Event Review: Startup-U SFO: Hiring The Best - Building The A Team For Your Start-up (12 Apr 2007)
SVASE presented a discussion around hiring for your startup. The panel included Phil “Pud” Kaplan (Fucked Company, Adbrite), Jonathan Abrams (Socializr), Andy Gadiel (Jambase), and Dan Grosh (Nosal Partners).
Over the course of the hour, three main themes emerged:
- Just Do It (Thanks, Nike).
All of the entrepreneurs discussed, in one form or another, their startup stories, and that they really didn’t think about starting a business, they just did it. They didn’t wait, and they didn’t accept no for an answer. - Hire them young and trainable (especially the programmers)
Goes against conventional wisdom, but they all said that the NCGs (new college grads) and young hackers were the most up-to-date on the technology, as well as having the passion, drive, and desire to work the long, hard hours necessary. - Focus on product, then on marketing
They created the product, on a shoe string budget, with little help, then launched the product. Then started building the company, hiring marketing people, putting money into building brands and subscribers.
A few other interesting tidbits:
- Hire programmers from Craigs List.
- Avoid Hotjobs, Monster, etc. - very low signal to noise ratio
- Putting the salary expectations in the job listing can help you target the right candidate - this applies to every position, including the admins.
A worthwhile hour of time.