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Insights for building
great teams.
Expert perspectives on hiring, talent acquisition, and the strategies that build world-class teams.
The Y Combinator Startup Hiring Playbook
What top YC companies like Stripe, Airbnb, and DoorDash have in common when it comes to hiring exceptional talent.
The 10 Most Expensive Series A Hiring Mistakes
Series A is when hiring mistakes become devastatingly expensive. Here are the errors we see most often and exactly how to avoid them.
AI Startup Hiring in 2026: The Complete Playbook
AI talent is the scarcest resource in tech. Here is how leading AI startups are winning the talent war and building world-class research teams.
Startup Equity Compensation: The Complete 2026 Guide
Equity is your most valuable recruiting tool and your most misunderstood. Here is everything founders need to know to use it effectively.
Technical Interview Best Practices: What Actually Works in 2026
LeetCode is losing its grip. Here is what the best engineering teams are doing instead to evaluate technical talent effectively and fairly.
Managing Remote Engineering Teams in 2026
Remote work is here to stay. Here is how to build and manage high-performing distributed engineering teams that outperform co-located ones.
How to Hire Your First Engineer at the Seed Stage
Your first engineering hire sets the technical foundation for everything that follows. Here is exactly how to find, evaluate, and close the right person.
How VCs Evaluate Startup Teams Before Investing
Team is the number one factor in early-stage investing. Here is what VCs actually look for when assessing founding teams and early employees.
Building Your Employer Brand on Zero Budget
You cannot outspend big tech on employer branding. But you can out-authentic them. Here is how to build a compelling employer brand without any budget.
Hiring Product Managers at Startups: The Complete Guide
Product management at a startup is fundamentally different from big tech PM work. Here is how to hire PMs who thrive in chaos and ship product.
How Startups Compete with FAANG Offers and Win
You cannot match Google's cash. But you can win candidates anyway. Here is the tactical playbook for competing with Big Tech.
When and How to Hire a Startup CFO
Your first CFO hire can transform your company's financial trajectory. Here is how to time it right and find the right strategic partner.
How to Write Job Descriptions That Actually Attract Top Talent
Most startup job descriptions are terrible. Here is a framework for writing JDs that convert great candidates instead of repelling them.
Hiring Designers at Startups: What Founders Get Wrong
Design hiring at startups is uniquely confusing. Here is how to figure out what you actually need and find the right creative partner.
The Complete Guide to Reference Checks That Actually Work
Reference checks are the most underused and most powerful tool in startup hiring. Here is how to do them properly and what questions to ask.
Hiring Your First Sales Rep: A Founder's Complete Guide
Your first sales hire can make or break your go-to-market. Here is how to find someone who can sell without a playbook and help you build one.
How to Retain Top Employees at a Startup
Hiring is expensive. Retention is cheaper and more impactful. Here are proven strategies to keep your best people engaged, growing, and committed.
International Hiring for Startups: A Complete Guide
Hiring globally unlocks incredible talent pools. Here is how to navigate the complexities of international hiring as an early-stage company.
Fractional CTO vs Full-Time CTO: Which Does Your Startup Need?
Not every startup needs a full-time CTO on day one. Here is a practical framework for deciding between fractional and full-time technical leadership.
Hiring for Fintech Startups: Navigating Compliance and Technical Talent
Fintech hiring is a unique challenge that blends deep technical talent with regulatory expertise. Here is how the best fintech startups build teams that can ship fast and stay compliant.
Series B Team Scaling: From 30 to 150 Employees Without Losing Culture
Series B is where startups either build an enduring company or lose what made them special. Here is how to scale your team five-fold while preserving culture.
Presenting Talent Strategy to Your Board: A Founder's Guide
Your board cares about talent more than you think. Here is how to present a compelling talent strategy that builds investor confidence.
Data-Driven Recruiting: The Metrics That Actually Matter for Startups
Most startups fly blind on recruiting metrics. Here are the specific numbers you should track, the benchmarks to aim for, and how to use data to improve your hiring.
The Perfect Startup Onboarding: A 30-Day Template
Great onboarding reduces time to productivity by 50 percent and dramatically improves retention. Here is a proven 30-day template for startups.