How we work, what it costs, and what makes us different from a traditional agency. If yours isn't here, ask it on the intro call.
FAQ
Octopus is an embedded hiring partner for founder-led companies. We learn your business model, culture, and org structure first, then go to market as an extension of your founding team — not an agency sending speculative profiles.
Not a CV factory. We do not send speculative profiles. We embed, learn the business, then run the search as part of your team. Candidates arrive already sold because we give them the real detail: your channel mix, your growth story, what it actually feels like to work with you.
Founders and founder-led teams. We work exclusively with founders who support flexible, remote work, because that is where high-calibre talent is, and why our introductions convert. Recent engagements have spanned tech and AdTech, e-commerce and DTC, B2B sales, and people and operations.
Straightforward and outcome focused: 1× monthly salary of the successful hire. One third upfront when the search begins, two thirds on successful placement. Not a fixed percentage. Not a retainer. Pricing reflects scope, seniority, and market.
If the hire leaves in the first 30 days, we replace them at no charge. Terms apply. Beyond that, we stay in contact after placement because we care whether the fit is working, not just whether the contract was signed.
Most roles, any scope. Recent searches include Product Designer, Design Engineer, Head of Operations, Account Executive, Video Editor (AI + UGC/Organic), UI/UX Designer & CRO Lead, People Partner, Supply Chain Manager, and Copywriter. If you know where the role sits in your business plan, we can work from there.
Globally. EMEA, North America, APAC, LATAM, Eastern Europe, and South Africa. We recruit where the talent is, not where it is convenient. Compensation constraints and multi-region complexity are always discussed upfront.
Varies by role, seniority, and market. Recent senior, founder-facing searches have closed in around six weeks from intake to hire. We will give you an honest read on timeline at the intake call, including what would slow it down.
We do not widen for the sake of widening. We ask, "What uncertainty are you trying to resolve?" That single question, asked together, surfaces three failure modes founders rarely catch in themselves: endless comparison, decision avoidance, and false signals dressed as caution. We solve the risk with you. We do not add more noise.
They arrive informed, not surprised. We give candidates the real detail before they decide to engage, and we represent your story, your values, and your ambition in every conversation. Candidates we do not place often stay in our network and refer others.
C., Founder, bootstrapped an award-winning HRtech software company to revenue and has 7+ years in hiring with a background in psychology. Baris, Founding Talent Partner, holds a PhD in Gender Studies with a major in psychology and brings deep knowledge of the LATAM talent market across English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Book a short intro call. No pressure. We will ask the questions no one else has asked you about your business, listen first, then tell you honestly whether we are the right partner for the role you have in mind.