Business Development Manager

About Wanderboat Wanderboat is an AI-powered local discovery platform that helps people explore cities and find great places effortlessly. By combining conversational AI, interactive maps, and community-driven content, Wanderboat enables users to discover restaurants, attractions, and unique local experiences through simple, natural interactions. We are building the next generation of AI-powered discovery, reimagining how people explore the world around them. Our mission is to create immersive and personalized AI experiences that seamlessly integrate into users’ real-world activities. About the Role AI is transforming how consumers discover, plan, and take action. Discovery, booking, payments, and fulfillment are increasingly converging into a single intelligent experience. At Wanderboat, we're building that future. We're looking for a Business Development Manager to help build and scale our strategic partnership ecosystem across travel, local commerce, mobility, reservations, payments, and emerging AI platforms. You will play a key role in building relationships with leading platforms and infrastructure providers that power real-world discovery, booking, commerce, and fulfillment experiences. In this role, you'll work closely with company leadership to identify, negotiate, and launch high-impact partnerships across travel, commerce, mobility, and emerging AI ecosystems. You'll help shape how AI-powered experiences move from conversation to action, while building the ecosystem that powers the next generation of local discovery. This is an opportunity to help shape the future of AI-powered discovery and real-world commerce through strategic partnerships and ecosystem development. What You’ll Do Strategic Partnerships & Business Development Identify, evaluate, and execute strategic partnership opportunities that expand Wanderboat’s capabilities, ecosystem, and growth opportunities. Lead end-to-end partnership lifecycles, from opportunity sourcing and business case development to negotiation, launch, and long-term expansion. Structure and negotiate commercial agreements including API partnerships, distribution partnerships, affiliate programs, revenue-sharing frameworks, and strategic go-to-market initiatives. Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders across technology platforms, marketplaces, travel providers, commerce infrastructure providers, and ecosystem partners. Develop creative partnership models that unlock new capabilities, growth channels, and competitive advantages for Wanderboat. Product & Platform Partnerships Serve as the primary commercial bridge between external partners and internal Product and Engineering teams. Drive alignment around API integrations, onboarding processes, attribution frameworks, checkout experiences, and user workflows. Evaluate build-versus-partner opportunities and identify external solutions that accelerate product innovation and execution. Collaborate closely with Product leadership to shape partnership roadmaps that support Wanderboat’s long-term platform strategy. Partnership Growth & Cross-Functional Leadership Monitor partnership performance, define success metrics, and identify opportunities for expansion and optimization. Work cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, Growth, Marketing, Operations, Finance, Legal, and Executive teams to ensure successful execution of partnership initiatives. Develop market insights, competitive intelligence, and strategic recommendations that help shape Wanderboat’s ecosystem and commercialization strategy. Represent Wanderboat externally and help expand the company's ecosystem across travel, commerce, mobility, and AI-powered consumer experiences. What We’re Looking For 5+ years of experience in Business Development, Strategic Partnerships, Platform Partnerships, Corporate Development, or related roles. Proven track record of sourcing, negotiating, and launching strategic partnerships. Experience working with leading North American technology platforms across mobility, local commerce, payments, travel, or marketplace ecosystems. Strong understanding of platform businesses, marketplaces, travel technology, commerce infrastructure, API ecosystems, or consumer internet products. Existing relationships within relevant partner ecosystems are strongly preferred; however, demonstrated ability to establish and grow executive-level partnerships is equally valued. Experience evaluating build-versus-partner decisions and bringing external capabilities into consumer products through APIs, integrations, or strategic alliances. Experience working cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, Finance, Legal, and Executive stakeholders. Strong commercial judgment, negotiation skills, and business acumen. Ability to thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous environments and drive initiatives independently. Passion for AI, consumer technology, travel, local discovery, and emerging commerce experiences. Nice to Have Experience with API partnerships, platform integrations, developer ecosystems, or API-driven platform businesses. Experience working with marketplaces, two-sided platforms, or ecosystem-driven businesses. Familiarity with affiliate models, revenue-sharing frameworks, embedded finance, or marketplace economics. Experience building partnerships from 0-to-1 in startup or high-growth environments. Experience working with travel technology or commerce infrastructure platforms. Familiarity with Agentic AI, conversational commerce, AI assistants, or emerging consumer AI products. #J-18808-Ljbffr Socket.dev