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.