5 Questions for Jacob Candela, Senior Sales Development Representative
After setting himself up for a career as a data analyst, Jacob Candela found that his heart was in sales — and specifically with purpose-driven startups that are poised to scale. Get to know why Jacob thinks renters deserve more attention, why he loves books about the Founding Fathers, and the “unjustified purchase” he’d love to make using Stake’s Cash Back.
Why do you believe in Stake’s mission to #EmpowerRenters?
While there are so many people renting today, there are very few incentives for renters. Stake is at the forefront of making renting worthwhile and attractive. When you give money back to renters so that they can save for college or pay for dog food, for example, it changes lives and can have a massive impact. I like that Stake has built a way to scale that impact.
What did you do before joining Stake?
I’ve always looked for ways that I can have a positive impact on a large scale. Prior to this, I worked at Lilt, which helped make English websites accessible in local languages. I also worked at Collectly, which helps patients struggling to pay their hospital bills. Both of these companies were very focused on helping people, and finding ways to maximize that impact. It’s great to help one person, but it’s even better to find ways to scale up that impact and have an even bigger effect on a larger population.
What do you plan to do at Stake?
I have experience both in bringing in new prospects as well as in the hyper-growth startup environment. I love helping companies grow really quickly. My role focuses on bringing in new leads and new opportunities, including setting up demos to help potential customers understand our services. I’ll also be building out the sales process to make sure it’s as efficient as possible. I love opportunities where I get to wear multiple hats, which is possible at fast-growing companies. I’m excited to have an impact not just on this team, but also on renters across the country as we make Stake available to many more properties.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I love to golf and to be active in nature. I also do martial arts, including muay Thai and jiu jitsu. One of my favorite things is reading, especially history from the Revolutionary War period. I’ve always been drawn to books about the Founding Fathers because it gives me a perspective on the issues that have changed and haven’t changed, and helps me learn from the past.
If you were earning Cash Back with Stake, what would you spend it on?
Probably a new set of golf clubs. I’ve been playing pretty poorly lately so I’m not sure it’s a justified purchase, but I definitely would get a new set of irons or a new driver.
