Aligned by Hurren & Hope | Hire senior tech & GTM talent, pay when you raise

What we hire

The roles that move the needle

Specialist coverage across the functions early-stage tech companies actually hire for.

AI / ML & Engineering

The hardest talent to find. We are already talking to them.

Product

PMs, design and technical product leaders for SaaS and AI.

Data & Analytics

Data scientists, ML engineers, analysts and quants.

Go-to-Market

SDR, AE, BD and Sales Directors to build your revenue engine.

Cybersecurity

Engineers, SOC analysts and CISOs.

Leadership & C-Suite

CTO, CFO, COO and co-founder searches.

Data & Infrastructure

From DBAs to data architects and platform engineers.

Contract & Global

Contractors on our payroll or yours, plus EOR hiring in 140+ countries.

Benefits

The downside is removed by design

The hiring downside, removed by design. Build your team without risking your runway.

Skin in the game

We defer the bulk of our fee to your raise. Our economics depend on your success.

Skin in the game

We defer the bulk of our fee to your raise. Our economics depend on your success.

Built for startup speed

23-day average time to hire, with specialist teams per function.

Built for startup speed

23-day average time to hire, with specialist teams per function.

94% still there at a year

We hire for fit. Free replacement within 90 days.

94% still there at a year

We hire for fit. Free replacement within 90 days.

Global reach

Contacts in 140+ countries and EOR partners.

Global reach

Contacts in 140+ countries and EOR partners.

Specialists, not generalists

People who understand your stack and your stage. No CV spam.

Specialists, not generalists

People who understand your stack and your stage. No CV spam.

Runway preserved

Clients extend runway by 2-4 months by deferring fees.

Runway preserved

Clients extend runway by 2-4 months by deferring fees.

6,906+

Placements made

23 days

Average time to hire

94%

Retention at one year

Pricing

One fee. Your Crunchbase-powered Aligned score decides how much waits for your raise.

Breakout

Defer 75%

Score 70-100

Pay 25% on hire, 75% on your next round

Find out your score

No win, no deferred fee due.

What’s Included

Single 20%-of-salary fee

Free 90-day replacement

Monthly Crunchbase score refresh

Dedicated specialist team

Deferred to your funding event

Building

Defer 60%

Score 40-69

Pay 40% on hire, 60% on your next round

Find out your score

No win, no deferred fee due.

What’s Included

Single 20%-of-salary fee

Free 90-day replacement

Monthly Crunchbase score refresh

Dedicated specialist team

Deferred to your funding event

Early

Defer 45%

Score 20-39

Pay 55% on hire, 45% on your next round

Find out your score

No win, no deferred fee due.

What’s Included

Single 20%-of-salary fee

Free 90-day replacement

Monthly Crunchbase score refresh

Dedicated specialist team

Deferred to your funding event

All Plans Include

Free 90-day replacement
EOR & global hiring
Dedicated specialist team
Monthly Crunchbase score refresh
No win, no deferred fee

The model

Recruitment, priced like insurance.

The stronger your Crunchbase-powered Aligned score, the lower your risk, so the more of your fee you can defer. The score is a 47-point algorithm powered by Crunchbase data from a recognised, independent source, refreshed monthly.

100%

Up to 75% of fee deferred

10X

2-4 months of runway extended

Book a call

How it works

We take the same risk you do

Get your Crunchbase-powered Aligned score: a 47-point algorithm powered by Crunchbase data from a recognised, independent source

Hire fast: a shortlist of people who can do the job, 23-day average

Pay a portion now, defer up to 75% of the fee

Settle when you raise; no raise yet, it simply keeps waiting

Our team

40+ years of combined tech recruitment expertise

Mark Hurren

Co-Founder

Mark Hurren

Co-Founder

Michael Johnson

Recruitment Partner

Michael Johnson

Recruitment Partner

Global Presence

Hire anywhere, compliantly

Contacts in 140+ countries with EOR partners to build remote teams or hubs. Markets: New York, San Francisco & London. Delivery hubs: London, Manila & Cape Town.

140+

Countries covered

3

Global hubs

13

Years operating

Testimonials

What our clients say

They really care: about the company they're helping and the candidate, and getting it right for both. Simply put, the benchmark for how recruiters should act. I've gone back to them for over 15 years, across multiple industries.
Adam Bell
People & Culture Director, Beyond One
AB
A preferred supplier for Penguin Random House, the team gave excellent, personable service through a challenging, complex integration. They go the extra mile, with a high degree of integrity.
Stephen Hardwick
Systems Specialist, Penguin Random House
SH
If you want a true partner in executive hiring, one who prioritises long-term success over quick placements, I highly recommend Hurren & Hope. Aligning top-tier candidates on skills and culture made it seamless.
Sarah Lloyd
Talent Acquisition Manager, Saffron Building Society
SL
Hurren & Hope bring an integrity and honesty to recruitment that's so important when bringing talent into an organisation. They impressed not just me but my whole team with their commitment to quality. I recommend them wholeheartedly.
David Callow
Chief Information Officer, NHS Professionals
DC
Some recruiters only care about the next placement and the fee. Some take the time to understand your business, your culture and your customers, and genuinely want you to succeed. Mark is firmly in that second, very small group. Our team wouldn’t be as strong without him.
Kevin Linsell
Director, IJYI
KL
We see Mark as a true partner for the long term. He understands a business pain point and finds a solution fast. If you just want to fill a job, Mark is not your man; if you want someone to shape a strategy and deliver it, we highly recommend him.
Kristian Day
Managing Director, Insight Energy
KD
Don’t mistake Mark for just a recruiter, he is a true business partner. He helped grow our tech team, gives solid business advice, and helps you think more dynamically about growth. Integrity, approachable, and I cannot recommend him highly enough.
Lucy Newton
Senior VP of People
LN
Mark makes a difference and is not single-focused on his commission. He took the time to understand what I was looking for and gave practical, generous advice with no expectation of reward. He stands out considerably from the herd.
Richard Anderson
Chief Customer Officer
RA
We have recruited our third team member with Mark’s help. It is not just matching qualifications and experience, but matching people to our culture and vision, which he does easily. A great sounding board for business advice too.
Lucinda Day
Finance Director, Insight Energy
LD
Mark and his team have found us many excellent recruits who have gone on to be very successful with us. His approach is different to others in recruitment and very conducive to getting the right people in the right jobs.
Matt David
Managing Director, Engineering & Operations
MD
We usually try to steer clear of used-car salesmen, estate agents and recruitment consultants. Mark stands out as a genuine consultant who prioritises the right fit. Having used him as both a hiring manager and a candidate, I endorse him every time.
Vicky Eve
Senior Consultant, ServiceNow
VE
I have worked with Mark across different organisations over the years and he is consistently open and ethical. He cares equally about candidates and clients, wants to understand the problem that needs solving rather than just making a deal, and is not afraid to challenge.
Lisa Lewis
CX and EX Strategic Leader
LL

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Aligned?

What happens if we don’t raise?

What counts as a funding event?

What is the actual fee?

Is this debt, or regulated?

How is the score calculated?

Do you understand startup hiring speed?

What if someone leaves before we raise?

How is this different from a recruiter with a payment plan?

Which roles do you cover?

Which markets do you cover?

Free score check

See your Aligned score

share your email and company name and we will send your Crunchbase-powered Aligned score, calculated by a 47-point algorithm powered by Crunchbase data from a recognised, independent source, plus exactly how much of the fee you could defer to your next round.

No retainer

No upfront cost

Same-day reply

6,906+

Placements

23

Days to hire

94%

Retention

40+

years experience

Who we are

Hurren & Hope Holdings Ltd, registered in England & Wales (Company No. 09613334). Privacy queries: partners@hurrenandhope.vc. Registered office: 5th Floor, City Reach, 5 Greenwich View Place, London E14 9NN. ICO registration: ZB095116.