September ’25 Update: The exec hiring market hasn’t cooled — it’s shifting gears. Startup formation has slowed, job growth is stalling, and tech layoffs are still reshaping the talent pool. At the same time, AI is pulling in the majority of capital, but investors are tightening the funnel and raising the bar for leadership performance. This post breaks down why new company creation has moderated, what rising unemployment claims (263K) and a weak August jobs report (+22K, 4.3% unemployment) mean for hiring timelines, and how ~95K tech layoffs this year are surfacing rare execs — though the best are gone in days. Meanwhile, Carta’s latest data shows the top 1% of AI startups are now raising at 3–10x higher multiples than non-AI peers, cementing a two-track venture market. Whether you’re a founder chasing transformative talent or an investor guiding portfolio hires, here’s your quick pulse on what’s shifting — and what to do next.

August ’25 Update: The exec hiring market is getting faster and more cutthroat. AI is hoarding capital, layoffs are releasing rare leadership talent, and founders are under pressure to move quickly — and get it right. This post breaks down the late Q2 hiring surge, the collapse in junior roles, and the pivot toward seasoned operators with AI fluency, data depth, and scaling experience. Meanwhile, 41% of U.S. VC went to just 10 companies (8 of them AI), and M&A is spiking — led by AI infra and cybersecurity rollups. Whether you're a founder chasing top talent or an investor guiding critical hires, here’s your quick pulse on what’s shifting — and what to do next.

July ’25 Update: Executive hiring is heating up again — but the landscape looks very different from even a few months ago. This post unpacks what we’re seeing in real time: AI-native startups are pulling ahead in both capital and talent, layoff spikes are reshaping the candidate pool, and founders are under pressure to move fast — without misfiring on high-stakes leadership hires. Meanwhile, junior hiring continues to collapse, and top operators are more selective, more skeptical, and getting picked off earlier in the process. Whether you're a founder trying to land senior talent who can actually scale with the business — or an investor advising startups on how to avoid costly hiring mistakes — this is your short, high-signal read on what’s shifting in H1 2025… and what to do next.

June ’25 Update: VC dollars are flowing again, and executive searches are back in motion — but the hiring landscape in 2025 looks nothing like it did just a year ago. This post unpacks what we’re seeing in real time: AI-fueled distortion in the talent market, top operators being poached faster than ever, founders rushing into searches without clear scorecards, and world-class candidates walking when the narrative doesn’t resonate or the process falls apart. Whether you're a startup founder trying to land stage-appropriate executive leaders or an early-stage investor advising on critical exec hires across your portfolio, this is your short, high-signal read on what’s changed — and exactly what to do about it.