Sales -> Non Sales Startup Roles

Has anyone here successfully moved from a mid-tier sales role (SMB or mid-market AE) to a non-sales startup role, other than founder.

I left grad school to take an attractive AE gig at a large tech company. I made the decision because I wasn’t sold on my graduate program and I was 1 semester in so the money I lost wasn’t too bad.

It’s a great company and role but I’m just not passionate about sales. I have a ton of respect for my boss and colleagues. All seasoned sales vets with successful careers. I just don’t see myself doing this forever. I’ll either lose motivation or my spotty performance will catch up to me.

I was pretty involved in start ups during university and worked as a founder sales team member before I took this AE gig and would like to go back. Just not in sales.

Ideally, I’d want to move into a non-sales/quota carrying role. Has anyone successfully made the move?