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Built for startups
Hire fast.
Without the corporate overhead.
We understand equity packages, culture-first hiring, and the pace that early-stage companies operate at. Flexible recruitment that grows with you — without the agency fees that would eat your runway.
At a glance
Best for
Seed to Series B companies
Speed
Fast — we know startup pace
Pricing
Startup-friendly models
Hire types
Perm, contract, remote, EOR
Why us for startups
We get how startups hire
Most recruiters treat startups like small corporates. We don't. We understand your world — and we work in it.
We move at your speed
Startups don't have time for slow processes. We brief quickly, search fast, and present candidates in days — not weeks.
Culture-first approach
Your first 10 hires define your culture. We prioritise fit, attitude, and values — not just skills on a CV.
Equity-aware
We understand equity, options, and startup comp packages — and can help you position them compellingly to candidates.
Remote-ready
We source talent globally — meaning you can access the best candidates regardless of where your team is based.
Flexible pricing
We offer models that don't eat your runway — fixed fee, daily rate, or placement fee depending on what makes sense for your stage.
Scales with your rounds
From your first engineer to a post-Series B scale-up, we adapt our model as your hiring needs evolve.
Which stage are you at?
We work with startups at every stage
The right hiring model depends on where you are. Here's how we typically work at each stage.
Pre-seed / Seed
First critical hires
1–5 hires. Culture-critical. We use ad-hoc or fixed-price recruitment to find people who believe in the mission, not just the salary.
Series A
Building the team
5–20 hires. Speed matters. An embedded recruiter on a daily rate is often the most cost-effective model at this stage.
Series B+
Scaling fast
20+ hires. Volume and structure. We run campaign hiring or transition to an RPO model as your talent function matures.
How it works
From brief to first day, fast
We keep admin low and speed high. Here's the process — adapted to your stage and pace.
Quick brief
A short call — the role, your culture, your comp package, and what a great hire looks like. We listen more than we talk.
We recommend a model
Based on your stage and volume, we suggest the right model — ad-hoc, embedded, or fixed price. We'll be honest about what makes financial sense.
Fast search
Every candidate is assessed for culture fit and motivation, not just experience. We only present people we'd want to work with ourselves.
Interviews and offer
We coordinate interviews, gather feedback, and manage the offer process through to acceptance.
Hire and onboard
Offer managed, start date confirmed. We stay in touch through notice period to make sure they arrive on day one.
What's included
Fast-start — usually same day
Culture-fit screening on every candidate
Equity and startup comp expertise
Remote and international sourcing
EOR support for international hires
Flexible pricing that fits your stage
Scales from 1 hire to 50+
Client stories
What our clients say
"We'd always used agencies. Master Recruiter introduced us to the embedded model and we haven't looked back — the savings were significant.
Tom K.
CTO, SaaS startup, London
"We wanted traditional agency recruitment but with someone who genuinely understood our business. That's exactly what we got — a proper briefing, strong candidates, and a smooth process from start to finish.
David W.
Operations Director, Manchester
"he executive search was discreet and thorough. Our new CFO was placed within eight weeks — found through their network, not a job board. She was already exceeding expectations within her first quarter.
Rachel K.
CEO, Manufacturing, Leeds
Building your team?
Tell us where you are and what you need. We'll give you an honest recommendation — no pitch, no pressure.
Related services
Useful for growing startups
Embedded recruiter
Your own full-time recruiter on a daily rate. Perfect for Series A+.
Remote recruitment
Source talent globally for distributed or remote-first teams.
EOR
Hire internationally without setting up a local entity.
Contract & freelance
Fast contractor placement for gaps or project-based needs.