Ashley, a standout Sales Engineer, consistently excels with a track record of top performance, contributing to 36% of closed won ARR in her first year. Her innovative approach, including replacing sandbox environments with guided tours, significantly impacted major closed deals. Notably, she secured 'Best in Show' awards at FreightWaves Live Demos twice, showcasing her exceptional presentation skills and industry expertise. Ashley's proactive collaboration and commitment to continuous learning make her an invaluable asset to our team.
Dorian's journey from managing multimillion-dollar projects for the U.S. Navy to leading supply chain transitions sparked his discovery of presales as the perfect fusion of his passions. In just ~18 months in presales, he's achieved remarkable milestones, including exceeding $900k in ARR in 2023, leading the company's first non-profit organization closure, and spearheading the transformation of the invoicing solution through cross-functional collaboration. His proactive approach to turning failures into operational enhancements, such as driving a complete redesign of the homepage, showcases his commitment to continuous improvement. Dorian's exemplary skills as a listener, collaborator, and trusted advisor make him a true rising star in presales, earning admiration from colleagues and leadership alike.
Eoin is driven by the pursuit of customer "ah-ha" moments, aiming to inspire that reaction in everything he does. His impact speaks volumes: with $5.8m ARR won, a 54% win rate across 158 deals, and two Presidents Club accolades. Eoin's contributions extend beyond sales figures; he implemented new reporting dashboards, introduced SE forecasting on opportunities, and identified a new market for Gong. His exceptional performance is not only evidenced by numbers but also by his recognition as a top Sales Engineering Voice and commendations from VP Sales Engineering, cementing his status as a transformative force within the company.
Jack's fervent dedication to empowering software operators drives his mission as a pre-sales professional: ensuring mutual success for customers and implementation teams. As a key liaison between European operations and the US market, he's authored competitive intelligence collateral, ensured compliance, and developed enablement programs and self-paced demos. Praised for his collaborative approach and invaluable expertise, Jack's leadership extends to thought leadership through hosting the company's podcast and continuous professional development.
Jenny's remarkable achievements within just six months of becoming a solutions engineer excite us about her future trajectory. Despite being the contestant with the least experience among the winners, her impact is undeniable.Jenny's passion for problem-solving, learning, and storytelling drives her as a solutions engineer. She's built strong partnerships with AEs, shaped strategic conversations for APAC, and took ownership of the shared demo environment to enable the APAC Sales Team to efficiently showcase the product.
Melanie's passion for puzzles and storytelling found its match in Presales, where she guides people to see possibilities and connect emotionally with tech solutions. Joining SymTrain with no prior Tech Sales experience, she led transformative initiatives, shaping processes from buyer journey maps to sales enablement content. Under her leadership, SymTrain saw remarkable growth, with ARR increasing by 270% and new logos by 4x within 2.5 years. Glowing client testimonials commend Melanie's expertise, dedication, and collaborative spirit, setting her on an exciting path for her next adventure.
Ryan's journey to presales was transformative, aligning his personal and technical skills in a career he loves. Achieving over $2.5 million in Y1 ACV, securing contracts with publicly listed and Fortune 150 companies, and establishing a successful sales engineering internship program, he's left a significant impact. Notably, his ability to learn from failures, such as turning a significant loss into the largest deal in company history, speaks volumes. Recognised as the 2023 Sales Engineer of the Year, Ryan's influence extends to keynote presentations, industry events, webinars, and mentorship initiatives, making him a respected voice in the sales engineering community.
The best presales professionals still do what matters most: understand buyers, connect pain to value, tell a clear story, and move deals forward.
Presales Rising Star 2026 is here to recognise the ones staying ahead — using AI, sharper demos, and stronger commercial thinking to shape the future of the profession.
This year’s Presales Rising Star applications will be reviewed by two leading voices in the demo and presales community.
Founder of The DemoScene and a passionate advocate for better demos, stronger storytelling, and the professional growth of the presales community.
Creator of the Great Demo! methodology and one of the most recognised experts in helping teams deliver demos that are clear, relevant, and focused on buyer value.
The winner will receive a personalised development experience with Natasja Bax and Peter Cohan.
This is not just an award title. It is a practical opportunity to learn directly from two experts who have helped shape how great demos are built and delivered.
Focused on demo strategy, buyer engagement, storytelling, and future-ready presales skills.
Personalised guidance to help you sharpen your demo approach, strengthen your communication, and develop your presales career.
A title celebrating your potential and contribution to the future of the presales profession.
Finalists and winners will be featured across Demoboost and partner channels.
You can submit your own application or nominate a presales professional you believe deserves recognition.
Answer a short set of questions about your approach to demos, AI, buyer engagement, and the future of presales.
Natasja Bax and Peter Cohan will review entries and select the winner.
The winner will be recognised as a Demoboost Presales Rising Star
You will be invited to the full-day training and 1:1 mentoring experience.
