Startup hiring secrets from a CEO who scaled to 75 people in 10 months — why passion beats pedigree every time in early-stage teams.
Matilda
Why Hiring The Weirdos Works
Early-stage startup hiring is one of the hardest things founders face. But what if the best candidates aren't on LinkedIn, don't have prestigious degrees, and have never worked in tech? One fast-growing voice AI company proved that unconventional talent can be the secret weapon — and the results speak for themselves. From Taco Bell Manager to Founding Engineer: A Hiring Story That Defies Convention When Isaiah Granet, CEO and co-founder of Bland, a voice AI startup, went searching for his founding engineer, he wasn't finding the right person through traditional channels. The hire he eventually made had a few months at an insurance company in Iowa on his résumé — and before that, a stint managing a Taco Bell. He was discovered not through a recruiter, but through his GitHub profile. What sealed the deal wasn't his work history. It was his answer to one simple question: What do you do for fun? His face lit up. He said he liked to ship code. Why Passion Beats Pedigree in Ear…
