Doubling Focaldata's Team

The Challenge

Focaldata, a rapidly growing AI-powered consumer insights platform, needed to double their team size to support expansion into new markets and launch innovative product features. With 25 employees and ambitious growth targets, they required a strategic recruitment partner to scale efficiently.

Key Challenges:

• Rapid Growth: Doubling team size while maintaining culture and quality
• Diverse Roles: Hiring across engineering, data science, product, and operations
• Market Competition: Competing with larger analytics companies for top talent
• Cultural Preservation: Maintaining startup culture during rapid expansion
• International Expansion: Building teams in multiple locations (London, US)

Our Approach

We implemented a comprehensive, multi-phase recruitment strategy to support Focaldata's ambitious growth plans while ensuring cultural fit and technical excellence.

Strategic Planning (Month 1)

• Conducted organizational design workshops with leadership team
• Mapped out hiring roadmap across all departments
• Prioritized critical roles and dependencies
• Established hiring criteria and cultural values
• Created scalable recruitment process

Engineering & Data Science (Months 1-4)

• Sourced 15 engineers and data scientists
• Targeted candidates from analytics companies and tech giants
• Conducted rigorous technical assessments
• Facilitated team interviews and culture fit sessions
• Successfully placed 12 engineering and data science hires

Product & Operations (Months 3-5)

• Recruited 8 product managers and designers
• Hired 5 operations and business development professionals
• Focused on candidates with analytics/insights experience
• Ensured alignment with product vision and strategy

Leadership & Specialists (Months 4-6)

• Placed 3 senior leadership hires (VP Engineering, Head of Data Science, Head of Product)
• Recruited specialized roles (ML Engineers, Data Engineers, UX Researchers)
• Supported international hiring in US market

Results

Quantitative Impact

• 25 successful hires across all departments (100% growth)
• 6-month timeline for complete team doubling
• 2× cost efficiency compared to traditional recruitment
• 92% offer acceptance rate
• 95% retention at 12-month mark

Qualitative Outcomes

• Product Innovation: Launched 4 new product features
• Market Expansion: Successfully entered 3 new international markets
• Revenue Growth: 250% revenue increase within 12 months
• Cultural Strength: Maintained high employee satisfaction scores
• Investor Confidence: Team growth supported Series B fundraising

Hiring Breakdown

Engineering & Data Science (12 hires)

• 5 Senior Data Scientists
• 4 Full Stack Engineers
• 2 ML Engineers
• 1 Data Engineer

Product & Design (8 hires)

• 3 Product Managers
• 2 UX/UI Designers
• 2 UX Researchers
• 1 Product Designer

Operations & Business (5 hires)

• 2 Business Development Managers
• 1 Operations Manager
• 1 Customer Success Lead
• 1 Marketing Manager

Leadership (3 hires)

• 1 VP of Engineering
• 1 Head of Data Science
• 1 Head of Product

Client Testimonial

"Sherpa was instrumental in our journey from 25 to 50 people. They understood our culture, our technical needs, and our growth ambitions. Every hire they helped us make has been exceptional. We couldn't have scaled this quickly without them."

CEO, Focaldata

Key Success Factors

1. Strategic Partnership: Acting as embedded recruitment partner
2. Multi-Discipline Expertise: Hiring across technical and non-technical roles
3. Cultural Focus: Rigorous cultural fit assessment at every stage
4. Process Scalability: Efficient systems for high-volume hiring
5. Market Intelligence: Deep understanding of analytics and insights market

Long-term Impact

Twelve months after the successful placements:

• Focaldata raised a successful Series B round
• Team expanded further to 75 people
• Launched AI-powered predictive analytics platform
• Expanded to 5 international markets
• Became recognized leader in AI consumer insights

Recruitment Process Innovation

We implemented several process improvements that became standard for Focaldata:

• Structured Interview Framework: Consistent evaluation across all candidates
• Skills Assessment Platform: Technical tests tailored to each role
• Culture Fit Scorecard: Objective measurement of cultural alignment
• Candidate Experience: Streamlined process with clear communication
• Onboarding Support: Comprehensive integration program for new hires

Ready to scale your team like Focaldata? Contact us to discuss your hiring needs.