S2 #12 Founders Hiring Toolkit

How to Build a Winning Team: A Hiring Toolkit for Early-Stage Startups

Over the last several years, I've had the privilege helping some of the brightest minds in the startup world build their early-stage teams. So, for the final episode of season 2 of the 1st10 Podcast, Alexis Munger and I figure we should create a simple hiring toolkit to help founders attract and hire top talent for their early-stage startups.

In the podcast episode, we outlined seven steps that founders can take to build a skilled team that's also aligned with their vision. But, for people who prefer text over audio, here are some of the important takeaways from our conversation.

Craft a Compelling Story

The foundation of any successful hiring process is a compelling story. As a founder, you need to be able to articulate why your company exists, what problem you're solving, and why someone should want to join you on this journey. Alexis refers to this as the "founder's origin story" and, I must admit, that's a fun-yet-poerful way to think about it!

For example, look at Stripe. Stripe's founders were able to turn the seemingly mundane problem of online payments into a technically challenging and exciting mission that attracted top engineers. Similarly, if your story doesn't resonate with the people you're trying to hire, even the most talented candidates will pass.

Leverage And Outreach

Many founders think their network is limited to people they've directly worked with, but it's much broader than that. Alumni networks, open-source communities, and even second-degree connections can be goldmines for talent.

Yes, recruiting is hard work but the truth is that there's no way around it. Yes, you're going to hear "No" a lot. Heck, our response rate is around 5%, which means 95% of the time, you're going to get rejected! But, as a founder, you HAVE to be willing to roll up your sleeves and do outreach yourself. Alexis gave the example of Mark Zuckerberg, who would personally speak to candidates, even when Facebook was 1000-employee strong!

That said, if you're struggling to tap into your network, we at 1st10 can help! Drop us a message and let's talk!

Know Your Red Flags

Not every candidate is going to be the right fit, and that's okay. The key is to know your red flags and deal-breakers upfront. Are you looking for someone who's already passionate about your industry? Do you need someone who's willing to work in the office five days a week? Whatever your criteria, be clear about them from the start.

We've seen founders get too caught up in pedigree or technical skills. From our experience, the best hires are often the ones who bring the right mindset and passion to the table. Don't over-index on what's on paper - focus on what the candidate can bring to your team in terms of attitude and execution.

Sell Your Vision & Seal The Deal

Once you've identified the right candidate, it's time to sell them on your vision. This is where you bring everything together — your story, your team, and the role they'll play in your company's future. Top talent often has multiple options, so you need to stand out.

And when it's time to make an offer, don't just email it over. This is a big moment for both you and the candidate, so treat it with the importance it deserves. Meet them in person, walk them through the details, and be prepared to answer their questions. This is your chance to show them how much you value their potential contribution to your team.

I have seen some founders go above and beyond to make candidates feel special - calling them late at night, taking them out to dinner, or even doing something special for their families! Personal touches can make all the difference in convincing someone to join your team!

Closing Thoughts

Building a great team is one of the most important things you'll do as a founder. It's not easy, but this hiring toolkit is a good starting point, even if I say so myself!

And if you're in the trenches of hiring and feeling lonely, remember: at 1st10, we can help you build the early-team of your dreams!

Until next season, this is me signing off...

About Us: 

1st10 was founded on the simple philosophy that there is nothing more important to the success of your startup than the first ten engineers you hire. Because the first ten will impact the next ten and any wrong misstep can be the difference between success and failure. 1st10 works with visionary founders and exceptional engineers to build world class engineering teams.

1st10 was founded by Boris Epstein, original founder of Binc, the firm best known for pioneering embedded recruiting in Silicon Valley. Binc built early teams for Pinterest, Ripple, Stripe, Square, Airbnb, Reddit, Tesla and many more. Binc was acquired by Robinhood in 2021.