Recruits Lab is an executive search firm purpose-built for venture-backed startups. We place VPs, SVPs, and C-suite leaders across technology, AI, and life sciences without the bloat of traditional retained search.
Traditional executive search was built for Fortune 500. It is slow, expensive, and structurally misaligned with how venture-backed startups actually operate. A typical retained search runs 6-9 months, costs a third of first-year cash compensation, and produces a slate that often fails to account for stage fit, equity sophistication, or the brutally specific cultural traits a small company needs.
Recruits Lab built executive search differently. Our model is purpose-designed for venture-backed startups from Series A through pre-IPO. We run focused retained searches that close in 60-90 days, with flat-fee pricing that fits a venture budget and a 90-day replacement guarantee on every executive placement.
We work across technology, AI, life sciences, cybersecurity, and SaaS. Roles include Chief Executive Officer (founder transitions), Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Chief Product Officer, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Scientific Officer, Chief Information Security Officer, VP of Engineering, VP of Sales, VP of Marketing, and VP of People.
Our recruiters specialize in startup stage fit. We can read a cap table. We understand which equity package will close a candidate and which will not. We know which Series D operators can actually rebuild a Series B org and which ones will only succeed with the resources they already had. This is the assessment work that most executive search firms skip.
If you are running a CEO transition, replacing a founder-CTO, hiring a first CMO, or building out a full executive bench ahead of an IPO, this practice area has been built for it.
Why this market is hard to recruit for. And how we solve each one.
Most retained search firms place from late-stage talent pools regardless of role stage. Stage misalignment is the single biggest cause of executive failure.
6-9 month executive searches kill startup momentum. Our model is built for 60-90 days.
Most senior candidates do not understand startup equity. We translate it in real dollars and manage the negotiation directly.
Founder-CEO transitions and CTO replacements require discretion and emotional intelligence beyond resume review. We handle both.
Board and investor alignment on the hire is critical. We manage the board interview process explicitly.
Most executive searches need to be confidential. We run stealth searches as standard.
The repeatable system behind our 14-day average hire time.
Multi-stakeholder intake with CEO, board, and key team members. We write a written search charter before sourcing.
Fresh map of 50-100 stage-fit candidates, including direct outreach to passive talent.
Senior partner-level outreach. Generalist sourcers do not work for executive search.
3-5 fully briefed candidates with reference checks, comp expectations, and decision-window summaries.
Manage offer, equity, board interviews, references, and 90-day onboarding.
2026 U.S. cash compensation ranges for executive roles at venture-backed startups (Series B-D). Equity is the dominant component and is excluded here.
| Role | Base Salary Range |
|---|---|
| VP of Engineering | $310K–$425K |
| VP of Product | $320K–$460K |
| VP of Sales | $280K–$385K base / $500K-$700K OTE |
| Chief Financial Officer | $340K–$480K |
| Chief Technology Officer | $365K–$520K |
| Chief Medical Officer | $425K–$600K |
| Chief Executive Officer (hire) | $425K–$650K |
Quick answers to the questions founders and hiring leaders ask most.
A small number of specialized firms run executive search built for venture-backed startups. The best ones (Recruits Lab among them) combine stage-fit calibration, fast cycle times (60-90 days), and flat-fee pricing instead of percentage-of-comp retainers.
Traditional retained executive search costs 30-33 percent of first-year cash compensation, often $100,000-$250,000+ per placement. Recruits Lab offers flat-fee retained executive search starting at $35,000-$75,000 depending on role level, with a 90-day replacement guarantee.
Industry average for retained executive search is 6-9 months. Recruits Lab averages 60-90 days for VP and C-suite roles at venture-backed startups.
Executive search is a focused, partner-led retained engagement for VP and C-suite roles, including reference checking, board interviews, and onboarding support. Contingency recruiting is paid only on placement and typically covers individual contributor through director-level. Most C-suite searches should be retained, not contingency.
Yes. Confidential founder-CEO and founder-CTO transitions are a regular engagement type for us.
Yes. We support pre-IPO and Series D companies building out 4-8 executive roles in a coordinated 6-month engagement.
HistoWiz needed a field-based Area Sales Manager to own the Northeast territory, calling on pharma R&D, biotech, CROs, and academic medical centers. The rep had to already live in territory with established relationships and speak credibly to pathologists, biologists, and procurement.
Recruits Lab mapped the Northeast competitive vendor landscape, sourced passive talent from adjacent life sciences tools and lab services companies, and verified territory knowledge through named-account due diligence rather than resume claims. Structured screening on quota attainment, average deal size, and cycle length — not years of experience.
Placed an Area Sales Manager with the customer relationships and sales discipline the territory required. The hire stepped into an active pipeline, contributed to early-quarter bookings, and partnered with marketing on territory-specific demand generation.
"Recruits Lab ran our CFO search in less than half the time and less than a third of the cost of the retained firm we had used previously."
"They closed our CMO in 9 weeks. The candidate had run two prior commercial launches. Could not have asked for better."
CEO (replacement and first-hire), COO, CFO, CTO, CPO, CMO (medical), CMO (marketing), CSO, CISO, VP Engineering, VP Product, VP Sales, VP Marketing, VP People.
Series A through pre-IPO. Best fit Series B through Series D.
Flat-fee retained executive search from $35,000 per placement depending on role level. No percentage of compensation. 90-day replacement guarantee.
Yes. Most executive searches we run are confidential.
Yes. Board and investor interview management is standard.
Yes. Structured reference checks with 3-5 references per finalist.
Yes. 90-day check-ins with hire and CEO/board.
Kickoff within 48 hours of contract signing.
Compensation data, hiring playbooks, case studies, and related recruiting specialties.
Four ways to engage. Pick whichever matches where you are.
30-minute strategy review with a senior recruiter. Free, no commitment.
Get startedTell us about the role. We respond with a calibration call within 24 hours.
Get startedSend a job description. We confirm fit and quote a subscription or contingency engagement.
Get startedSenior candidates: get represented to our active hiring pipeline.
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Hand-picked salary guides, market reports, and recruiter pages related to this topic. Authored by Darren Nelson and the Recruits Lab team.
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