Last month, Caoimhe and I talked to several founders and recruiters across our 130+ portfolio companies. We asked:"How do you spot up-and-coming talent that doesn't have 5 years of experience yet?"

Here's what they told us:

Your first dollar story. When did you first make money building something? A freelance project, selling a script, tutoring with code you wrote. Founders want to see execution, not just coursework. In Repo terms, what’s your “humble flex”?

AI-native building. Seasoned leaders look for builders who experiment with AI. You're building the future, embracing the chaos of breaking and fixing things in real-time.

Research depth. Whether it's Songscription's music transcription models or GPTZero's AI-detection algorithms, founders need builders who understand foundational LLMs and ship products that leverage the right cutting-edge technology.

Your vibe check. Early-stage teams are 1-15 people. Cultural fit is more than a nicety, it's survival. Founders hire for grit, resourcefulness, and a self-starting bias to action. How you approach people matters just as much as your work.

So, how do you get in front of these founders?

Our live, opt-in talent list for builders, hackers, designers and engineers currently in or recently out of school.

Built for you. Curated by us. Shared directly with 130+ startups in our portfolio.

We’ve already introduced several Repo readers to companies in our portfolio. Let’s get you in front of these founders next.

Why it's special now: They're rebuilding job search experience (and their collected datasets) using LLMs. This isn't a coffee-fetching internship, you'd be training models that connect millions of students to opportunities.

Why it's special now: Just launched ALUR – the first real-time US labor utilization metric that economists and policymakers now use. You'd build AI that creates jobs, not eliminates them. Mission: end unemployment.

Why it's special now: Replit went from $10M to $100M+ ARR this year. You'd be building the collaborative IDE that's onboarded and empowering 34M+ developers. Direct access to the team on the edge of AI development.

Why it's special now: Expanding from India to global markets. Early design hire shaping how 550K+ teachers worldwide experience professional growth. High creative ownership.

If you’ve already added your profile, and are interested in one of these roles, let us know at [email protected]

Until the next push,

Valentina on behalf of Reach Capital

Reach Capital invests in early-stage founders redefining how we learn, live, and work. Our portfolio of 130+ startups includes tools you might’ve used in school (ClassDojo, Desmos, Handshake) and next-gen, AI-native disruptors shaping how future generations build, work, and thrive (like Replit).

These teams are constantly on the lookout for talented builders. Share what you’re studying, building, or exploring, and we’ll share projects, people, and opportunities for you to build upon.