HFBAC Hiring For and Building Awesome Companies
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HFBAC Hiring For and Building Awesome Companies

Hiring For and Building Awesome Companies

Chemistry First hiring for every stage of your start-up and scale-up journey – from finding co-founders to first hires and senior leadership.

70% of startups fail because they get their founding team wrong.

We've spent 20+ years figuring out how to fix that problem.

Welcome to Chemistry First methodology—where chemistry matters more than credentials.

Which Best Describes You?

Solo Founder

0-2 people
Looking for a co-founder?
We help you find, evaluate, and partner with the right technical co-founder using proven frameworks-so you don’t waste 6 months on the wrong person.
Get Your Free Co-Founder Toolkit

Bootstrapped Team

2-15 people
Hiring for growth on a budget?
We provide quality hiring without agency premiums-Chemistry First approach at affordable rates for teams building lean.
Book Your Free Strategy Call

Growing Company

15-35+ people
Hiring for growth?
We help you make critical hires as you scale-from your first in-house develop to senior leadership roles you’ve never hired before.
Book Your Free Strategy Call

Trusted By Founders, Backed By Experience

abtec
cipher
shadow robot
medical
spur
simplyBD
nexus
tickitto
business ip center
startup
  • From BBC commentary box to founding team building - 20+ years of pattern recognition in what makes teams work.
Years helping founders build teams
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Founders helped via BIPC workshops since 2018
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Chemistry First methodology (not CV-first)
0 %

Chemistry Matters More Than Credentials

Most founders hire for impressive CVs.

Then 18 months later, they’re having a “business divorce” because they never tested for chemistry.

Chemistry First is different.

It's a systematic 4-phase methodology (ALIGN) that helps you find people who don't just have the right skills - they have the right FIT.

The result?

Teams that complement each other's strengths, challenge each other's thinking, and stick together when things get tough.
Because great companies are built by people with awesome chemistry, not just impressive CVs and credentials.

Learn About Our Methodology

What Clients Say

“I would highly recommend Helen – they are very much an extension of our team and have been extremely hands on with supporting our HR and Recruitment requirements. Having worked with numerous recruiters over the years, they are not like them at all and completely different to traditional recruiters which is a breath of fresh air. Their approach is very much strategic yet supportive.”

Monika Jercha

Shadow Robot Company, London

“I would highly recommend Helen – they are very much an extension of our team and have been extremely hands on with supporting our HR and Recruitment requirements. Having worked with numerous recruiters over the years, they are not like them at all and completely different to traditional recruiters which is a breath of fresh air. Their approach is very much strategic yet supportive.”

Tom, Agency CEO

“I had the absolute pleasure of working with Helen Sanders, and I truly couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From our very first conversation, she put me completely at ease with her kind nature and genuine interest in my journey. It’s rare to come across someone who is not only incredibly skilled at what they do but also so thoughtful and human in their approach. Thanks to her, I’ve now been in a role I genuinely love for three months.”

Kelly Ferris

See All Reviews

Founding Team Solutions For Every Stage

Whether you’re searching for your first co-founder or building out your C-suite, we use the same Chemistry First methodology at every stage.

For Solo Founders

Find Your Co-Founder

Process:
  • Learn - Take The Co-Founder Match course
  • Search - Get our systematic framework for finding candidates
  • Evaluate - Use Chemistry First methodology to test fit
  • Partner - Launch your company with confidence
Get Your Free Toolkit

For Bootstrapped Teams

Hire For Growth

Process:
  • Strategy - 90-min call to define who you actually need
  • Search - We source quality candidates (not just active job seekers)
  • Chemistry - Test for early-stage fit and culture match
  • Integration - Support through onboarding and first 90 days
Book Your Strategy Call

For Growing Companies

Hire For Growth

Process:
  • Foundation - Assess your team and identify critical hiring needs
  • Search - Find quality candidates for roles you've never hired before
  • Chemistry - Ensure fit with your existing team and culture
  • Integration - 90-day onboarding and team optimization
Book Your Strategy Call

Ready To Stop Gambling On Founding Team Decisions?

Let’s build something awesome together.
Get Your Free Co-Founder Toolkit
Book A Strategy Call