Series B needed
  • End of Phase 3: 5.2 months until Series C needed (comfortable for 6-month raise process)

Risk Assessment & Contingency Planning

Phase 1 Risks

RiskProbabilityImpactMitigationContingency
Longer sales cycles (>9 months)MediumHighFocus on smaller biotechs (Series B), offer pilot programs, increase design partner discountsExtend Phase 1 by 3 months, reduce burn to $60K/month
Low conversion rate (<30%)MediumHighImprove value prop messaging, add customer proof points, refine ICPPivot to smaller companies, consider freemium
Competitive response (Veeva announces AI)LowMediumEmphasize differentiation (autonomous agents vs. copilots), accelerate feature developmentPartner with Veeva as integration vs. compete directly
Customer churn in first 90 daysLowHighEnhanced onboarding, dedicated CSM, weekly check-insRefund guarantees, co-development agreements

Phase 2 Risks

RiskProbabilityImpactMitigationContingency
Failed AE hires (ramp <6 months)MediumMediumRigorous sales hiring process, structured onboarding, quota relief in first 3 monthsExtend existing AE quotas, delay additional hiring
Marketing channel inefficiencyMediumMediumTest multiple channels (content, paid ads, events, ABM), measure CAC by channelDouble down on highest-performing channel, cut underperformers
Pricing resistance (ASP decline)LowMediumValue-based selling training, enterprise case studies, ROI calculatorsIntroduce lower-priced Starter tier at $36K
Series A fundraising delayLowHighStart process 3 months early (Month 4), multiple term sheets, bridge financing optionCut burn to $120K/month, delay hires 1-2 quarters

Phase 3 Risks

RiskProbabilityImpactMitigationContingency
Enterprise sales complexity (>12mo cycles)MediumMediumDedicated field AEs, executive champions program, proof-of-concept pilotsFocus on mid-market ($96K-$240K ACV), reduce enterprise focus
International expansion challengesMediumMediumHire local sales talent, partner with regional system integrators, regulatory compliance supportDelay international expansion, focus on US growth
Channel conflict (partners vs. direct sales)MediumLowClear rules of engagement, deal registration system, partner-only verticals (e.g., diagnostics)Reduce partner incentives, increase direct sales capacity
Incumbent competition intensifiesHighHighAccelerate product innovation, lock in multi-year contracts, build switching costs via data/integrationsStrategic acquisition discussions, defensive partnerships
NRR decline (<120%)LowHighProactive CSM engagement, expansion playbook, usage analytics, customer health scoringIncrease CSM capacity, price adjustments, feature bundling

Capital Efficiency Metrics & Burn Rate Sensitivity

Target Efficiency Metrics:

  • Sales Efficiency Ratio: >1.0 by Phase 3 (new ARR / S&M spend)
  • CAC Payback Period: <18 months blended, <12 months SMB, <24 months enterprise
  • LTV:CAC Ratio: >3.0x blended
  • Magic Number: >0.75 by Phase 2 end (quarterly net new ARR / prior quarter S&M spend)

Burn Rate Sensitivity Analysis:

ScenarioMonthly BurnARR Target ImpactMitigation
Base Case$85K (P1), $195K (P2), $415K (P3)$9M by Month 36Current plan
Optimistic (20% lower burn)$68K, $156K, $332K$11M by Month 36 (invest savings in growth)Offshore roles, agency vs. FTE, remote-first
Pessimistic (30% higher burn)$111K, $254K, $540K$6M by Month 36 (cash constrained)Delay Phase 3, reduce headcount, extend Series B

Pivot Triggers (Requiring Board Approval):

  1. Phase 1 ARR <$200K by Month 6 → Extend Phase 1 or pivot ICP
  2. Phase 2 ARR <$1.5M by Month 18 → Delay Series B, reduce burn 30%
  3. NRR <100% for 2 consecutive quarters → Increase CS investment, pause new sales
  4. Win rate <40% for 2 consecutive quarters → Reassess product-market fit, pricing, or ICP
  5. Runway <9 months at any point → Bridge financing or strategic acquisition discussions

Timeline Visualization (Mermaid Gantt Chart)


Appendix: Key Assumptions

Revenue Assumptions

  • Average Contract Value (ACV):
    • Phase 1 Design Partners: $60K-$96K (30-40% discount from $96K-$144K standard)
    • Phase 2 Customers: $96K-$180K blended (mix of Starter, Professional)
    • Phase 3 Customers: $150K-$280K blended (increasing enterprise mix)
  • Customer Churn: 5-8% logo churn annually, <3% in Phase 1 design partners
  • Net Revenue Retention (NRR):
    • Phase 1: 105-110% (limited expansion in year 1)
    • Phase 2: 115-120% (upsells + cross-sells emerging)
    • Phase 3: 125-145% (mature expansion playbook)
  • Sales Cycle:
    • SMB (100-500 employees): 3-4 months
    • Mid-Market (500-2,000 employees): 5-6 months
    • Enterprise (2,000+ employees): 9-12 months
  • Win Rate: 60% (Phase 1), 70% (Phase 2), 75-80% (Phase 3)

Cost Assumptions

  • Fully Loaded Personnel Costs: Salary + 30% benefits + equity (4-year vest, 1-year cliff)
  • Sales Commission: Paid on cash collected (not bookings), 50% at signature + 50% at go-live
  • Marketing CAC: $15K-$25K per customer (blended across channels)
  • Technology Stack:
    • CRM: HubSpot Sales Hub ($5K/month for 15 seats)
    • Marketing Automation: HubSpot Marketing Hub ($3K/month)
    • Sales Engagement: Outreach.io ($2K/month)
    • Data Enrichment: ZoomInfo ($1.5K/month)
    • Analytics: Segment + Amplitude ($1K/month)

Market Assumptions

  • TAM: $4.35B (global QMS software for life sciences)
  • SAM: $412M (AI-powered QMS for biotech/pharma/medical devices in US/EU)
  • Competitive Window: 18-24 months before incumbents release AI-native products
  • Market Growth: 12-15% CAGR through 2030 (driven by AI adoption, regulatory complexity)

Document Control

Version History:

VersionDateAuthorChanges
1.0.02026-02-15Claude (Opus 4.6)Initial creation with 36-month phased plan

Approval:

RoleNameSignatureDate
CEO/FounderHal Casteel________________________
Board of Directors[TBD]________________________

Next Review Date: 2026-05-01 (Post-Phase 1 Retrospective)


End of Document