Bradley Jacobs

Mylance

I'm passionate about part-time, flexible work where you can use your skills to work on your time, across a number of companies, and make more than your W2 job. 

Mylance supports your business in two main ways:
1. Free, vetted community with templates, workshops, resources, and an up to date fractional jobs database

2. Marketing services "done for you" through outbound LinkedIn campaigns and thought leadership content.

Grow your network, and build trust with that network = more clients and a sustainable business

Our team at Mylance is working hard to embrace the changing landscape of work. If you'd like to join us or have questions, please reach out to learn more: info@mylance.co and it'll get to our team

Founder and CEO

Six-Figure Secrets of Fractional Experts

After building my own consulting business, I've been supporting others for over 5 years. I share best practices, tips, mindset support, and interviews with the best in the business so you can up-level your business.

Podcast Host

JO Advisors

Leveraging my experience at Uber Freight to advise logistics start-ups.

Managing Partner

We Just Imagine

Board Member

On Deck

Joined On Deck to collaborate with a passionate, talented group of like-minded individuals starting companies. Launched and am growing Mylance

On Deck Fellow

Uber

I joined Uber Freight at its launch and built it up to a $1B+ valuation within 2 years.

1. I started and built up the Carrier Operations team, playing a key role in the initial strategy and operations. 
2. I shaped the direction of Uber Freight’s Carrier Strategy as it related to carrier acquisition and engagement
3. I played a key role in marketplace dynamics, pricing, product prioritization, and service expansion decisions. 
4. I managed a team of 12 analysts responsible for building up a carrier base of 10,000+ carriers for the app and executing all operational elements to surpass OKRs every quarter.

Head of Carrier Operations, Uber Freight

Head launcher for Miami and Milan for UberEATS. To do this, I designed and executed a grassroots-marketing plan including the creation of a courier and restaurant base to give Uber a competitive advantage in both Miami and Milan. Navigated a complex tax and regulatory market in Italy resulting in a successful business strategy

Key Accomplishments:

1. Hired and empowered a team of 25 employees in Italy to manage the courier, marketing, restaurant, and customer support aspects of the UberEATS business
2. Developed launch strategies in both Miami and Milan that included differentiated marketing, restaurant, and courier acquisition strategies to ensure successful growth post-launch 
3. Led one of the largest US-based Uber Eats launches, reaching thousands of customers and processing tens of thousands of transactions within the first month of operation

Launch Manager UberEATS

Built up Uber's Rides to a multimillion-dollar business in 9 North Carolina markets over two years. Built up and managed a team of 6 Operations Managers to eventually grow the 9 markets in North Carolina 
Key Accomplishments: 
♣	Aggressively organized grand scale initiatives such as reduced early lifecycle driver churn and driver appreciation messages resulting in high driver NPS and exponential growth in profitability
♣	Expanded the region’s revenue run rate to greater than a hundred million dollars within one year through creating scalable processes, creating action items from data analyses, and strategic expansion initiatives including the launch of a new premium Uber product 
♣	Began managing only the Raleigh market in 2014, expanded to managing all 9 markets in North Carolina, while supervising a team of 6 Operations Managers and 3 Marketing Managers by 2016

Sr Operations Manager, North Carolina Markets

Kaiser Associates

Managed 10 client portfolios from various markets such as healthcare, public sector, and property insurance. Implemented new consumer surveys, formulated accessible models, and analyzed complex results to give business recommendations
Key Accomplishments:
§ Outlined and implemented a new marketing and operations plan covering a billion-dollar portfolio for a Fortune 500 Telecom company.
§ Produced a threat and opportunities assessment for the protection of a Fortune 500 financial service company’s market through the creation of a new model based on consumer surveys.
§ Conducted in-depth primary market research and fashioned quick and easy-to-implement solutions for clients to increase their productivity and employee fulfillment.

Senior Consultant

Eco-Mail Development, LLC.

•	Developed a marketing and social media plan to introduce a $5 million company
•	Designed and edited investor presentations to raise capital from venture capitalists

Internal Consultant

Hill International, Inc

· Integrated cost and scheduling data for the San Francisco MTA for an estimated $1.8 billion subway system
      · Collaborated with cost engineers to meet deadlines for $150 million cost estimate for the Moscone subway station
      · Analyzed claims reports to resolve a conflict following the completion of a Major League Baseball practice facility

Project Engineer

After growing my consulting biz to $25k / mo, I founded Mylance to make finding new clients easier for your Fractional Business | Follow me for consulting best practices and my journey building Mylance

I'm incredibly passionate about part-time, fractional work that pays for your life (and then some) and gives you freedom and flexibility to live the life of your dreams.

My Professional Story
After 4.5 years launching and scaling businesses at Uber, I built my independent consulting business up to $25k / month in 25 hours per week. After running my own $25k / mo consulting business post Uber, I experienced the importance of reliably finding new clients and the challenge of inconsistent revenue.

I built Mylance Scale to challenge the status quo and rethink marketing and sales for the Fractional industry.

Mylance Scale is the marketing machine that your Fractional Business needs, but you don't have time to run. So it operates daily, growing your brand, completely done for you.

Instead of dangling numbers in front of you, our approach focuses on precise and thoughtful input: comprehensive niche and positioning work, a compelling strategic content plan, then Done For You content creation and posting to establish trust and legitimacy.

Mylance Scale is for you if: 
- You’re an **experienced fractional executive** with several closed clients under your belt and a clear understanding of your positioning and value.
- You know your **ideal customer profile** but lack the time to consistently generate high-quality leads that match it.
- You prefer to focus on client work and leave the business development to experts.
- You value authentic, relationship-driven content over cookie-cutter or AI campaigns that feel inauthentic.
- You want a partner who monitors and optimizes your campaigns, so they stay effective as your business and market evolve.

Apply for access to check it out - you won't be disappointed: https://mylance.co/users/sign_up

If you're a newer fractional, please join our free, vetted community to get resources and a supportive network to find your next few clients: https://mylance.co/site/community

Thanks for being a part of our journey!

My experience prior to Mylance:
-Managed 9 markets for Uber Rides in North Carolina
-Launched Uber Eats markets: Miami (1,003 orders in our first day) and Milan (<1,003 orders in our first day)
-Launched and managed the Carrier Operations team for Uber Freight and built to a $1B valuation in 2 years
-Management consultant for Kaiser Associates - managed 10 client portfolios from various markets such as private equity, healthcare, telecom, and property insurance

On a personal note, I love wine, golf, crypto, learning about AI, and thinking about how we probably shouldn't develop something smarter than we are.

I'm passionate about part-time, flexible work where you can use your skills to work on your time, across a number of companies, and make more than your W2 job. 

Mylance's community uses our tools to build and grow their consulting businesses. It's made up of hundreds of talented tech professionals who have challenged the status quo of work and are working for themselves. 

Our team at Mylance is working hard to embrace the changing landscape of work. If you'd like to join us or have questions, please reach out to learn more: info@mylance.co and it'll get to our team

This 0% related to anything I do, but I laughed this morning, so maybe you will too.

I received a very official looking email this morning from the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office that I’m requested to be present in court in response to the attached subpoena. 

It looks legit, but it’s to a different Bradley Jacobs (not my physical address or phone number on the subpoena).

I ask ChatGPT if it’s a scam and it says no, it’s real, it’s just to the wrong Bradley Jacobs, and it suggests a response saying hey you got the wrong guy basically.

So I send the suggested reply and then I get this back 😂

Create authentic, credibility-building content - take advantage of LinkedIn to build trust and attract the right clients. Founder @ Mylance: make finding clients easy | ex-Fractional COO | ex-Uber

How I transformed my LinkedIn posts from stiff, generic noise into magnetic, trust-building content that attracts clients.

When I first started posting on LinkedIn, my content could best be described as generic and uncomfortable. It lacked authenticity and, frankly, any real connection with my audience. I realized I needed a change, a strategy that would resonate with my network and establish trust over time.

The first step in my transformation was to understand my audience. I took the time to research what topics were important to them and how I could address their needs. This shift in focus allowed me to create content that was not only relevant but also valuable.

Authenticity became my guiding principle. I started sharing personal experiences, insights, and lessons learned. This approach not only humanized my brand but also made my content relatable and engaging.

Feedback played a crucial role in my strategy. I actively engaged with my audience, welcomed their comments, and encouraged discussions. This interaction not only enriched my content but also strengthened the trust between us.

Over time, these changes have transformed my LinkedIn presence. My posts now attract genuine interest and have become a powerful tool for building trust and attracting clients. By focusing on relevance, consistency, authenticity, and engagement, I turned my content from noise into a valuable asset.

If you're looking to transform your own LinkedIn strategy, remember: it's about connecting, not broadcasting. Build trust by being genuine, consistent, and truly interested in your audience's needs.

This post had a draft initially generated by the Mylance tool (and then edited by me). To get access while we’re still in beta, check out https://lnkd.in/edXxhZW7

When I quit my job to start my own thing, I had no idea what I was doing. But I wanted to make some money while I figured it out. So I reached out to 11 companies. 10 said no. But one said yes. And that company paid me $250 / hour for 25 hours per week and all of a sudden, I was making $25k / month in 25 hours per week.

My mind was blown. All I had known up until that point was my W2 job where I gave all my energy, attention, and focus to ONE company.

And I wasn’t getting paid poorly there. I was making $115k / year.

But now, with ONE client, I was getting paid over double that. And better yet, to work less than half the amount of time. And I had the flexibility and freedom to work when I wanted, from where I wanted, and with whom I wanted.

But, I still had no idea what I was doing. And I made a TON of mistakes. Including charging hourly. Including not doing proper business development, which led me to a feast-and-famine cycle.

Over the next 2 years, I learned. I iterated. I spoke to experts. And I started nailing it down. So that I could repeat what I did with that first client over and over. To where I had a repeatable business that would bring in $25k - $35k / month reliably.

And when I wanted to start Mylance, I wound it down to only $10k / mo in 10 hours per week so I could pay my bills comfortably, and still have plenty of time.

Because working for myself part-time was incredible, and I became passionate about bringing that way of working to everyone.

So today, I share with you everything I learned, plus the last 7 years of working with thousands of consultants and fractional executives, packaged together so YOU can create the business that works for your life. That earns you plenty of money, working with clients you genuinely enjoy, working from wherever and whenever you want.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving and Black Friday, I’m sharing this action-oriented playbook for only $99. Because price should never be a barrier to building the business of YOUR dreams!

Check it out → https://lnkd.in/enjjJNWm

Sending love to you and your family!

Open article: Consulting Playbook Course | Mylance by mylance.co

A recent podcast guest went months without closing a client.

Then signed four in one day.

What changed?

She stopped improvising.

She had a script taped to her screen with specific questions.

Questions to understand the prospect's situation so she could quote them accurately.

But also questions designed to position her as the expert.

To create a little FOMO.

To drill into the pain point and create urgency.

Every time she veered from that script, she didn't close.

Here's what she learned: sales is counterintuitive.

It's psychological, but it's not intuitive.

I've seen this pattern in my own work. Structure beats spontaneity every time.

The conversations where I follow a framework convert. The ones where I wing it don't.

Your prospects need you to guide them through a process.

Do you have a sales script that you stick to?

4 common LinkedIn posting mistakes that silently sabotage founders' client attraction—and how to fix them fast.

Change things here.

1. Over-promotion: Constantly pushing your products or services can turn off potential clients. Instead, focus on providing value. Share insights, industry trends, or success stories that highlight your expertise without overtly selling. This positions you as a thought leader and builds trust.

2. Ignoring engagement: Posting content is only half the battle; engaging with your audience is equally crucial. When someone comments on your post, respond promptly and thoughtfully. This interaction not only boosts your post's visibility but also fosters a sense of community and connection.

4. Neglecting visuals: Text-heavy posts can be overwhelming and easy to scroll past. Incorporate visuals, such as images, infographics, or videos, to make your content more engaging and digestible. Visual content often results in higher engagement and helps convey your message more effectively.

By steering clear of these mistakes and implementing these quick fixes, you'll be better positioned to enhance your LinkedIn engagement and attract the clients you desire. Remember, LinkedIn is not just a platform for promotion; it's a space for meaningful interaction and relationship building.

New Podcast Episode Alert: Stop Donating $15K to the IRS: Smart Solo Tax Moves with Ran Harpaz!

Most solos are handing the IRS an extra $15,000 a year without realizing it.
That was one of the biggest surprises in my conversation with @Ran Harpaz, founder and CEO of Lettuce Financial.

Here’s what stood out:

Most people set up their business structure in a way that quietly costs them thousands. Ron explained why the fix is simple but rarely done correctly.
He also shared the one mistake that instantly gets your books flagged, and it’s something almost every solo does unintentionally.

And the biggest myth he debunked: you don’t save on taxes by chasing deductions. The real savings come from a few structural choices most solos overlook.

Ran's advice for solos: think like a CEO and build systems that keep money in your pocket instead of the IRS's.

Sign up for Lettuce here: https://lnkd.in/e7iKcV4D 

And listen to the full episode:

YouTube: https://lnkd.in/e-TxUqfE
Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eFcYrkM6
Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eAarG4hV

Open article: Stop Donating $15K to the IRS: Smart Solo Tax Moves with Ran Harpaz of Lettuce by open.spotify.com

Stop Donating $15K to the IRS: Smart Solo Tax Moves with Ran Harpaz of Lettuce

Posting consistently on LinkedIn turned weeks of passive impressions into a steady stream of inbound clients without a single cold email. Here's how I achieved this transformation by leveraging LinkedIn's potential.

Key to this strategy was understanding the algorithm. I optimized my posts by using relevant hashtags, engaging with comments, and sharing content at times when my audience was most active. This approach increased visibility, leading to a steady rise in impressions—from a modest 500 per post to over 5,000 within a few months.

Equally important was the genuine engagement with my network. I made it a point to respond to comments, participate in discussions, and connect with like-minded professionals. This fostered a sense of community and trust, turning passive followers into active contacts.

The results were compelling. Over a span of six months, my inbound client inquiries increased by 300 percent, all without resorting to cold outreach. This surge in interest was driven by a consistent presence and the value delivered through my content.

By maintaining a strategic and consistent LinkedIn activity, I was able to cultivate a reliable client pipeline. This experience underscores the power of a well-executed content strategy on LinkedIn, transforming passive engagement into tangible business opportunities.

Massive congrats Margaret Upshur!

Inspiring to watch you bring Mobius Materials to life and pursue your mission to bring price transparency, liquidity, and trust to the global semiconductor market by building the first authenticated spot marketplace for electronic components!

Helping build circular supply chains as founder of Mobius Materials

Big news from Mobius Materials! We’ve raised $3M in a seed round led by Spero Ventures, with participation from Outsiders Fund and REFASHIOND Ventures: The Industrial Transformation Fund to continue improving our safe spot market for chips. 

Spero, and our partner Shripriya Mahesh, brings deep expertise in secondary marketplaces (former VP of Product and current board member at eBay) and shares our belief that companies can do social good AND make money. That’s the spirit behind what we’re building at Mobius too: reducing the $15B in electronic components going to landfills annually for lack of a secondary market.

We also knew we had to work with Outsiders Fund when Austin and George bought a reel of STM32s for their New Havoc Robot League as part of diligence!

As tariffs continue and geopolitical tensions hit semiconductor supply chains, we’re focused on building a safe secondary market where electronic manufacturers can buy and sell at real market prices with short lead times.

With this round, we’re accelerating growth of our auction product and investing heavily in pricing algorithms and quality control infrastructure.

Thank you to Pablo Valerio and EE Times | Electronic Engineering Times for telling our story.

And thank you to our partners: Shripriya Mahesh, Marc Tarpenning, Austin McChord,  George Easley, Lisa Morales-Hellebo, Brian Laung Aoaeh, CFA, Y Combinator, Brad Cummings, Mark Rausch, M.D., Larry Eiben, Joseph Kunkel, Lighthouse Network, Matt Gittleman, Joe Wilson and many more.

How I create a full week of genuine LinkedIn content in under 60 minutes without sounding like every founder on the platform.

In the fast-paced world of business, time is a precious commodity. Crafting authentic LinkedIn content should not feel like an endless task. Here’s a streamlined 5-step routine that helps me produce a week’s worth of engaging posts in just under one hour, keeping them fresh and free from sales jargon.

1. Mindset Preparation (10 minutes): Before diving into content creation, I take a moment to clear my mind and focus on authenticity. The goal is to connect, not to sell. This mindset shift is crucial for ensuring that the content resonates with the audience and stays true to my voice.

2. Content Ideation (15 minutes): I use tools like Trello or Notion to organize my ideas. During this time, I brainstorm topics that align with my experiences and insights. Whether it is a lesson learned, a market trend, or a personal story, the aim is to share something valuable and relatable.

3. Message Crafting (20 minutes): With a clear idea in mind, I start writing. Each post is structured with a strong opening hook, a concise body, and a thoughtful conclusion. The key is to keep the language simple yet impactful, avoiding industry jargon that might alienate some readers.

4. Editing and Refinement (10 minutes): After drafting, I review each post to ensure clarity and coherence. Tools like Grammarly can aid in polishing the language, but the focus remains on maintaining an authentic tone. This step ensures the content remains engaging without sounding rehearsed.

5. Scheduling (5 minutes): Finally, I use scheduling tools like Buffer or Hootsuite to plan the posts for the week. This ensures a consistent presence on LinkedIn without the need for daily intervention, allowing me to focus on other critical tasks.

This routine not only saves time but also ensures that each post carries genuine value, fostering meaningful connections on LinkedIn. By prioritizing quality over quantity, I stay engaged with my network in a way that feels personal and impactful.

New Podcast Episode Alert: From $7 an Hour to the Inc. 5000: How Natalia Zacharin Built a $3M Firm in 5 Years!

I spent 45 minutes talking with someone who went from earning 7 dollars an hour as an invoice clerk to running a multimillion-dollar accounting firm in just five years. Her name is Natalia Zacharin.

Here’s what stood out to me about her journey:

She started with zero accounting experience. Her first client signed before she had a process, a contract, or even knew how to use QuickBooks. She learned while fixing his books, and he’s still with her today.

Early on, she made a decision almost no one would make: she invested half her revenue into mentorship. That single move changed the entire trajectory of her business.

The lesson she shared that surprised me most: sales isn’t about being natural or compassionate. It’s about following a process. And when she did, she closed almost every deal.

She built all of this in her late forties, after being demoted.

Listen here:

YouTube:https://lnkd.in/eKzA6eVn
Apple: https://lnkd.in/eq5afEnz
Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ej7SyNTP

Open article: From $7 an Hour to the Inc. 5000: How Natalia Zacharin Built a $3M Firm in 5 Year by open.spotify.com

From $7 an Hour to the Inc. 5000: How Natalia Zacharin Built a $3M Firm in 5 Year

The professional LinkedIn voice is a myth that’s silently driving your ideal clients away—and here’s how to fix it.

In the quest to maintain a professional demeanor on LinkedIn, many founders unintentionally dilute their authentic voice, often leading to a disconnect with potential clients. The belief that a formal tone equates to credibility can strip away the personal touch that makes your message resonate. Here's why this happens and how you can reclaim your unique voice without sacrificing professionalism or credibility.

Firstly, the overemphasis on sounding professional can create barriers. Language that is overly technical or devoid of personality makes content less relatable. Clients and partners are drawn to stories that reflect genuine experiences, not corporate jargon. A relatable voice fosters trust, an essential component in business relationships.

So, how can founders maintain authenticity while retaining credibility? Start by infusing your personal experiences and insights into your content. Share your journey, the challenges you've faced, and the solutions you've discovered. This approach not only humanizes your brand but also positions you as an approachable and knowledgeable leader in your field.

Make it yours. 

Lastly, remember to balance personal anecdotes with valuable information. While it's important to share your story, ensure that your content provides actionable insights or advice. This combination of personal and practical elements will reinforce your expertise while maintaining an authentic connection.

In conclusion, authenticity on LinkedIn doesn't mean sacrificing professionalism. By embracing your unique voice, sharing meaningful stories, and engaging with your audience, you can build a credible and relatable presence that attracts your ideal clients.

AI is everywhere now. Which means human connection is more important than ever. 

Share an anecdote about your family.

Talk about a trip you took.

Mention your hobbies.

B2B isn't really business to business.

It's a person who wants to enjoy working with you.

A person who doesn't want to make a mistake in hiring you.

That's what we've lost sight of in the world of AI and digital spam.

Your content needs to be valuable and human.

Something you actually wrote, not obviously generated by AI.

How are you bringing more humanity into your business relationships?

If your client pipeline feels random, it’s because your process is random.

Most fractional executives approach client acquisition like throwing spaghetti at the wall.

Post when inspired. Network when convenient. Hope someone happens to need help that day.

It feels random because it is.

But the buyers you're trying to reach aren’t random at all. They move through a predictable path long before they ever think about booking a call with you.

Most people only focus on the moment a lead reaches out, but the real leverage is in everything that happens before that moment.

And if even one step is unclear or missing, the client never makes it to your inbox.

Tomorrow’s newsletter breaks down the path most buyers follow and the simple shifts that drastically increase how many make it all the way through.

Sign up for the newsletter to get tomorrow’s edition:

Open article: Weekly Consulting Tips | Mylance by mylance.co

The reality is, posting consistently on LinkedIn has been the main driver of revenue for my business for over 7 years. So, I keep doing it. Here's how:

I committed to a regular posting schedule, aiming for 6-7 posts a week (yes, daily). I focused on sharing valuable insights and industry trends—this frequency kept me visible without overwhelming my audience.

Each post had a clear value proposition. I made sure to tackle common challenges in my industry, offering actionable solutions. This approach not only engaged my current network but also attracted new connections who found my content relevant and useful.

Monitoring key metrics became essential. I kept an eye on impressions, engagement rates, and the types of posts that sparked the most interaction. Over time, I noticed that posts blending personal experiences with professional insights really drove higher engagement.

The results? Over a three-month span, my average post impressions tripled, and I saw a 25% bump in profile views. Even more exciting, inbound contact requests grew by 40%, creating a steady flow of client inquiries without cold outreach.

The takeaway is simple: Consistency, value-driven content, and strategic content can turn LinkedIn into a powerful inbound client generator. 

This post had a draft initially generated by the Mylance tool (and then edited by me). To get access while we’re still in beta, check out https://lnkd.in/edXxhZW7

Why my consistent weekly LinkedIn posts have become the single biggest driver of inbound clients and trust my business.

Six years ago, I started to elevate my LinkedIn presence with one clear goal: to consistently deliver value to my network. Little did I know this commitment would transform my business by generating tens of thousands of impressions and creating abundant inbound client opportunities.

Here is how I did it and how you can too:

1. Establish a routine: I dedicated time each week to create and share content. By setting a regular posting schedule, I ensured my audience knew when to expect new insights, keeping me top-of-mind.

2. Engage with authenticity: Interaction does not end with posting. I made it a point to respond to comments, participate in discussions, and show genuine interest in my network's content. This fostered a community of mutual respect and collaboration.

3. Analyze and adapt: I regularly reviewed engagement metrics to understand what resonated with my audience. This data-driven approach allowed me to refine my strategy, ensuring relevance and impact.

4. Build a personal brand: Over time, my consistent presence established me as a thought leader in my field. This credibility not only attracted clients but also opportunities for collaboration and growth.

The results speak for themselves. By committing to a consistent and thoughtful LinkedIn strategy, I transformed my professional network into a powerful business asset. Consistency is not just about frequency; it is about maintaining a standard of quality that reflects your brand and values.

Why I haven’t had to introduce myself on a sales call in over two years—all because of relentless LinkedIn consistency.

Establishing a recognizable presence on LinkedIn has transformed the way I do business. Gone are the days of cold outreach; instead, I receive inbound leads from individuals who already know my work and trust my insights. Let me share how I achieved this shift.

First, I focused on creating a strong profile that clearly communicated my expertise and value proposition. I ensured every section was complete and up-to-date, showcasing not only my professional journey but also the unique perspective I bring to the table.

Engagement is a two-way street. I made it a point to interact with others' posts, offering thoughtful comments and joining relevant discussions. This not only expanded my network but also deepened relationships with my connections.

Another crucial aspect was leveraging LinkedIn's analytics to understand what content was resonating most with my audience. This data-driven approach allowed me to refine my strategy and focus on what truly mattered to my followers.

Over time, my efforts paid off. People began reaching out to me, mentioning how they had seen my content and felt a connection with my message. This shift from outbound to inbound was a testament to the power of consistent, authentic engagement on LinkedIn.

For those looking to make a similar transition, remember: it's about showing up regularly, providing genuine value, and building relationships. With dedication and strategic effort, LinkedIn can become a powerful tool for generating warm leads and enhancing your professional footprint.

This post had a draft initially generated by the Mylance tool (and then edited by me). To get access while we’re still in beta, check out https://lnkd.in/edXxhZW7

Why showing flaws and vulnerability on LinkedIn is the fastest way for founders to build real client trust.

In today's digital landscape, authenticity stands as a beacon of true connection. While perfectly polished content may captivate at first glance, it often fails to foster the genuine trust that is crucial for lasting business relationships. For founders aiming to build real client trust, embracing vulnerability and imperfection on LinkedIn can be a game-changer.

Here's why this approach works: 

1. Relatability: Sharing your challenges and setbacks makes you more relatable. Prospects can see themselves in your journey, understanding that success is often accompanied by hurdles. This relatability lays the groundwork for stronger connections.

2. Authenticity: When you present a flawless image, it can come across as too good to be true. By acknowledging imperfections, you display authenticity, showing that you are genuine and trustworthy. Prospects are more likely to engage with someone who is real and transparent.

3. Learning Opportunities: Sharing your mistakes and the lessons learned from them provides valuable insights to your audience. It positions you as a leader who is not only knowledgeable but also willing to grow and adapt. This openness to learning is attractive to potential clients.

4. Engagement: Vulnerable posts tend to spark conversations. They invite feedback, questions, and discussions, creating an interactive community around your content. This engagement is key to building a loyal network on LinkedIn.

As founders, it is essential to balance professionalism with authenticity. While polished content has its place, revealing your flaws and vulnerabilities can foster deeper trust and engagement with your audience. Embrace the power of imperfection and watch your LinkedIn community thrive.

Consistent LinkedIn content has been the single biggest driver of awareness and inbound clients in my business growth over six years. How? 

First, I committed to a regular posting schedule. Consistency is key to building a recognizable presence. I aimed for at least 4-5 posts per week, focusing on delivering valuable insights and industry trends. This routine not only kept me visible but also positioned me as a thought leader in my field.

Secondly, I prioritized quality over quantity. Each post was crafted to address common industry challenges and provide actionable solutions. By sharing experiences and lessons learned, I connected with my audience on a deeper level, fostering trust and engagement.

Thirdly, I leveraged the power of storytelling. Sharing personal anecdotes and client success stories made my content relatable and memorable. This approach encouraged more interaction, as people often resonate with real-life experiences.

Additionally, I engaged with my audience and added new connections every week. LinkedIn lets you add 100 new connections each week, so it's a growing audience that I'm building trust with. Further, responding to comments and engaging in meaningful conversations helped build relationships and a sense of community. This interaction often led to further inquiries and discussions beyond the initial post.

Here's the remarkable result: tens of thousands of impressions and a clear increase in inbound client inquiries, all achieved without any cold outreach. By harnessing the potential of LinkedIn, I turned passive viewers into active participants in my business narrative.

Consistent and strategic LinkedIn posting has been instrumental in my business growth. For those looking to attract clients to their business, embracing LinkedIn as a platform for engagement and learning is an absolute gamechanger and a no-brainer!

This post had a draft initially generated by the Mylance tool (and then edited by me). To get access while we’re still in beta, check out https://lnkd.in/edXxhZW7

A recent podcast guest shared the three things she'd tell her younger self.

First: be consistent and don't give up.

It's the boring stuff that works, not the sexy things.

Hone in on what's most impactful and focus there.

Your brain will push you toward easier tasks that aren't impactful.

Don't delay the impactful work.

Second: read a lot.

If you read five books on a subject, you'll start seeing patterns and understanding what actually works.

Your five closest people don't have to be physical. They can be books and podcasts.

Third: join a mastermind or work with a fractional expert.

A fractional CMO, CFO, or consultant can help you grow exponentially and avoid the pitfalls most of us fall into.

I've followed this same approach in my business. The consistency and continuous learning have been game-changers.

Which of these three resonates most with where you are right now?

After six years of posting, I haven’t needed to introduce myself on a sales call because my LinkedIn content does the work for me. This realization came gradually, but its impact has been profound.

In today's business landscape, building trust online is as crucial as traditional face-to-face interactions. LinkedIn, a platform I once used merely for networking, has become a powerful tool in my sales arsenal. Here's what I've learned about trust-building through consistent, authentic content:

1. Authenticity Builds Credibility: Early on, I focused on presenting a polished image. However, it was the genuine posts, where I shared both successes and challenges, that resonated most. Authenticity invites connection, fostering an environment where trust can grow naturally.

2. Consistency is Key: Regularly sharing insights and updates keeps you top-of-mind. It signals reliability to your audience. Over time, this consistent presence translates into a digital reputation that precedes you in sales conversations.

3. Engagement is a Two-Way Street: Remember, LinkedIn is a community. Engaging with others' content is as crucial as posting your own. It shows you value your network's contributions, reinforcing mutual trust and respect.

4. Educational Content Establishes Authority: Sharing valuable insights and industry knowledge not only helps your audience but also positions you as a thought leader. This, in turn, builds confidence in your expertise.

5. Storytelling Connects on a Human Level: Integrating personal stories with professional lessons creates relatable content. It humanizes your brand, making it easier for others to connect and trust you.

These strategies have transformed my approach to sales. My LinkedIn presence now acts as a digital introduction, paving the way for meaningful conversations and partnerships.

If you're looking to strengthen your online reputation, consider how authentic, consistent engagement can serve as a bridge to trust-building in your professional journey.

This post had a draft initially generated by the Mylance tool (and then edited by me). To get access while we’re still in beta, check out https://lnkd.in/edXxhZW7

Kyle Thomas

Early

We have built a proven system and community that has helped hundreds of ambitious job seekers land their dream roles at world-changing startup companies and make their career visions a reality without the anxiety, uncertainty, and loneliness of the job search.

Early's job seekers have landed their next role in an average of just 3 months.

And these compensation increase numbers are for just the last 12 months...

Average % Change in Salary: 24% or $24,475

Average % Change in Equity: 994% (9x the Equity) or $100,828

Average % Change in Total Compensation: 66% or $125,303

Total Salary Increases: $420,800

Total Equity Increases: $1,218,874

Total Compensation Increases: $1,639,674!!!

And we're just getting started.

We have helped people land roles as...
Chief Operating Officer
Head of New Products
Head of Product Marketing
Head of Brokerage & Expansion
Director of Platform
Director of Operations
Director of Global Sales
Senior Project Manager
Sales Operations Manager
Marketplace Growth Manager
Program Manager
Technical Sourcer
Growth Manager
Go To Market Finance & Strategy Manager

The list goes on and on because the method works no matter your area of expertise or desired startup stage.

You don't need an upskill program or a certificate to land your next role.

You need the systems and processes that work and a well-connected startup community.

That's what we have built.

It's my mission to eliminate the anxiety, uncertainty, and loneliness of the job search and to help millions of others have the same career-accelerating dream job startup experience I had as an early Uber employee... 

and maybe make some millionaires and even billionaires along the way!

These methods took me from cubicle data entry to a job as Uber employee 250 and from unemployed to startup executive.

It's everything I wish I had when I was looking for my next startup role.

I'm not special. 

I can teach you to do the same.

Come join us and make your startup dream a reality!

Founder

A community of senior startup operations leaders sharing best practices from the trenches.

Strategy and Operations Fellow

Kyle C Thomas Consulting LLC

I leverage my past experience growing and managing the Uber and JUMP businesses to advise and consult start-up companies, primarily focused on launching and scaling two and three sided marketplaces, overall business strategy, business growth, operational best practices, and best techniques for scaling processes, teams, and organizations

Consultant / Advisor - Business Operations & Strategy

• Scaled and matured the operations organization from $2M annual run rate to over $15M in a little over a year while growing a mostly in-person team from 10 to 170+ during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Expanded service operations from one market into three (NYC, CHI, HOU) and from one product line to five.

• Managed HR, recruiting, finance, data reporting, merchandising, and procurement from Series A ($29.6M) through Series B ($45.0M).

• Assisted with fundraising efforts, including pitch decks and presentations to investors like Kleiner Perkins and Insight Partners.

• Created operational SOP’s, HR guidelines, employee onboarding, employee experience and growth programs, review process, and data reporting structure including operational KPI’s and financial metrics.

• Worked cross-functionally with teams across the business (sales, account management, growth, customer service, product, data, finance, legal, etc.) to build products and processes to address the company’s operational needs.

• Worked directly with the founding team on overall company strategy and operationalization of their vision.

• Drove the operations organization’s efforts to achieve perfect product/experience quality through monitoring and improving the “defect rate” while aggressively pursuing profitability targets.

Vice President Operations

• Led JUMP launch in New York City and oversaw all business management and operations resulting in the completion of hundreds of thousands of trips within the first year
• Managed a team of over 100 across two warehouse locations (Bronx & Staten Island)
• Fostered positive relationships with community organizations and local elected officials

Senior Operations Manager - JUMP New York City

• Led the launch of Uber Rides in New York State resulting in the fastest growing US launch in the history of the company with over 1MM trips and $300MM in bookings in the first year
• Created and implemented an analysis framework to account for seasonal changes resulting in healthier business metrics, increased growth, and hundreds of thousands of dollars saved
• Monitored key marketplace metrics (growth, P&L, competition) for New York City (the largest Uber market in the US) and executed recommendations to resolve market issues and boost growth

Senior Operations & Logistics Manager - New York City Territory Management

• Successfully passed a ridesharing bill through the Connecticut state legislature
• Managed driver growth and recognition
• Built the first remotely operated driver support network at Uber consisting of 1 permanent and 3 remote locations
• Created strong ties in the community through partnerships with the NAACP, MADD, local colleges & universities, Connecticut state legislators, and other local organizations

Operations & Logistics Manager - Connecticut

•  Launched Uber operations in New Jersey and Connecticut and oversaw all efforts until annual run rate reached $24M in Connecticut and $137M in New Jersey.
•  Created expansion and launch operations strategy and execution including rider and driver growth, rider and driver support, marketplace efficiency, and incentives.

Operations & Logistics Manager - Launcher (Connecticut & New Jersey)

• Organized first ever NYC driver insurance event providing over 700 partners with access to affordable coverage
• Managed all payments for Uber the Tri-State including weekly payments, incentives, guarantees, and payment issues
• Responsible for driver supply growth

Operations & Logistics Manager - New York City

Expeditors International

• Account manager and consultant for imports from large national and multi-national companies
• Analyzed data and processes to inform clients of product functions, industry information, and best practices
• Specializations in customs brokerage and customer relations

Customs Brokerage Representative - National Accounts

United States Senate

Office of Senator Dick Lugar and Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Kotis Design

I smiled and dialed selling t-shirts and other swag to fraternities, sororities, and college groups across the country.

College Sales Specialist

Went from cubicle data entry to Uber Employee 250 & Startup Exec | Helping you land your career-accelerating role in less than 90 days | Founder & CEO of UpEmployment Accelerator

When it comes to startup job seeking everyone wants to be an early employee at a unicorn 🦄 & earn millions 💸.

But what's the secret to landing those opportunities? 

Here's a hint...

They don't come from the "traditional job search".

When I was job seeking I had no idea what I was doing, but with experience and research, I found ways to stack the deck in your favor.

That's what led me to land a job as Uber's 250th employee. 

After Uber, it's what led me to a VP role with a $100k salary increase at a Y-Combinator startup.

That's why I built Early.

Do you have amazing experience & want to take the next step to accelerate your career in a startup, but not sure where to start?

I wished that someone had a playbook for how to do that. 

It didn't exist, so I created it.

The Early Accelerator gives highly talented job seekers a complete playbook for how to land your next dream role plus accountability & a community to guide you along the way.

The program is designed to allow you to:
- 10x your job hunt efficiency
- Know where you want to go
- Build your personal brand
- Know the salary and equity you command
- Create a system to generate connections & opportunities
- Generate 100x more warm network connections
- Leverage repeatable frameworks
- Get in a peak performance state
- Create unwavering confidence
- Get to your dream role

Despite the challenging job market, we have seen incredible results.
↳ Average job searches lasting ~3 months (90 days vs US avg of 5 months).
↳ >$200k in salary increases.
↳ >$800k in equity increases.
↳ Total compensation increases of over $1M.
↳ Advancements from Manager to Department Head.
↳ Major career jumps from VP to the C-Suite.

I formalized the proven system into an easy-to-execute framework that anyone can use to land their dream job.

My mission is to help millions live extraordinary lives by accessing opportunities that change their careers forever.

You deserve to work in a job that lights you up, pays you what you are worth, and accelerates you toward your vision of your dream future.

Let's go get you that job!

So, D.M 📩 me here or email me at kyle@BeEarly.com today so we can accelerate your startup career the right way.

Stop wasting time applying to every company where you meet the minimum qualifications and learn our proven way to land your dream job!

P.S if you would like to learn how startup job seekers can cut their job search by 50%, beat over 95% of all other candidates, and land a job at a top startup check out my newsletter in my Featured Section!

I take groups of people from A to Z in their job search so they can land their dream job without applying online.

These methods took me from cubicle data entry to a job as Uber employee 250 and from unemployed to startup executive. I'm not special, I can teach you to do the same!

If I lost my job tomorrow, here’s how I’d spend the first 7 days to land a new startup role. 

First step: leave your resume alone. And I know that sounds backwards. 

But this method is exactly how I landed my last two startup roles - including Uber - without ever applying. 

Here's exactly what I'd do instead:

Days 1-2: Map my network

I’d identify 10 people doing work I admire at companies I 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 want to work for. 

Not recruiters, or job posts. Actual people who are close to the problems I want to solve. 

Then I’d reach out with intent: 

“Hey [name], I love the work you and the team are doing at [company]. I see you're workingon [XYZ]. Would you be open to a 15-30 min call? I'd love to ask about [specific topic] and how you [specific topic].”

Here’s an example of what that might look like: 

𝘏𝘦𝘺 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦, 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘵 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵. 𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩. 𝘞𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 15-30 𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭? 𝘐'𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 + 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺. 𝘐 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘜𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘕𝘠, 𝘕𝘑, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘛.

You're not asking to pick their brain. You're coming to them with a specific ask to conduct targeted research.

Days 3-4: Publish something that proves how I think 

I’d then work on publishing something on LinkedIn to show where I can add value, like: 

- A teardown of a product issue
- Insights that I found in my previous role
- A GTM idea

Nothing fancy or new - things that I already live and breathe. 

Posting some updated thoughts will mean that when people check my profile, they immediately see signals that I know what I’m talking about. 

Days 5-6: Go where the operators are

I’d plan to show up at two events where people in my target roles actually spend their time.

Not to hand out resumes. To ask smart questions and get into real conversations.

Being memorable beats blending in with everyone applying through job boards.

Day 7: Make a targeted offer of value

I’d pick my top two companies and create something useful for them.

A competitor breakdown. A user journey map. A simple 30-60-90 hypothesis. A problem I think they’re underestimating.

Then I’d send it:
“I’ve been digging into X problem and put some thoughts together on how I’d approach it. Here’s the breakdown.”

This creates pull instead of hoping an application gets seen.

This approach helped me launch new markets at Uber, work with founders raising millions, and build a career without competing against hundreds of applicants.

The uncomfortable truth: your resume makes you one of many. Your work makes you the obvious one.

If you want to land a startup role in the next 90 days, follow me, Kyle Thomas, for strategies that actually work.

I Teach Ambitious Startup Job Seekers How To Land Career-Accelerating Roles at World-Changing Startups | “De-Risk” the Search w/ Proven Methods & Investor-Grade Data | Apply to our Startup Job Search Accelerator Below

NYC is consistently #2 in startup funding behind SF. Curious who's hiring fast? Check out this list👇

The companies below all have:
💰 Investment from a top VC
🗽 HQ or an office in New York
👫 Headcount btwn 25 and 250 employees
📈 90D headcount growth btwn 15% to >166%
✅ Current open roles on their careers page

These are 30 of the fastest-growing startups not just in NYC but worldwide.

Join them and have fun building a rapidly growing startup with some of the smartest, driven people around.

I'll shut up now and just give you the list...

 1. Polymarket - Decentralized prediction markets
 2. Tabs - AI-driven revenue automation
 3. Profound - AI search analytics
 4. Norm Ai - AI-driven compliance automation
 5. Savvy Wealth - AI-enhanced wealth management
 6. FLORA - AI content creation platform
 7. Adaptive Security - AI cybersecurity training
 8. Finch - AI legal case automation
 9. Allara - Women’s hormonal health platform
10. Taktile - Credit decision automation
11. Garden - AI patent automation
12. Basis - AI accounting automation
13. Eight Sleep - Intelligent sleep optimization
14. Hungryroot - Personalized grocery delivery
15. Reflection AI - AI code automation
16. Twill - Referral-based recruiting platform
17. Eon.io - Automated cloud backups
18. Oasis Security - Machine identity management
19. Rilla - AI sales coaching platform
20. incident.io - AI-powered incident management
21. Rain - Crypto payment card platform
22. Starbridge - Public sector sales intelligence
23. Diana Health - Tech-enabled women’s healthcare
24. Graphite - Automated code review
25. Sesame - Voice-assisted smart glasses
26. Phia - AI resale shopping assistant
27. HERE - Secure enterprise browser
28. Assured - AI healthcare credentialing automation
29. Inspiren - AI senior care monitoring
30. NetBox Labs - Open-source network management

Go get that job and build something awesome 💪

____________________________________
For more lists of who's hiring, follow me, Kyle Thomas.

We create unlimited lists like these for the startup job seekers in the Early Accelerator, tailored to the exact size, stage, industry, growth, and success metrics they're looking for.

If you want to land your next startup role in the new year, use the link in my profile to apply to our Startup Job Search Accelerator, and we can jump on a free strategy call.

♻ Share this to help startup job seekers find a new role.

#startups #startupjobs #hiring #NYC #NewYorkCity

Microsoft and Amazon made Seattle a tech powerhouse. Now there’s a next generation of startups looking to follow in their footsteps. Here’s who’s hiring...

No Seattle startup with top VC investors has grown headcount faster over the last 90 days than these companies.

Chainguard - Trusted container security & supply chain
L90D Hires: 72
Current Openings: 46
Careers Page: https://lnkd.in/eYyNyu8x

Temporal Technologies - Durable workflow execution platform
L90D Hires: 54
Current Openings: 30
Careers Page: https://lnkd.in/ehCEepDv

TerraPower - Nuclear innovation company developing advanced reactors
L90D Hires: 51
Current Openings: 68
Careers Page: https://lnkd.in/eRHwhWaS

XBOW - Autonomous pentesting platform
L90D Hires: 31
Current Openings: 7
Careers Page: https://xbow.com/careers

Zenoti - AI-powered unified platform for medspa management
L90D Hires: 31
Current Openings: 99
Careers Page: https://zenoti.com/careers

Helion - Building the world's first fusion power plant
L90D Hires: 26
Current Openings: 97
Careers Page: https://lnkd.in/ea5bSKT7

Qumulo - Modern file data platform for edge & cloud
L90D Hires: 24
Current Openings: 31
Careers Page: https://qumulo.com/careers

BRINC Drones - AI-powered drones for public safety
L90D Hires: 21
Current Openings: 15
Careers Page: https://lnkd.in/eaQejW6S

Stoke Space - Unlocking the space economy with reusable rockets
L90D Hires: 15
Current Openings: 49
Careers Page: https://lnkd.in/ekGKKwmX

Supio - AI platform for law firms
L90D Hires: 15
Current Openings: 8
Careers Page: https://supio.ai/careers

Common Room - AI-driven customer intelligence for GTM teams
L90D Hires: 14
Current Openings: 5
Careers Page: https://lnkd.in/e_pVwnQ3

Porch Group - Vertical software & insurance platform for homebuyers
L90D Hires: 12
Current Openings: 38
Careers Page: https://lnkd.in/eZbp-tTP

Dropzone AI - Autonomous AI SOC analyst platform
L90D Hires: 11
Current Openings: 3
Careers Page: https://lnkd.in/eYWnpKu9

Rippl - On-demand dementia care platform
L90D Hires: 11
Current Openings: 11
Careers Page: https://rippl.com/careers

Gradial - Agentic marketing platform using AI
L90D Hires: 10
Current Openings: 22
Careers Page: https://lnkd.in/eJqrPsEC

Orchard - AI farming company building an AI farmer
L90D Hires: 8
Current Openings: 14
Careers Page: https://orchard.ai/careers

More companies in comments 👇

I live in New Jersey now, but Washington State will always have a massive part of my heart.

Go get that job and build something awesome in the Emerald City! 💪☔

And Go Hawks!

---------------------------------

P.S. Want more lists like these? 

We share personalized target company lists with the members of the Early Accelerator so you can find the hiring companies that match your dream job description.

If you’re looking for your next startup role, apply using the link in my profile.

Last week, 𝟮𝟯𝟳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 w/ US offices closed $𝟱.𝟵𝟴𝗕 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. Here are 23 of the top ones hiring 👇

Together, the 𝟮𝟯 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 closed $𝟯.𝟭𝟰 𝗕 of the $5.98B in funding last week and all have investment from top VC firms.

Use this list to…
↳ Identify interesting companies
↳ Check for open roles in your function
↳ Reach out to people on the team
↳ Land your next startup role at a growing company

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲:
• Company Name
• 🦄 = Valuation > $1 B
• ⭐ = Top VC Investors
• 🏆 = > 90 % PitchBook success probability
• Round stage, round size
• Position locations

Kalshi 🦄⭐🏆
Event-based trading
Series E, $1B
NY, Remote

Eon.io 🦄⭐🏆
Cloud backup management
Series D, $300M
TLV, NY, SF, DC, TX, Remote

Black Forest Labs 🦄⭐
AI visual media
Series B, $300M
Freiburg, SF, LDN

ICEYE 🦄⭐🏆
Radar satellite imaging
Later Stage VC, $232M
ATH, Espoo, WAW, VLC, KYIV, AUH, DXB, LDN, Remote

Harvey 🦄⭐
AI legal platform
Series F, $185M
DE, LDN, MX, NY, SF, ES, SE, SYD, TOR, Remote

Angle Health ⭐
AI health insurance
Series B, $134M
NY, IN, MI, OH, Remote

Protego Bio ⭐🏆
Protein-folding therapeutics
Series B, $130M
SD

7AI ⭐
Agentic security automation
Series A, $130M
BOS, Remote

TRIANA Biomedicines ⭐🏆
Molecular glue therapeutics
Series B, $120M
BOS

Antithesis ⭐🏆
Autonomous QA software
Series A, $105M
SF, VA, LDN, Remote

Excelsior Sciences ⭐
AI-enhanced small-molecule discovery
Series A, $95M
NY

Paradigm Health ⭐
Clinical research technology
Series B, $78M
Remote

Zafran Security ⭐🏆
Cybersecurity risk assessment
Series C, $60M
TLV, NY, Remote

PermitFlow ⭐🏆
Permit application platform
Series B, $54M
NY, US, CAN, Remote

Vinci4D.ai ⭐
AI hardware design
Series A, $36M
Palo Alto

Tutor ⭐
Industrial AI cobots
Series A, $34M
BOS

Ostium ⭐
On-chain commodity markets
Series A, $24M
NY, Remote

Raindrop ⭐
AI product analytics
Seed, $15M
SF

Quanta ⭐
Automated accounting
Series A, $15M
SF

Circulate ⭐
Therapeutic plasma exchange
Seed, $12M
SEA, US (multiple)

Phind ⭐
AI search engine
Early Stage VC, $10.4M
SF, NY

Reditus Space | YC W25 ⭐
Reusable orbital spacecraft
Seed, $7.35M
ATL, LA

RMFG ⭐
SMB manufacturing robotics
Seed, $4.5M
DFW

Go get that job and build something awesome 💪 

♻ Share this to help startup job seekers find a new role.

____________________________________
For more lists of who's hiring, follow me, Kyle Thomas.

We create unlimited lists like these for the startup job seekers in the Early Accelerator, tailored to the exact size, stage, industry, growth, and success metrics they're looking for.

If you want to land your next startup role in the new year, use the link in my profile to apply to our Startup Job Search Accelerator, and we can jump on a free strategy call.

After facing rejection, you don’t need to “think positive.”

You need to rebuild your self-belief, one step at a time.

This is called the Belief Ladder, and it’s how you climb back from doubt to confidence without relying on fake affirmations or blind optimism.

Most people try to jump from “I can’t” straight to “I believe I can.”

But that’s not how belief actually works.

Belief is built through evidence, small, credible actions that rebuild self-trust.

Each step you take, no matter how small, becomes a rung in your ladder.

𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴:

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟭: “𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁.”

This is where most people start after rejection. You feel defeated. You question your ability, your direction, maybe even your worth.

That’s okay, it’s honest. Awareness is the first rung.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟮: “𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼.”

You begin to want change more than you want comfort. The desire to try again starts flickering, even if you’re not ready to act yet.

Shifting from "I should do this" to "I want to do this" is a major step.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟯: “𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻.”

You start noticing proof around you, people who’ve succeeded after setbacks. Instead of feeling envy, you start feeling curiosity.

If they did it, maybe it’s not impossible.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟰: “𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻.”

You take a small, believable action, apply for one role you actually want, send one message, redo one section of your portfolio.

You don’t need proof yet - you’re just gathering data.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟱: “𝗜’𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻.”

You start seeing signs of progress, better replies, smoother interviews, a clearer story.

Your confidence grows because your effort is producing evidence.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟲: “𝗜 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻.”

This isn’t some empty mantra. You've earned this confidence.

You’ve proven to yourself that you can follow through, adapt, and recover.

The Belief Ladder is a reminder that you can't create brute force positivity and confidence through brute force. 

Confidence is built and rebuilt through small, repeatable proof.

So if you’re in that post-rejection fog right now, don’t pressure yourself to “bounce back.”

Start with one small action you can actually believe in, and let that action rebuild the next rung.

You’ll climb faster than you think.

Tell me about a time you struggled with belief the most, and how you overcame it.

I’ll go first in the comments: a time I completely lost belief, and the one action that started rebuilding it.

Let’s normalize rebuilding confidence without the fake positivity.

📌 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 - you’ll want it when your next interview loop starts.

👋 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗲, Kyle Thomas, for practical startup job-search strategies + weekly curated job lists.

✉️ 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵? DM me to learn how Early can support you.

Some of you need tough love right now so here it is.

You have to 𝗗𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞 to 𝗦𝗘𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗦.

𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 about the thing is 𝗜𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧 doing the work.

𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 about the thing 𝗜𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧 doing the work.

𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 the thing 𝗜𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧 doing the work.

𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 the thing 𝗜𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧 doing the work.

𝗗𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗚 other things 𝗜𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧 doing the work.

𝗗𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗦 𝗗𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞.

𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗗𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞 𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝗘𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦.

Sounds simple.

But I guarantee that the majority of you reading this right now are avoiding doing the work.

It's natural because the work sucks at the start.

Which is why we avoid it and also precisely why we need to do the work in the first place.

I just see so many smart people who would make much faster progress in whatever they're pursuing if they just looked in the mirror and said, "Am I actually doing the work?"

What is the work you need to be doing?

What is the thing that you've been avoiding?

What is the thing that, if done, will eliminate half of your to-do list or make all the other tasks easier or more effective?

If you're brave enough, write it in the comments below.

If you're not, no sweat, write it on a piece of paper.

Then ask yourself, am I doing the work I need to be doing to see the results I want and expect?

The right recruiters aren’t ignoring you, they just can’t find you.

Here’s how to fix that with a simple 3-part LinkedIn personal-brand system.

If your profile isn’t getting views, messages, or interviews, it’s usually not because you’re unqualified.

It’s because your brand isn’t clearly communicating who you are and the value you bring.

Recruiters don’t scroll endlessly hoping to stumble onto potential. They search with intent using 𝗸𝗲𝘆𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀, 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀, and 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀 they know lead to success.

𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀: if your profile doesn’t instantly show who you are, what you do, and how you help, you’re invisible to the people looking for someone like you.

And yes, you’ll see founders or execs with minimal profiles still winning great roles. They’re the 1% of the 1%. Assume that’s not you. Give yourself every advantage.

Not sure where to start?

Use this 3-part personal brand playbook to build a clear, credible LinkedIn presence that attracts the right roles without posting every day.

Here’s the system 👇

1️⃣ 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗲: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 + 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

This is your foundation. When someone lands on your profile, they should instantly understand what you do and what problems you solve.

Your headline should include your role, skills, and niche - the exact terms recruiters search for.

Your About section should communicate your expertise, what drives you, and what you want next.

Your goal: help recruiters decide in 10 seconds that you’re relevant.

Clarity doesn’t limit you - it amplifies you.

2️⃣ 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲: 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳

Once you’re positioned clearly, back it up.

Use your Featured section to highlight 2–3 pieces of work - a project, a post, a case study - that show how you think and what you’ve achieved.

Focus on outcomes. What changed because of your work?

You don’t need to post daily. You just need what’s already on your profile to do the heavy lifting.

Value beats volume every time.

3️⃣ 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆

Engagement turns a static profile into a living brand. It keeps you visible to your network and the people in your industry.

Comment thoughtfully on relevant posts, connect with people in your target companies, and share insights when you genuinely have something to add.

When you show up consistently, people start recognizing your name. That’s when opportunities start finding you.

Visibility builds trust. Trust builds opportunity.

The right recruiters aren’t overlooking you.

They’re just not seeing you clearly yet.

𝗢𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆.

Before you apply to 100 more jobs, spend an hour optimizing your profile.

It’s the most leveraged hour you’ll spend this week.

How do you go from 4 months of silence… to a $100k salary increase, triple the equity, and a role created around you?

One member of the Early community just did exactly that, after completely changing the way they approached their job search.

Here’s what the final outcome actually looked like:
✔️ Nearly $100k increase to base
✔️ 3× the equity of the original offer
✔️ Three competing offers in the final round
✔️ A role that was 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 around them

But the offer isn’t the most interesting part.

The real story is the shift that happened after months of zero traction. Let’s break it down so you can copy the process:

𝟏. 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 = 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

When they joined Early, they were applying to 6–7 unrelated job titles because they saw themselves as a “generalist.”

It stalled their entire search.

Early’s coaching narrowed their positioning to:
“𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘺 & 𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵, 𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 & 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵.”

One clear direction.

They even had a day with five interviews across five companies, and performed in all of them - because every conversation aligned to one north star.

𝟐. 𝐀 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮

The role they accepted came from a cold recruiter outreach, not an application.

Because they rebuilt their LinkedIn into an outcomes-driven, high-signal profile:
→ Clear positioning
→ Impact-focused experience
→ High-quality content

Their digital presence created authority before they even spoke to anyone.

𝟑. 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞-𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡

Before they joined Early, they spent months:
❌ Sending hundreds of cold applications
❌ Spending weeks in silence
❌ Gaining zero traction

After joining, they stopped sending volume and started sending 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞.

Their outreach focused on insight, commercial understanding, and relevance to what the company cared about right now.

That shift took them from being 1 of 2,000 applicants, to 3 genuine conversations.

𝟒. 𝐍𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐆𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤

They didn’t “get lucky” in the negotiation stage, they approached it with a plan:
→ Evaluated competing offers
→ Identified misaligned scopes
→ Pushed back multiple times (even when it felt uncomfortable)

The result:
💥 +$100k base
💥 3× equity
💥 A role shaped around their strengths

Negotiation is a hard skill to be good at because you use it so infrequently. Thankfully, a strong negotiation is a system you can learn.

They joined Early discouraged and stuck, but just 66 days later, their:
→ Positioning was clear
→ Confidence rebuilt
→ Momentum had returned
→ Inbox was full of offers

This is what happens when you stop playing the job search game on hard mode and follow a proven process.

𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬?

Apply to join the Early Accelerator at BeEarly.com

Early Wins November Deep Dive

These 18 startups raised $1.65 B last week and are HIRING for 305 open roles 👇

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲:
• Company name 
• 🦄 = valuation > $1 B
• ⭐ = Top VC Investors 
• 🏆 =  > 90 % PitchBook success probability
• Most recent round stage, round size
•  Position locations 
• Number of openings & functions

fal 🦄⭐🏆
Generative media platform
Series D, $140.5 M
SF, Remote
21 Openings
• Engineering (12)
• Product & Design (3)
• Research & AI (2)
• Marketing & Community (4)

Boom Supersonic 🦄⭐🏆
Supersonic passenger flight
Series B, $300 M
DEN
24 Openings
• Engineering & Manufacturing (16)
• Supply Chain & Operations (4)
• Business & Finance (2)
• People & HR (2)

Harness 🦄⭐🏆
Software delivery platform
Series E, $200 M
14 Locations,  Remote
101 Openings
• Engineering & DevOps (35)
• Sales & Revenue (25)
• Product (10)
• Operations & Support (15)
• Marketing & Design (5)
• Customer Success (5)
• Legal, HR & Other (6)

Outset ⭐🏆
AI research platform
Series B, $30 M
SF
4 Openings
• Engineering (2)
• Sales (1)
• Design (1)

Serval 🦄⭐🏆
AI employee support
Series B, $75 M
SF
10 Openings
• Engineering (5)
• Sales & GTM (2)
• Recruiting & Talent (3)

Solve Intelligence ⭐🏆
AI patent platform
Series B, $40 M
LON, NY
10 Openings
• Engineering (6)
• Legal (2)
• Sales & RevOps (2)

Percepto ⭐🏆
Autonomous inspection drones
SAFE, N/A
AUS, Remote
1 Opening
• Operations (1)

Oboe ⭐
AI learning platform
Series A, $16 M
NY, Remote
1 Opening
• Design (1)

Pryzm ⭐
AI procurement platform
Seed, $12.2 M
BOS, DC
9 Openings
• Engineering (3)
• Growth & Commercial (2)
• Mission Operations (2)
• Marketing (1)
• Research (1)

Medra ⭐
Autonomous lab robotics
Series A, $52 M
SF
15 Openings
• Engineering (9)
• Science & Research (3)
• Operations (2)
• Design (1)

Flair Labs ⭐
AI audio platform
Seed, $4 M
SF, SC, PA, Remote
3 Openings
• Marketing (1)
• Engineering (1)
• AI Research (1)

Double ⭐
Bookkeeping software
Series A, $6.5 M
NY, Remote
6 Openings
• Engineering (1)
• Assistant & Admin (1)
• Sales (2)
• Customer Success (1)
• Implementation (1)

Aradigm ⭐
Healthcare network platform
Series A, $20 M
Remote
4 Openings
• Growth (1)
• Partnerships (1)
• Network Development (1)
• Strategy & Operations (1)

The General Intelligence Company of New York ⭐
Agentic AI platform
Seed, $8.7 M
NY
5 Openings
• Research (1)
• ENG (2)
• Design (1)
• Platform (1)

K2 Space Corporation 🦄 ⭐
Mega satellite builder
Series C, $250 M
LA, DC, Remote
80 Openings
• Engineering & Avionics (65)
• Business & Ops(10)
• Other (5)

Sora Schools ⭐
Virtual high school
Series A2, $6.83 M
ATL, Remote
1 Opening
•  Education (1)

Zed ⭐
No‑fee credit cards
Series A, $16.5 M
Taguig, Remote
1 Opening
• ENG(1)

Unconventional AI 🦄
Analog AI hardware
Seed, $475 M
PA, Remote
9 Openings
• ENG (8)
• IT (1)

Go get that job and build something awesome 💪

♻️ Repost to help people in your network find startup jobs

➕ Follow me, Kyle Thomas, for more lists and job search tips

Startups are like F1 teams.

And not everyone is built to race at that level.

On LinkedIn, it all sounds sexy.

💥 The glossy branding.

💥 The funding announcements.

💥 The founder selfies at off-sites.

But behind the scenes? It’s pure F1 energy.

Tiny margins.

High pressure.

And the constant feeling that you’re doing 200mph into Turn 1.

Not every team is Red Bull. Some are Williams - racing under the same rules, but with a fraction of the budget, and no room for mistakes. 

Every operator in a scaling startup knows the truth:

One day you’re on pole, the next, a competitor ships a feature, and suddenly you’re fighting from the back of the grid.

To some → the speed is terrifying.

To others → it’s the only way they want to work.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗳:
• You thrive under pressure
• You love learning faster than feels reasonable
• You’re energized by risk, not paralyzed by it
• You can make smart calls with incomplete data

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗳:
• You want predictable workweeks
• You prefer slow, well-paved career paths
• You need stable systems and zero surprise sprints
• You want big-company rewards without the chaos

Both choices are valid.

But if you choose the startup path, understand the race you’re entering:

It’s high-speed, high-stress, and high-impact.

The wins feel unreal. The losses sting.

And every week feels like qualifying, you’re constantly proving you belong on the grid.

But if the idea of building something from nothing lights you up…

If you want a career where you feel alive, not just employed…

Then startups are where you’ll thrive.

📌 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 - you’ll want it when your next interview loop starts.

👋 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗲, Kyle Thomas, for practical startup job-search strategies + weekly curated job lists.

✉️ 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵? DM me to learn how Early can support you.

If you think switching roles every two years makes you look unreliable, think again.

In startups, that’s often the mark of experience.

The data tells a clear story: shorter tenures are normal in high-growth companies.

Let me be very clear. I don't advocate for job hopping just for the sake of it. 

What I mean is it’s important to understand that as a startup scales, the role you signed up for often becomes a different job entirely.

Teams evolve, roles shift, founders pivot; and the skill sets needed to take a company from 𝟬→𝟭 are rarely the same ones needed to go 𝟭→𝟭𝟬 or 𝟭𝟬→𝟭𝟬𝟬.

On a recent podcast, Molly Graham (one of tech's top scaling operators - ex-Google, Meta, & Quip) said the average executive tenure in a startup is about 18 months, and that’s not a failure, it’s the rhythm of growth.

Here’s what this means for you:

1️⃣ 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮. Early-stage roles average around 18-24 months; growth-stage around 2-3 years; corporate often 4+. Anyone familiar with startups knows this indicates a different pace, not a lack of loyalty.

2️⃣ 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁. Shorter tenures often show agility, people moving as the company changes, or doubling down where they’re most effective.

3️⃣ 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲. If your role’s shifting away from what you’re great at or what energizes you, moving on is the oposite of instibility. It’s purely smart career design.

I went through this myself. 

Once Uber hit 33,000 people, the role I loved (building new markets) turned into optimizing spend spreadsheets - not what I was great at, or what I loved doing.

So I joined JUMP, Uber’s startup-within-a-startup, to get back to the 1-10 stage where I thrive.

This is the cycle of startup careers.

Build, grow, pivot, repeat.

Sounds just like a startup, right? Hmm... I wonder why?



Want to understand the real patterns behind startup careers?

📌 Save this post - you’ll want it when you’re planning your next move.

👋 Follow me, Kyle Thomas, for practical startup job search strategies and weekly curated job lists.

Industry Insights

If you’re 6 months into a job search and nothing’s moving…
it’s not your skillset, it’s your mindset.

After months of rejections, ghosting, and “we’ll be in touch”, even the most qualified people will start to lose momentum.

Not because they’re doing anything wrong - but because the experience wears you down in ways you don’t always notice.

And that’s usually when five mindset traps creep in and quietly stall your progress.

There’s enough competition out there. Don’t make your mindset one of them.

Avoid these 5 traps:

𝟭. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁

You start questioning if you’re even qualified anymore. Each rejection chips away at your confidence, so you stop applying, convincing yourself, “it’s just not the right time.”

𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 → The longer you stay in motion, the luckier you get. Confidence comes from action, not outcomes. Reframe every rejection as feedback.

𝟮. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗽

You scroll LinkedIn and see everyone else landing roles, assuming you’re behind. That mindset kills focus and rewrites your story as a failure.

𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 → Comparison is data, not judgment. Analyze what worked for them (better yet, reach out to them and ask what they did), take notes, and get back to your lane.

𝟯. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝘆𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸

You’re endlessly “updating your résumé,” rewriting cover letters, or researching companies, but avoiding the real, uncomfortable work: outreach, networking, value creation.

𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 → Progress feels uncomfortable. If you’re not slightly nervous and if you don't feel any internal resistance, you’re probably just tidying the edges.

𝟰. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

You rely on AI optimization and “Easy Apply,” hoping sheer volume will save you. But the more you chase the masses, the more invisible you become.

𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 → Depth wins over volume. A thoughtful message to the right person beats 100 blind submissions.

𝟱. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗡𝗼

After months of rejection, you start subconsciously pulling back, applying to safer, smaller roles just to protect your ego.

𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 → A “no” isn’t personal. It’s just proof you’re playing at your next level. Keep aiming high.

Let me be clear: I know it’s a tough job market.

Competition is fierce and the noise is loud.

But every single week inside Early, I see candidates land roles in under 90 days, not because the market changed, but because they did.

They stopped repeating the same strategies. They took accountability.

And they treated their job search like a growth process, not a waiting game.

If any of these hit home, you’re not alone, most job seekers get stuck here before things finally click.

📌 Save this post - you’ll want it when your next interview loop starts.

👋 Follow me, Kyle Thomas, for practical startup job-search strategies + weekly curated job lists.

✉️ Want clarity on your job search? DM me to learn how Early can support you.

“I feel like I’m sending applications into the void.” 

…is something I hear from job seekers all the time, and there’s a reason it keeps happening.

When I speak to people on the job search, they’re usually trying to move 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 from something. 

They can list out everything they don’t want: 

 • Toxic culture
 • Micromanaging bosses
 • Companies without traction
 • Companies without robust funding
 • An employee base where they’re the smartest person in the room

And they apply in volume to applications which feel like the opposite. 

But the issue is rarely tactics. It’s because they’ve skipped the first step of the process. 

Figuring out what their ideal role looks like. 

It’s helpful to know what you’re running from, but there’s a problem with using your ‘don’t wants’ as your only source of motivation. 

The further you get away from those things, the less motivation you feel to keep going.

But the closer you get to the thing you really want, the harder you push because you’re ALMOST there.

So yes, write out all the things that you don’t want in your next role.

But crucially, take the time to put pen to paper and figure out what it is you do want.

 • Where do you want to be in 2-5 years?
 • What are the skills, experiences, network, and teachers you need in your next role to get there?
 • What is the title of the next role?
 • What is the role scope, scale, and responsibilities?
 • What are the industries you want to work in?
 • What are the problems you want to be solving?
 • What are the sizes and stages of companies that will allow you to do your best work?
 • What is it that is really exciting you out in the world today?

Here’s an exercise we walk everyone through in the Early Accelerator to get clear about what they want. 

Follow these steps to a T before sending another application, and I promise you’ll get more traction out of every future action.

📌 Save this post - you’ll want it when you’re planning your next move.

👋 Follow me, Kyle Thomas, for practical startup job search strategies and weekly curated job lists.

If you’re not getting rejected, you’re not aiming high enough. You've got to stop seeing rejection as failure.

As cliché as it sounds, rejection is feedback, not failure.

But, that's only the case if you know how to learn from it.

So, gather around and let's explore how you can make the most of every “no” 👇

1️⃣ 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘁

Don’t turn rejection into a story about your worth.

“They said no, I guess I suck” - this attitude is neither true, nor helpful.

The best operators ask: “Isn’t that interesting? I wonder why that happened.”

Approach it with curiosity instead of criticism.

2️⃣ 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝘁

Pull what you can from the experience.

Take the time to evaluate your performance, and give yourself feedback on where you could’ve shown up better.

Often, we can pinpoint areas where we didn’t feel 100% confident.

Notice these things to best prepare yourself for the next one.

The goal isn’t to win every role; it’s to improve each time.

(I'm going to assume you're ambitious and want to win, so that's a given, but you can only control your inputs, not the outcome.)

3️⃣ 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸

Always ask, but expect silence.

Most companies are legally advised not to give detailed feedback.

But, you should still ask, as some will be open to sharing this with you.

If you do get a few insights, treat them as a gift and learn from them.

(P.S. Don't expect feedback after a rejection to feel good. Typically, it sucks. But that's how we grow.)

4️⃣ 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝘁

Don’t spiral.

Sometimes a “no” has nothing to do with you.

The startup world moves fast, and you have no idea what's going on behind the scenes.

This is not you being rejected by the market.

Detach your emotions from the rejection and move on to the next.

(P.S. Salespeople are great at this. They don't crumble after a prospect says "no". They hang up the phone and dial the next number with a smile.)

5️⃣ 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁

A “no” today doesn’t mean “never.”

Keep the lead warm, comment on their posts, share thoughtful replies, and stay visible.

We just saw this inside the Early community:

Amr applied for a role and got rejected.

Two weeks later, the same company reached out about a new opening, and just last week, he completed his final-round interview.

Don’t burn the connection because of a “no”.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿:

People call it "luck" when preparedness meets opportunity.

You cannot get prepared without rejection.

So rejection isn't a dead end. It's the necessary next step for you to land your next role.

The candidates who learn fastest from rejection are the ones who land great jobs the fastest.


📌 Save this post - you’ll want it during your next interview loop.

👋 Follow me, Kyle Thomas, for practical startup job search strategies + weekly curated job lists.

✉️ To learn how Early helps you pick the right company, DM me.

Committing to the wrong startup can set your career back years. 

But most people only realize this 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 they join. 

The team might look exciting. The mission may be inspiring. 

But if the fundamentals aren’t there, you’ll spend your best energy trying to fix what should’ve been vetted before you joined. 

And you won’t gain the experience you need to drive forward your career. 

Here’s how to set yourself up for success - a method that’s been tried and tested with hundreds of startup candidates through the Early Accelerator: 

𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳. 

Investors make dozens of bets, and they only really need one to pay off. 

Here’s how you evaluate the role before you jump in. This 12-question framework from Initialized Capital breaks a startup into three parts: 

𝟭. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁: does it solve a real problem?

𝟮. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁: is there demand and room to grow?

𝟯. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺: can they actually pull it off?

Your job isn’t to predict the future.

Your job is to evaluate the 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘴 that increase your odds of success.

I’ve broken the full 12 questions down in the carousel - with examples, context, and how to find the answers for any startup you’re evaluating.



📌 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 - you’ll want it when your next interview loop starts.

👋 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗲, Kyle Thomas, for practical startup job-search strategies + weekly curated job lists.

✉️ 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵? DM me to learn how Early can support you.

The Wrong Startup Can Set You Back Years

You don’t need to apply to more jobs. You need better clarity. 

Here’s how to get it. 

Most job seekers assume the secret is speed - applying faster, saying yes to more interviews, chasing every opportunity that pops up.

But speed isn’t what lands your dream role.

Inside Early, I tell people this all the time: 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱.

Think of it like this:

A lot of people approach their search like a Ferrari - 0 to 100, firing out applications, trying to cover as much ground as possible as fast as possible.

It 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 productive (and sounds sexy)… but Ferraris burn the most fuel, need constant maintenance, and only look fast in short bursts.

They need to stop and refuel every 3-7 days. Just like how, if you take this approach, you burn out and need days or a week to recover while losing all momentum.

But what if you approached your job search like a Prius? On the other hand.

It’s slower and definitely not as sexy. But every move is intentional. Every mile is efficient.

It gets to the exact same destination in a little bit longer time but with far less energy. 

Prius owners only need to refuel every 10-20 days (3x more efficient than the Ferrari).

And in the job search, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀 - not doing more, but doing what matters.

Your goal is to approach it in a way where you're tired at the end of the day, but excited to get back after it tomorrow.

Here are four reflection prompts to help you slow down and find your compass again 👇

1️⃣ 𝗔𝗺 𝗜 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆?

Have you drifted into chasing what’s available instead of what’s aligned?

2️⃣ 𝗗𝗼 𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝘇𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸?

You can only sustain momentum if the work fuels you.

3️⃣ 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗜’𝗺 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘆 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲?

Growth comes from tension. Comfort can be a major constraint.

4️⃣ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 “𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀” 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄?

Not five years ago. Not for someone else. For 𝘠𝘖𝘜... TODAY.

If you take ten quiet minutes to reflect on these, you’ll notice your energy start to shift, because clarity creates direction.

𝘎𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘫𝘰𝘣 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺? 𝘈𝘴𝘬 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘳 𝘋𝘔 𝘮𝘦. 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘔 𝘐 𝘨𝘦𝘵! 



📌 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 - you’ll want it when your next interview loop starts.

👋 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗲, Kyle Thomas, for practical startup job-search strategies + weekly curated job lists.

✉️ 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵? DM me to learn how Early can support you.

Rushing applications in December is a 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮.

It feels like the end of the year should be the final sprint.

It's easy to convince yourself that if you send enough applications, something will land before January.

It's just as easy to convince yourself to take the whole month off because "It'll be wasted effort anyway."

𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴.

So how should you spend December if you're looking for a new startup job?
It depends on where you are in the process.

𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗛 𝟭: 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗥 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗝𝗢𝗕 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛

𝘛𝘓𝘋𝘙; 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦.

1️⃣ 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿.

Spend time determining what you actually want next and why: 
• Role scope/scale/responsibility 
• Company size/stage/industry 
• Title

Turn off the external noise. Connect with the true you.

Tightening your direction now will mean sharper, more confident conversations in January.

2️⃣ 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

Update your resume, LinkedIn profile, LinkedIn presence, and how you tell your story using your new clarity.

A well-aligned LinkedIn profile is a magnet that brings opportunities to you.

Your goal = Be unshakeably confident in how you appear to the world and how you tell your story.

If you do both of those before the end of the month, you're in great shape for 2026.

𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗛 𝟮: 𝗠𝗜𝗗-𝗝𝗢𝗕 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛

𝘛𝘓𝘋𝘙; 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘩 1.

𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.

1️⃣ 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵.

People think December is a bad month for networking.

It's actually o͟n͟e͟ ͟o͟f͟ ͟t͟h͟e͟ ͟b͟e͟s͟t͟.

Holiday cheer is high, and people are looking to give.

A single introduction now can do more for your job search than 50 cold applications.

2️⃣ 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀

Spend time on highly tailored applications.

Send networking messages to the team (5-10 people).

Create value. Stand out (video is great).

People are still hiring in December but there's diverted focus and this market is full of slop.

So you apply be human, be memorable.

And finally, regardless of your path...

3️⃣ 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘅.

Momentum is important, but so is your mental health.

Going into January, being burnt out is a bigger risk than missing a week of applications.

What do you think? Is December a waste or a time to get ahead in the job search?

I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

If you want your work to make real impact on the environment - these 23 climate-tech startups are scaling fast and hiring right now.

All of the startups below have:
• Hired the most new employees in the last 90 days
• At least one top VC investor
• Are actively hiring today

Across these companies, there are 𝟴𝟲𝟮 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝟭𝟳 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀* 
• Engineering 409
• Operations 147
• Sales 52
• Product 27
• Finance 28
• Manufacturing 53
• Customer Success 22
• Supply Chain 38
• IT 18
• Marketing 17
• Hardware 20
• Legal 7
• People/HR 6
• Data/AI 6
• Design 5
• Security 3
• Support 1

📁 I also included a report I created using NotebookLM using the data I pulled and attached it below.

Crusoe 🦄 — Low‑carbon digital infrastructure (Denver, San Francisco, Chicago, Remote)

Base Power Company 🦄 — Energy grid optimization (Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Francisco)

Commonwealth Fusion Systems — Compact fusion power plants (Devens, Milpitas, Somerville)

Harbinger — Electric medium‑duty vehicles (Gardena, Los Angeles, Remote)

Upway — Refurbished e‑bike marketplace (Paris, Berlin, Remote)
join.com

Seneca — Autonomous electric seaplanes (Sausalito)

The Modern Milkman — Eco‑friendly grocery delivery (Loughborough, Manchester, London)

X-energy — Advanced modular nuclear reactors (Rockville, Oak Ridge, Lexington Park, Remote)

Emerald AI — AI‑powered climate risk intelligence (Washington D.C., Boston, San Francisco, Remote)

Redwood Materials 🦄 — Battery recycling and materials (San Francisco, Carson City, McCarran)

Torus — Grid‑scale energy storage solutions (South Salt Lake)

Runware — Grid analytics platform (Remote)

Terra One — Renewable energy asset developer (Berlin, Remote)

Daylight — Solar financing & design software (New York City)

Uplight — Utility customer engagement platform (Remote)

Phaidra — Industrial AI optimization (Remote)

Nitricity — Zero‑carbon nitrogen fertilizer (San Francisco, Delhi)

Gridware — Wildfire detection sensors (San Francisco)

PassiveLogic — Autonomous building control (Salt Lake City, Netherlands)

Ridepanda — E‑bike subscription marketplace (New York City, Remote)

Palmetto — Clean energy home platform (Charlotte, Remote)

Exowatt — Thermal battery energy storage (Miami)

TrueMeter — AI energy savings platform (San Francisco)

Go get that job and build something awesome 💪
————————————
For more lists, follow me, Kyle Thomas.

Want personalized lists of startups for your job search? Use the link in my profile to apply to our Startup Job Search Accelerator.

♻ Share this to help startup job seekers find a new role.

INSIGHTS: Climate Startups w/ Top VC $'s & Most 90D Hires

Did you know, most of Uber’s early hires didn’t have any startup experience?

A while back I pulled a list of the 249 people who joined Uber before me.

They came from corporate, consulting, finance, but what mattered in their application wasn’t where they worked.

It was how they told their story.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲.

You need to know how to show founders that you can create clarity in chaos (and that you want to work hard).

Here’s how to turn your corporate past into startup potential 👇

1️⃣ Reframe your story for impact, swapping responsibilities for results. 

Founders don’t want to know what you managed, they want to know what you impacted.

2️⃣ Show your entrepreneurial traits, moments you took initiative, solved problems, or pushed through a new idea. 

These examples are proof you’ll thrive without a playbook.

3️⃣ Bridge the gap, connect your structured experience to their speed. 

You’re not too corporate, you’re the person who brings systems to the startup disorder.

Each of these small shifts changes how a founder or hiring manager sees you, from “corporate background” to startup-ready hire.

For those who’ve already made the jump, what’s one skill you didn’t expect to translate so well into startup life? 

Drop it in the comments.


📌 Save this post - you’ll want it when you’re planning your next move.

👋 Follow me, Kyle Thomas, for practical startup job search strategies and weekly curated job lists.

How To Translate Corporate Skills for Startup Newbies

For the past few years, I’ve been obsessed with one question: 

How do smart, ambitious people actually land meaningful roles in startups? 

Not by chance or by grinding through hundreds of applications. 

But by understanding how founders think, how companies grow, and how talent really gets hired. 

I landed my two startup roles - including Uber - by seemingly stumbling my way to success. 

But after reflecting on the processes, patterns began to emerge.

So I started studying others who had landed similar roles.

Lo and behold, the same systems, strategies, mentalities, and processes appeared.

I wanted to codify this process and document it so other people could benefit . 

That obsession is what led me to build UpEmployment in 2022. And it worked. 

People used the system to land roles at startups they were excited about. They negotiated better offers. They stopped feeling invisible in crowded applicant pools. 

And, I know this sounds crazy, but they enjoyed the process.

As that was happening, I realized something about the community. 

A significant number of members already had great jobs but were ambitious and hungry. 

They were looking for the right opportunity to jump on. They wanted to expand their role scope and responsibility. They wanted to get in early and build the next big thing.

That’s when it became clear that we weren’t just building a job-search program, we were building a process to craft an engaging and exciting career in startups. 

So UpEmployment evolved into Early. 

Early is for builders, operators, and high-agency people who don’t want to line up for roles at yesterday’s companies. They want to help build the industry leaders of tomorrow. 

It takes more than resume tweaks or job-search “best practices”.

It’s about clarity, a compelling narrative, real agency over how you show up in the market, and taking ownership of your career and your life. 

It also about uncovering the inner workings of the startup ecosystem - how companies hire, raise capital, grow teams, and reward impact. 

That’s what Early gives you: 

✅ Proven systems that work in the startup world

✅ Investor-grade context to help you identify companies with real traction and negotiate from strength, not hope

✅ A community of ambitious operators who think like you and raise the bar

We’re building the most useful place on the internet for people who want to shape the future. 

If you care about impact, ownership, and momentum more than climbing a ladder… Early was built for you. 

If you’re new here, welcome.

If you’ve been with us from the start, thank you!

We’ve helped hundreds of people so far, but we’re just getting started.

📌 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 - you’ll want it when your next interview loop starts.

👋 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗲, Kyle Thomas, for practical startup job-search strategies + weekly curated job lists.

✉️ 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵? DM me to learn how Early can support you.

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The Battle

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Bradley Jacobs's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreBradley Jacobs's LinkedIn Performance