Frequently Asked Questions
What is FoundersAreHiring?
FoundersAreHiring (FAH) is a SaaS hiring platform that connects startup founders with high-intent, startup-curious talent using AI-powered matching, curated weekly drops, and founder-led hiring workflows.
How is FAH different from traditional job boards?
FAH eliminates recruiters, prioritizes founder-to-candidate communication, and reduces noise through curated listings, cultural alignment filters, and startup-specific tools like equity calculators and talent drops.
Is there a free plan available?
Yes. The Foundation Tier is free forever and includes one job listing, basic filters, and access to two weekly curated talent drops.
What paid plans are available?
There are two paid plans: Growth Tier at $129/month for scaling startups and Scale Tier at $399/month for high-growth teams, offering more listings, advanced filters, analytics, and collaboration tools.
What are Talent Boosts and add-ons?
Add-ons like Talent Boosts, Urgent Tags, and Direct Message Credits are one-time purchases that enhance job visibility or enable direct candidate outreach.
How does AI matchmaking work on FAH?
FAH uses a vector search engine that analyzes role criteria, founder signals, and candidate preferences to deliver the most relevant matches based on skills, values, and risk tolerance.
Do I need to integrate with ATS or external tools?
No. FAH is designed as a lightweight standalone system with no ATS dependency, reducing setup friction and saving founder time.
Can candidates reach out to founders directly?
Yes. Verified candidates with Talent Pro or Boosts can directly message founders even before applying, facilitating faster and more intentional connections.
What types of roles are supported?
FAH supports both technical and non-technical roles across product, design, engineering, marketing, sales, ops, and more.
How often are new candidates available?
FAH operates on a weekly drop model where new, high-quality talent is released in curated batches, similar to VC deal flow.
Is this platform global or region-specific?
FAH is a global platform. It is not regionally locked and does not emphasize any single geography.
How does FAH protect against fake listings?
Founder verification is backed by credentialing tools, reducing fraudulent postings by 92% compared to unverified platforms.
Can I feature my job in multiple talent drops?
Yes. Depending on your plan and purchased add-ons, your job can appear in multiple curated talent drops.
How do message credits work?
Founders on Growth and Scale tiers get a limited number of message credits. Additional credits can be purchased for direct candidate outreach.
Is there an API for integrations?
Yes. Scale Tier users get API access for ATS and custom integrations. Contact support for enterprise or VC fund portfolio pricing.
What kind of companies use FAH?
Primarily pre-seed to Series B startups who value speed, cultural fit, and founder-led hiring.
What kind of candidates use FAH?
Experienced professionals (4-7+ years), builder-type talent in both tech and business functions, looking for meaningful startup work.
Can I cancel my subscription anytime?
Yes. There is no lock-in. Subscriptions are cancellable at any time with no penalties.
How do I get started as a founder?
Create an account, verify your role, select a plan, and publish your first job within 15 minutes. No ATS setup or approval wait required.
Where can I get support?
Email [email protected] or visit https://foundersarehiring.com for help and documentation.
Specialized FAQs
For Founders
What makes FoundersAreHiring different from a traditional job board?
FAH removes recruiters, emphasizes direct founder-candidate conversations, and reduces noise through curated weekly drops and AI-driven matching.
How does the weekly talent drop work?
Every week, FAH releases a curated list of verified, high-intent candidates across functions. Founders on eligible plans get early access and priority visibility.
How do I post a job?
Create an account, select your plan, fill in 5 essential job details, and publish. No complex ATS integrations or approval processes.
Can I edit or update a job listing after it's live?
Yes, you can update your job title, description, tags, or other metadata anytime even after publishing.
How does candidate matching work?
FAH uses a dual-sided vector search algorithm that analyzes both your job signals and the candidate’s preferences, skills, and values to generate match scores.
Can I reach out to candidates directly?
Yes, message credits let you initiate conversations before candidates even apply. Scale-tier and Talent Boosts unlock more messaging access.
What is a 'Verified Founder' badge and how do I get it?
Founders who verify their operational role via LinkedIn or company domain receive a 'Verified' badge on all job listings, increasing trust and click-through.
What are Direct Message Credits and how are they used?
They’re one-time-use credits that let you directly message candidates outside the normal application flow. Available via plan or addon.
Can I collaborate with my team on hiring?
Yes. The Scale plan allows up to 10 team members to collaborate on hiring, manage jobs, and share candidate shortlists.
For Candidates
How is FAH different from other job platforms?
FAH connects you directly to founders, filters out recruiter spam, and features curated roles with real startup context and decision-maker access.
Is there a fee to join or apply to jobs?
No. Creating a candidate profile, browsing roles, and applying is completely free. Optional Talent Pro features are paid upgrades.
How do I get featured in a talent drop?
High-quality profiles with recent activity, project portfolios, and clear preferences are eligible. Talent Pro members are prioritized.
Can I message founders directly?
Yes. If a founder has enabled messaging, and you’ve unlocked Pro or Boost features, you can initiate direct contact.
How do I hide or make my profile private?
You can toggle your visibility in the profile settings. Private profiles are excluded from public drops and search.
Can I apply anonymously?
Not currently. FAH focuses on high-intent, transparent communication between candidates and founders.
What does the ‘Verified Founder’ badge mean?
It signals that the founder posting the job has been identity-verified and holds an active operational role in the startup.
Do I need startup experience to use the platform?
No. But founders prefer candidates with high adaptability, self-management, and bias toward action core startup traits.
How do I delete my profile permanently?
You can delete your account anytime under account settings. All associated data will be removed as per our privacy policy.
Legal & Platform
Does FoundersAreHiring operate as an employer or recruiter?
No. FAH is a software platform only. We do not employ candidates, act as recruiters, or facilitate payment between parties.
Can FAH be compelled to provide user data?
Yes, FAH complies with lawful court orders and verified law enforcement data requests in accordance with privacy laws.
What data does FAH collect on users?
FAH collects profile data, job listing details, login timestamps, and limited activity logs, but does not process candidate compensation.
Does FAH store or process financial transactions between users?
No. FAH only collects subscription fees from founders. It does not handle salary disbursement or escrow services.
Is FAH compliant with GDPR and CCPA?
Yes. FAH provides data portability, erasure requests, and transparent cookie use in line with global data privacy laws.
How can law enforcement request user information?
Requests can be submitted to [email protected] with proper legal documentation and jurisdictional scope.
How long does FAH retain user data after account deletion?
Profile data is deleted within 30 days of confirmed account closure unless legally required to retain certain records.
Does FAH moderate or review content?
Yes. All job posts and candidate profiles are reviewed for authenticity and compliance with platform guidelines.
What happens when someone violates the terms?
FAH reserves the right to suspend, restrict, or delete accounts that violate its Terms of Use or Community Guidelines.
Are purchases or subscription fees refundable?
All sales are final and non-refundable. Please review your purchase carefully before submitting payment.