Categories: Startup

By Carlos Diaz, Founder of Talento

Hiring for a startup isn’t just about getting warm bodies in the room. It’s about aligning values, building trust, and ensuring everyone can move fast without stepping on each other’s toes. Too often, I see startups hire like big corporations, long job specs, endless interviews, and a mismatch between what’s written on paper and what’s actually needed on the ground.

Start lean. Think Scrum. Just as we iterate on products, iterate on your team. Don’t try to build the full dream team from day one. Build your team around the flow of work, not the other way round. Team Topologies teaches us to design for interaction, not hierarchy. So if your startup needs fast feedback and quick pivots, a small stream aligned team is your best friend.

Your first hires should be multipliers, not placeholders. Find people who can own a problem end to end (e2e), wear multiple hats, and thrive on uncertainty. That’s your startup superpower.

Also, avoid the temptation to overhire in the early days. You need people who can help you learn, adapt, and move quickly, not slow you down with bureaucracy. A lean team with clear responsibilities, solid communication, and a shared vision will always outperform a bloated one that lacks direction.