About Upstart
At Upstart, we’re united by a mission that matters: to radically reduce the cost and complexity of borrowing for all Americans. Every day, we bring creativity, experimentation, and advanced AI to reshape access to credit, helping millions move forward financially with clarity and confidence.
As the leading AI lending marketplace, we partner with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit through technology that’s both radically intelligent and deeply human. Our platform runs over one million predictions per borrower using more than 1,800 signals, powering smarter, fairer decisions for millions of customers. But the numbers only hint at the impact. Every idea, every voice, and every contribution moves us closer to a world where credit never stands between people and their financial progress.
We’re proudly digital-first, giving most Upstarters the flexibility to do their best work from wherever they thrive, alongside teammates across 80+ cities in the US and Canada. Digital-first doesn’t mean distant. We’re intentional about in-person connection through team onsites, planning sessions, and moments that spark creativity and trust. And whether you choose to work primarily from home or collaborate in-person from one of our offices in Columbus, Austin, the Bay Area, or New York City (opening Summer 2026), you’ll have the support to work in the way that works best for you.
If you’re energized by tackling meaningful problems, excited to innovate with purpose, and motivated by work that truly matters, we’d love to hear from you.
About Prodigy
Prodigy is building the future for car buying. We’re a fun-loving, hard working group of trail blazers who believe anything is possible with the right team.
We recently merged with Upstart (UPST), a leading AI leading platform, and are now better positioned than ever to deliver on our mission to create the world’s best car buying experience with cutting-edge auto-retail software.
More than $1 trillion of cars are sold each year in the U.S., yet it consistently ranks as one of the worst consumer experiences in America. This is the perfect chance to get in early, help fix that, and make a big impact in one of the world’s largest industries. If that sounds exciting to you, we’d love to chat.
The Team:
Upstart’s Auto Retail team is focused on building partnerships with auto dealerships to expand access to financing through Upstart Auto Finance (UAF). The team plays a critical role in connecting dealerships with our lending platform, helping drive adoption and revenue growth.
As a Business Development Representative (BDR), you will focus on generating pipeline for the sales team by engaging dealership decision-makers and setting qualified meetings.
This role is highly performance-driven and foundational to the success of the broader sales organization. You’ll work closely with experienced teammates and leadership in a structured environment designed to help you ramp quickly and build strong outbound sales skills.
- Generate qualified pipeline by conducting high-volume outbound outreach (primarily phone, supported by email) to auto dealerships
- Set meetings with key decision-makers, including General Managers, General Sales Managers, and Finance leaders
- Manage a defined territory across dealership tiers and account segments, prioritizing outreach based on opportunity size and account data
- Meet or exceed weekly and monthly pipeline and meeting quotas
- Use tools such as Nooks and Gong to execute outreach, review performance, and improve messaging
- Analyze call performance and incorporate feedback from coaching, call reviews, and role-play exercises to improve conversion rates
- Partner with Account Executives to ensure smooth handoff of qualified opportunities
- Continuously refine pitch delivery and objection handling through practice, shadowing, and feedback
Minimum Qualifications
- 6+ months of experience in a Business Development Representative (BDR) or Sales Development Representative (SDR) role within a SaaS company
- Experience conducting outbound prospecting activities, including cold calling and email outreach
- Proven track record of meeting or exceeding activity or pipeline generation quotas
- Use tools such as Nooks, Salesforce, Outreach, Sendoso, Zoominfo and Gong to execute outreach, review performance, and improve messaging
- Experience communicating with external business stakeholders via phone and email
Preferred Qualifications
- Strong phone communication skills, including ability to handle objections and guide conversations with prospective customers
- Ability to manage time, prioritize outreach, and maintain consistent activity levels in a quota-driven environment
- Experience learning and applying new tools and processes in a fast-paced sales environment
- Knowledge of the automotive retail industry or experience working with auto dealerships
- Interest in building a career in sales, with motivation to grow into closing roles over time
Position location This role is available in the following locations: Preference of Austin, TX
Time zone requirements The team operates on the East - West coast time zones.
Travel requirements As a digital first company, the majority of your work can be accomplished remotely. The majority of our employees can live and work anywhere in the U.S but are encouraged to to still spend high quality time in-person collaborating via regular onsites. The in-person sessions’ cadence varies depending on the team and role; most teams meet once or twice per quarter for 2-4 consecutive days at a time.
#LI-REMOTE
#LI-Entry
At Upstart, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. The anticipated annualized base salary for this position is expected to be within this range. Your actual base pay will depend on your geographic location–with our “digital first” philosophy, Upstart uses compensation regions that vary depending on location. Individual pay is also determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.
In addition, Upstart provides employees with target bonuses, equity compensation, and generous benefits packages (including medical, dental, vision, and 401k). Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. The salary listed below for sales roles is On Target Earnings which includes both salary and commission, assuming 100% target achievement.
What you'll love
At Upstart, our benefits are designed to support your health, financial well-being, family, and personal growth. Here’s what you can expect:
- Competitive compensation, including base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly
- Generous 401(k) plan with Upstart matching $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 per year
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees
- Affordable medical, dental, and vision coverage, with multiple plan options - Upstart covers 90% to 100% of the cost depending on the plans you choose
- Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans
- Income protection benefits, including company-paid Basic Life, AD&D, and Short- and Long-Term Disability coverage, with options to purchase supplemental coverage
- Paid time off, sick and safe time, and company holidays
- Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments
- Family-centered benefits through Carrot and Cleo, supporting fertility, parenthood, and caregiving
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering mental health support and life-centered resources
- Financial wellness resources, including access to financial planning tools and a financial concierge service
- Annual wellness allowance to support your physical and emotional well-being and personal development, based on what matters most to you
- Annual productivity allowance to invest in relevant tools and resources you need to do your best work, no matter where you work from
- Connection and community through team events and onsites, all-company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs)
- Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from one of our four offices, located in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City (opening Summer 2026!).
Upstart is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. Just as we are dedicated to improving access to affordable credit for all, we are committed to inclusive and fair hiring practices.
If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please email [email protected]
https://www.upstart.com/candidate_privacy_policy
Skills Required
- 6+ months of experience in a Business Development Representative (BDR) or Sales Development Representative (SDR) role within a SaaS company
- Experience conducting outbound prospecting activities, including cold calling and email outreach
- Proven track record of meeting or exceeding activity or pipeline generation quotas
- Experience communicating with external business stakeholders via phone and email
- Use tools such as Nooks, Salesforce, Outreach, Sendoso, Zoominfo and Gong to execute outreach, review performance, and improve messaging
What the Team is Saying
What We Do
Upstart is the leading AI lending marketplace, connecting millions of consumers to more than 100 banks and credit unions that leverage Upstart’s AI models and cloud applications to deliver superior credit products. With Upstart's AI, lenders can approve more borrowers at lower rates across races, ages, and genders, while delivering the exceptional digital-first experience customers demand. More than 80% of borrowers are approved instantly, with zero documentation to upload. Founded in 2012, Upstart’s platform includes personal loans, automotive retail and refinance loans, home equity lines of credit, and small-dollar “relief” loans. If you are energized by the impact you think you could make at Upstart, we'd love to hear from you!
Why Work With Us
Connection to our mission creates a special environment where people feel passionately about the impact they make in the world. Upstart is fast-paced, and we encourage ownership at all levels of the organization. As a result, culture at Upstart is driven by Upstarters. Upstarters are proactive, talented, multi-dimensional and collaborative.
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Upstart Offices
Remote Workspace
Employees work remotely.
Upstart has a digital-first model enabling most Upstarters can live and work anywhere in the U.S. We also offer in-person options from our office locations in San Mateo, California; Columbus, Ohio; Austin, Texas; and New York City, NY.
