7 Reasons to Hire a VP of Marketing at an Early Stage B2B Startup

Happy New Year, and welcome to a new installment of the CMO Blueprint Newsletter! In this week's edition, we discuss a topic that sometimes confuses founders: when to hire a VP of Marketing at an early-stage start-up. Knowing the right time and reasons for this critical hire can transform your startup’s growth.

And don’t miss our Hack of the Week, where we share how to save time by using generative AI to create surveys—a small but impactful way to boost your productivity.

Let’s dive in!

A Common Mistake: Hiring Too Junior

Many founders mistakenly believe that hiring a junior “digital marketer” is sufficient to kickstart their marketing efforts. While junior marketers may have technical expertise in one or two areas, marketing is a broad field. Early-stage startups require someone who understands the bigger picture—and that’s where junior hires often fall short.

The gap between a founder’s vision and a junior marketer’s capabilities can lead to significant misalignment. Founders might expect a well-rounded marketing strategy but find their junior hire equipped only with limited tactical knowledge. This disconnect can hinder growth and waste valuable time.

Enter the VP of Marketing

Although hiring a senior marketer early on might seem like overkill, bringing in the right VP of Marketing can be transformative. As Jason Lemkin highlights in his SaaStr blog, this hire can quickly pay for itself by setting your startup on the right path.

Why a VP of Marketing?