Hiring is one of the most underestimated competitive advantages in startups, and one of the fastest ways to break a company.

In this episode, Michail Katkoff (Deconstructor of Fun), Joe Burridge (Head of Talent at Play Ventures), and Miki Blasko (Head of Talent at Deconstructor of Fun) break down what founders consistently get wrong about hiring, and how those mistakes quietly turn into culture, execution problems, and talent drain.

links: www.deconstructoroffun.com/talent

www.linkedin.com/in/joeburridge

www.linkedin.com/in/mikiblasko

We unpack:

Why hiring is a founder-level strategic decision
The myth that great talent “shows up” once funding is announced
Culture vs. competence
Why compensation alone doesn’t attract A-players
The red flags of “corporate refugees” vs. true startup operators
How weak hiring processes drive top performers away
What successful founders do differently for the 10–20 hires

Chapterrs

01:00 The Challenges of Hiring in Startups

06:33 Understanding Compensation and Talent Attraction

16:10 Culture vs. Competence in Hiring

17:31 Identifying the Right Fit for Startups

23:13 The Role of Founders in Shaping Culture

30:43 Navigating the Unhinged Nature of Founders

40:06 Reality Distortion and Leadership

45:41 Challenges in Retaining Talent

51:13 Building an Employer Brand

53:25 Hiring Patterns for Success

61:24 Painful Hiring Mistakes

How to set resolutions you'll actually keep

Life Kit

Outro

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