As the Web3 industry grows, so does the diversity of roles within it — especially in business development. What many don’t realize is that Web3 business developers (BDs) can perform entirely different tasks depending on the specific needs of their organization. These BDs are pivotal to a company’s growth, establishing strategic partnerships, onboarding new users, and educating audiences.
In this article, we’ll explore the different types of business developers in Web3, their target audiences, sales process lengths, and outreach styles. If you’re building a Web3 team, this is the perfect resource to help you screen experienced Business Developers in Web3.
Let’s dive in!
1. Partnership Business Developers
Target Audience: Web3 projects, blockchain networks, and DeFi platforms.
Sales Process: Medium to long-term. Partnerships in Web3 can take time to build as they often involve technical integrations or cross-chain collaborations.
Outreach: Networking at industry events, one-on-one meetings, and personalized outreach via DAOs or strategic alliances.
Companies: Common at blockchain protocols like Polkadot or Avalanche, and DeFi platforms such as Aave or Uniswap. These BDs forge alliances between protocols and collaborate on ecosystem initiatives.
2. Corporate Business Developers
Target Audience: Traditional enterprises looking to integrate Web3 tech.
Sales Process: Long-term. Enterprises in finance, supply chain, or entertainment often require in-depth education before making the leap into blockchain.
Outreach: Formal networking through LinkedIn, email, or corporate events.
Companies: You’ll find these BDs at firms like ConsenSys or Chainalysis, helping traditional industries implement blockchain solutions.
3. Community-Focused Business Developers
Target Audience: Individual retail users and early adopters.
Sales Process: Short-term, especially when focused on token launches or NFT drops.
Outreach: Active engagement in communities like Discord, Twitter, and Telegram, leveraging influencers and organic community-building strategies.
Companies: DAOs and NFT platforms like OpenSea or social token platforms. These BDs often work closely with community managers to grow the user base.
4. Product-Focused Business Developers
Target Audience: dApps, SaaS solutions, and Web3 infrastructure companies.
Sales Process: Medium-term, often involving technical integration discussions.
Outreach: Engaging developers and product teams via GitHub, hackathons, or developer conferences like Devcon.
Companies: Developer-centric firms like Chainlink or Infura, working on key technical infrastructure for Web3. These BDs bridge technical and business conversations, ensuring product offerings meet market demands.
5. Token Launch Business Developers
Target Audience: Crypto investors, early token buyers, and retail traders.
Sales Process: Short-term. Driven by quick sales like ICOs, IDOs, or NFT minting events.
Outreach: Direct marketing to retail investors via social media, email lists, and token launch platforms.
Companies: Token-focused platforms like Binance Launchpad or CoinList. These BDs specialize in promoting and driving liquidity for token launches, often working with exchanges and marketing teams.
Conclusion
Web3 business developers aren’t one-size-fits-all; they are versatile, specializing based on their audience and goals. From forging enterprise partnerships to managing token sales and building communities, each type of BD plays a unique role in driving growth and adoption across the Web3 landscape.
One last note: for business developers, mindset and attitude will always outrun a ‘black book’ of contacts.
