66. Sukumar R
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramsukumar/ Sukumar R SVP- SMB & Commercial Sales | Angel Investor | Advisor - SaaS Startups | Key Role in Freshworks IPO Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Led the Global SMB and Commercial sales teams at Freshworks, I’ve been instrumental in driving exponential revenue growth since 2014. Overseeing a large GTM team, I played a key role in our successful IPO journey, scaling SMB revenue to unprecedented heights.
With 30+ years of experience across the full spectrum of Software, Product, and Cloud lifecycles, I bring deep expertise in Business Leadership, Sales, Presales, Go-to-Market Strategy, Sales Enablement, and Product Life Cycle Management. I have a proven track record of driving growth and navigating multiple technological shifts, from Client-Server to Web, Cloud, and SaaS, across diverse industries in global markets.
Specializing in scaling product companies through targeted Go-to-Market and Business Development strategies, I have been pivotal in Freshworks’ sustained revenue growth over the past nine years. I architected the Inside Sales infrastructure, built a 500+ member team, and established processes that consistently increased market share quarter over quarter.
Prior to Freshworks, I led the cloud initiative at Ramco Systems, transforming it into a global cloud company recognized by top industry analysts like Gartner.
Key Achievements:
Consistently drove top-line growth and customer acquisition.
Scaled and managed teams of 300-500+ across multiple product lines.
Delivered full lifecycle software products, from ideation to support.
Established strategic market positioning, consistently identifying new markets and opportunities.
With a result-oriented approach and visionary leadership, I’m passionate about driving innovation in cloud products, forming global strategic alliances, and leading high-stake negotiations that shape the future of SaaS and cloud solutions.
Skills: Visionary Leadership | Cloud Products | Global Strategic Alliances Inside Sales | Budgeting & Sales Forecasting | High-Stakes NegotiationsLed the Global SMB and Commercial sales teams at Freshworks, I’ve been instrumental in driving exponential revenue growth since 2014. Overseeing a large GTM team, I played a key role in our successful IPO journey, scaling SMB revenue to unprecedented heights. With 30+ years of experience across the full spectrum of Software, Product, and Cloud lifecycles, I bring deep expertise in Business Leadership, Sales, Presales, Go-to-Market Strategy, Sales Enablement, and Product Life Cycle Management. I have a proven track record of driving growth and navigating multiple technological shifts, from Client-Server to Web, Cloud, and SaaS, across diverse industries in global markets. Specializing in scaling product companies through targeted Go-to-Market and Business Development strategies, I have been pivotal in Freshworks’ sustained revenue growth over the past nine years. I architected the Inside Sales infrastructure, built a 500+ member team, and established processes that consistently increased market share quarter over quarter. Prior to Freshworks, I led the cloud initiative at Ramco Systems, transforming it into a global cloud company recognized by top industry analysts like Gartner. Key Achievements: - Consistently drove top-line growth and customer acquisition. - Scaled and managed teams of 300-500+ across multiple product lines. - Delivered full lifecycle software products, from ideation to support. - Established strategic market positioning, consistently identifying new markets and opportunities. - With a result-oriented approach and visionary leadership, I’m passionate about driving innovation in cloud products, forming global strategic alliances, and leading high-stake negotiations that shape the future of SaaS and cloud solutions. Skills: Visionary Leadership | Cloud Products | Global Strategic Alliances Inside Sales | Budgeting & Sales Forecasting | High-Stakes Negotiations
🧑💼 Demographics
Name: Sukumar R
Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Experience: 30+ years in software, SaaS, sales, and product leadership
Professional Level: Senior Executive | GTM Strategist | Angel Investor | Advisor
🏢 Firmographics
Current Role:
SVP – SMB & Commercial Sales, Freshworks
Spearheaded global GTM, sales enablement, and inside sales scale-up
Played a key role in Freshworks’ IPO journey
Angel Investor & SaaS Advisor
Actively supports early and growth-stage B2B SaaS startups
Advisor for GTM, Sales Ops, and Product-Market Fit
Past Roles:
Ramco Systems – Cloud Strategy Lead
Transformed company into a global cloud leader recognized by Gartner
Sector Focus:
B2B SaaS & Cloud
Sales-Led Growth Companies
Product-Led GTM Models
Enterprise Software / CRM / CX Platforms
🧠 Psychographics
Interests:
Coaching startup teams on sales scale-up and market expansion
Investing in SaaS companies with strong GTM clarity and execution potential
Partnering with mission-driven founders who understand product-market dynamics
Simplifying complex sales cycles through inside sales and smart positioning
Hidden Interests (Inferred):
Expanding India-built SaaS products globally
Building predictable revenue systems in early-stage companies
Founder mentoring, especially around leadership mindset and org structure
Hobbies (Inferred):
Engaging in SaaS forums and speaking at GTM/startup events
Reading on global sales frameworks and emerging SaaS models
Writing or contributing to sales and scaling playbooks
⚠️ Pain Points & Challenges
Pain Points He Solves:
Scaling GTM teams without structure or forecasting
Low-performing sales engines in product-ready startups
Early SaaS teams with unclear ICP or pricing models
Founders who struggle to hire/lead high-performance sales orgs
Frustrations (Inferred):
Founders over-indexing on tech, underbuilding sales motion
GTM strategies not aligned with buyer personas or sales cycles
Lack of repeatable revenue systems or predictable forecasting
🛠️ Skills & Competencies
Go-To-Market Strategy (GTM)
Inside Sales Infrastructure & Forecasting
SaaS Product Lifecycle Management
Global Strategic Alliances & Expansion
Leadership Coaching & Team Scaling (300–500+)
IPO Readiness & Enterprise Sales
Sales Enablement & Revenue Ops
📬 Communication Preferences
Preferred Channels:
LinkedIn – Open to founder messages and advisory/investment connections
Email/Intro via Network – For pitch decks, SaaS startup intros, or GTM consulting
Prefers clear, traction-backed communication with insight into GTM bottlenecks
🧩 Persona Summary
Sukumar R is a SaaS sales architect, GTM mastermind, and angel investor who helped power Freshworks’ global revenue engine and IPO journey. With a track record of building 500+ member inside sales teams and transforming cloud businesses, he’s one of India’s most experienced SaaS operators. As an investor and advisor, Sukumar brings real-world playbooks, a deep product-sales mindset, and a commitment to helping founders scale predictable revenue with clarity and confidence.
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