Tech hiring trends for Early-Stage Startups: what are founders looking for?

Our team specializes in recruiting engineers for startups at various growth stages - from pre-seed to Series C.

We actively collaborate with and maintain close ties with venture funds such as Melnichek Investments, Palta, Scalaban Capital, and GoGlobal. Recently, we’ve noticed patterns in hiring requests and want to share some insights.

Who are startups hiring?

Role distribution: 50% - Backend Engineers

The first three hires in a startup with technical founders are almost always backend engineers. Why?

• They need to quickly build an MVP and a scalable architecture.
• Ideal profile: 80% backend + 20% frontend (to cover basic UI needs).

Key tech stacks:

• TypeScript - the absolute leader.
• Python - explosive growth due to AI/ML, often paired with Go or TS.
• Go - gaining traction in infrastructure projects.
• Rust - a must-have for 10% of our portfolio (mostly crypto startups).
• C# / Elixir / Java - rare requests.

?? Candidate tip: Founders value flexibility. If you're a Java expert but open to switching to Python (or already transitioning), your chances improve!

25% - Fullstack Engineers "generalists" are in demand for projects that require rapid iteration. Their tools:

• Frontend: React (95% of requests), with rare cases of Angular/Vue.
• Backend: Node.js + TypeScript.
• Mobile: React Native - the MVP favorite.
• Bonus: Python knowledge is a plus for integrating AI features.

15% - AI/ML specialists don’t expect PhDs! Who gets hired at early stages?

• Backend engineers with experience implementing AI solutions.
• Developers experimenting with LLMs (LangChain, RAG), even in pet projects.

?? Example: We recently filled a role with a candidate who had just one year of ML engineering experience but an impressive portfolio from five hackathons.

It's time to assemble your orchestra

Trend: startups first look for "builders" - deep AI specialists come in at Series B.

5% - Blockchain Engineers even though the Web3 hype has calmed down, blockchain developer roles remain steady, especially for startups building infrastructure solutions or DeFi products.

Who they’re looking for:

• Smart contract engineers (Solidity, Rust, Move) - must know how to write secure and gas-efficient contracts.
• Backend developers with blockchain integration experience - familiarity with Web3.js, ethers.js, Substrate.
• DeFi specialists - especially those who understand tokenomics and AMM/Dex mechanics.

5% - Frontend Engineers Technical CEOs often code the frontend themselves but eventually get tired of it - and that’s when they come to us. Yet, frontend roles are often hard to fill. Why?

• Founders want a "Staff-level engineer for a mid-level salary"
• Pixel-perfect UI + deep algorithm knowledge.
• Willingness to be the sole frontend dev and later grow into a team lead role.

Hiring success in startups: It’s not just about tech skills finding the right hire within a set budget takes effort, but there are well-known factors that attract candidates:

• A product with a mission (or at least intriguing tech solutions).
• A dream team - well-known industry experts act like a magnet!
• A culture of fast experimentation (no bureaucratic nightmares).
• Transparency - even if it means admitting, "Our servers are on fire, but we’re fixing it!"

Conclusion

The startup tech hiring market is getting tougher but, in our view, also more predictable.

?? Advice for companies: Don’t chase the "perfect resume" - look for those who are passionate about solving your problem.

?? Advice for candidates: Build flexibility and a fast-learning mindset - these are valued more than mastering a specific framework.

Are your startups experiencing similar hiring trends? Share your thoughts in the comments! ??

I'd like to thank Svetlana Turchenik , our Head of HR & Co-founder, for this article being published ????

Remember, at HireForYou.We invest our time and energy in helping you build meaningful projects worldwide. We want your product or technology to be a game-changer!

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