The Recruiting Software Stack a NYC Startup Used to Go From 8 to 19 People Without a Recruiter
[Seed-stage SaaS, New York] · Technology
Results at a Glance
- Recruiter headcount: 0 → 0
- Cost per hire: $15,000+ (agency) → $720
- Founder hours per hire: 22 → 4
The Challenge
No recruiter, no time, no employer brand. The founders were screening applicants at midnight and losing candidates to companies that simply responded faster. Agency fees of 20-25% of salary would have consumed the seed round.
The Solution
The full stack on one platform: AI sourcing found engineers and a founding AE with verified contacts, sequences and AI agent calls handled outreach, and every candidate - sourced or inbound - got a live AI interview within a day. Founders reviewed shortlists over coffee and ran only final conversations.
The Results
11 hires across engineering, sales, and support at $720 average cost per hire - versus $15,000+ per agency placement. Zero recruiter hires needed before Series A. As hiring software for a small business, the economics were the entire story.
It's the recruiting team we couldn't afford, for less than our coffee budget.