Hiring in a startup isn’t about putting candidates through a test — it’s about inspiring them to build with you. Today’s top talent isn’t trying to impress; they’re choosing missions, momentum, and founders with clarity. The best early-stage hiring isn’t interrogation, it’s storytelling. Here are three things great founders do differently to attract and keep exceptional people.

Negotiating equity in startups can make or break your long-term reward. Learn how to evaluate offers, understand vesting, and make smarter decisions around startup equity for employees — without getting lost in the jargon.

At the end of the day, the best AI recruiting tool for tech startups is the one that makes startup recruitment faster without losing the human touch. And for startup recruiters, the opportunity is clear: use AI as your assistant, not your replacement. Technology may help us hire smarter, but only people can make hiring truly human.

Let’s be honest—interviews at early-stage startups feel different. The pace is fast. Roles are ambiguous. Expectations are high. You’re not just applying for a job; you’re pitching yourself as a force multiplier in a lean team. A go-getter who can get things done. It’s no wonder candidates second-guess themselves.

In early-stage startups, the quality of the talent you bring on from day one can determine your trajectory. Founders know this - yet even great builders struggle with hiring when scaling from founder-led execution to creating real GTM and technical functions. And the real friction isn’t just choosing the right person - it’s the cost of the search itself. Every cycle spent wrestling with hiring is a cycle not spent shipping product, talking to users, or closing reven

Recently, I attended a marketing conference. The speakers were fascinating, all having performed feats of unparalleled success in the...