Shashank Padala’s Post

Hiring is hard enough, but for early-stage startups you have be prepared to pay well and often give up more equity than you want to. Shortchanging strong candidates on money and potential upside isn’t going to get it done. 3 options for early-stage startups to build their technical team: 1) Offer more comp (salary + equity) 2) Hire less experienced but motivated devs 3) Talk with us about how we build nearshore engineering teams for early-stage startups => save on payroll and keep your equity

In my first few weeks, I spent time with our partners to learn about their motivations for working with us - this was invaluable! 😤 The underlying theme was that startups quite quickly outgrow their accounting firm & get frustrated by slow turnaround times / lack of startup knowhow. 💪 Our partners wanted people in their team that understood their business & the systems/processes that drive it, but they didn't need to hire fulltime. 😄 RORA’s model ticked these boxes. 📈 We're now looking at how we can better serve scaleups & I'll be repeating the exercise of speaking to our partners to understand how our value proposition shifts from startup to scaleup. 🔑 Key takeaway: Speaking to your partners can do a lot of the heavy lifting for you (messaging, VP, positioning)

. ❝𝙊𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪.❞ – Laszlo Bock This idea is incredibly daunting for most founders and hiring managers. We subconsciously fear hiring someone who could replace us. However, a small team needs impressive performers to make a significant impact. The next post in my four-part series will cover 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 as a crucial inflection point in startup growth.

Culture Kings & Queens: Building a Startup Team That Feels Like Family Your team is your startup's backbone! Forget stuffy corporate cultures. Here's how to create a vibrant environment that attracts and retains top talent: Shared Passion: Hire people who genuinely care about your mission. Their enthusiasm is contagious! Transparency is Key: Keep everyone informed and involved. Open communication fosters trust and collaboration. Celebrate Together: Recognize achievements, big and small. A little appreciation goes a long way. Question: What are your best tips for building a strong startup culture? Share in the comments! #startupculture #dreamteam #engagedworkforce

Imagine this job ad today: "Wanted: team members for a mission with uncertain success, low pay, extreme discomfort, and a good chance of never coming back. Glory if we succeed!" That's the kind of brutal honesty Shackleton used to recruit his legendary crew. In today’s startup world, we often see the opposite—exaggerated perks and promises. While attracting talent is crucial, are we glossing over the challenges and setting people up for disappointment? Shackleton’s method teaches us that transparency can build a committed team. When people know what they’re signing up for, they’re more likely to stay the course. Think about it—if we were upfront about the struggles, wouldn’t we attract those genuinely aligned with our mission? Embrace the chaos, highlight the potential for impact and growth, and throw in a bit of Shackleton’s grit. What if our job ads reflected the true startup experience? Would we find our own band of adventurers? #RealTalk #StartupLife #Leadership #compensation

The lack of a clear hiring process between co-founders can change the atmosphere in your startup. Even if one of you takes the lead, communication is key to avoid people just turning up unannounced. It's often one of the last things you think about but having a light touch process so that you know what each other is doing can save many disagreements. Learn more in the video below.

Slow to Hire, Fast to Fire - The ART 🎨 and SCIENCE 🧪 of Building High Performance Teams A practical guide for founders building teams and some thoughts from our own founder, James Chalmers, on what it takes to build incredible teams. “Founders who get it right tend to see building high performance teams as part Art and part Science. The ratio varies, but is a constant is that the foundation for building a strong takes a strong understanding of a ventures needs today, in a year and in 3 years. This is important as founders are hiring for today, but there needs to be a clear path to how those new team members continue to grow and as their roles evolve over the mid and long term. That is the science. The art is at the opposite end of the spectrum. Sometimes you meet someone and you just know they will be an incredible addition to the team. Where they fit in today is not always clear, but there’s a gut instinct that tells you that hire needs to be made. I was fortunate to learn this early. Some of the most important roles I filled ended up stemming from the art of identifying great people and making space for them to join our ventures early.” https://lnkd.in/gU3HX2C5 #founders #teambuilding #startup #strategy #hr

As a founder, it is important to realize that the strength of the venture you are building directly correlates to the strength of the team you are building. Great piece below from BaseCamp that discusses a 'Slow to Hire, Fast to Fire' strategy with some very practical items founders can leverage.

Ever noticed how a strong team culture can make or break your startup? When building a product, it's not just about the tech stack or the features. It's about the people behind it. The right hires don't only bring skills; they bring passion, creativity, and a sense of ownership that's invaluable. Without nurturing a positive culture where each member feels valued and heard, even the most innovative ideas can fall flat. So next time you're hiring or thinking about your company culture, remember: Your people are your greatest asset. Invest in them, foster an environment of growth and respect, and watch your startup thrive. What's been your experience with team culture? Share in the comments!

1% Better Everyday Hiring for a startup? This one is for #founders and #earlystage business owners and leaders. Always ask the candidate: What does your first week look like? What does your first month look like? If their eyes light up, they start describing responsibilities and discussing action points. green flag 💚 if they say, they'll have to see, get adjusted, settle in... unfortunately a red flag 🚩 Every minute, every penny counts when you're building a #venture from scratch. You need a hustler, a go-getter! Free game given to me by Joshua Tulloch @ The Generalist Co. One of the most hacky and smart founders I've met. Grateful to be working with him! #hiring #UK #b2b