As a startup founder, you can experience challenges, especially at the beginning. It’s an unavoidable phenomenon, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make your life easier by laying a strong foundation.

According to a research document prepared by CB Insights, “Not pivoting away or quickly enough from a bad product, a bad hire or a bad decision quickly enough was cited as a reason for failure in 7% of the post mortems”

The foundation of your startup begins with a good team that is aligned with the vision of your startup.

This article is here to provide you with a complete guide on how to hire developers for a startup, as well as options on where to find developers for a startup.

11+ Top Platforms to Hire Developers For A Startup

The journey to hiring premium developers for your startup is a huge one but this list can help make it smoother. Here are 11 top platforms to help you hire developers for a startup:

RocketDevs
Gigster
Arc Dev
Toptal
Gun Io
Codeable
HackerRank
Lemon Io
X-Team
Scalable Path
Codementor

1. RocketDevs

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RocketDevs is the best value for developers on the web. Each developer must pass a rigorous 6 to 8-hour screening process which includes code evaluation, project evaluation, communication interview, and resume screening.

RocketDevs has the top 5% of pre-vetted and specialized developers with different technical roles and expertise. This means, all your engineering needs are covered. The plus side? Non technical founders trying to hire get an onboarding call to guide them through making the right hire.

Related: Hire Pre Vetted Developers : Silicon Valley Standard

2. Gigster

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Gigster has an elite talent pool of over 50,000 strictly vetted developers, designers, and project managers to help hire developers for a startup. Gigster utilizes the use of AI-powered platforms to match developers to startups and other freelancers like designers and project managers who are strictly vetted.

They have a premium talent pool of over 50,000 freelancers. They make sure that their developers are screened for other soft skills and they ensure that there is a continuous evaluation of the developer’s progress and the client’s feedback.

Gigster doesn’t release their prices as it depends on the extent of each project, but after a bit of research, we discovered that their lowest cost per project starts at $52,000.

3. Arc.dev

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Arc.dev makes it seamless for startups to connect with a global network of remote developers for full-time roles, freelance or contract basis.

Their talent pool is filled with full-time developers, designers and marketers. Compared to other platforms, getting specialized roles from Arc.dev takes a longer period and startups need to conduct screening of their own just to be sure of the talent alignment.

Their price range has been reported to be between the range of $60 to $80 per hour.

Read Also: How Much Does It Cost to Hire A Web Developer?

4. Toptal

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Toptal has a rigorous but necessary vetting process that helps them hire developers for a startup seamlessly. Their approach allows for the selection of the top 3% of freelancers, providing startups with top developers, designers and finance experts.

They offer short-term, long-term and project-based hiring options. Toptal focuses on its human-driven vetting process and uses its technology and data-driven systems to ensure that clients are matched to the right talent.

You can get hourly rates ranging from $60 to $200+ depending on experience level and freelancer skills from Toptal.

5. Gun Io

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Gun Io also takes the lead when it comes to connecting startups to expert developers. They take cultural and technical alignment into consideration during the vetting process.

Gun Io is great for fast project start-ups and they provide transparent profiles with the experiences of each developer to help make decision-making easier.

Although their talent pool is lesser than other platforms and they aren’t suitable for startups requiring a wide range of different tech roles. Their roles mostly range from $11k -$12k per month, while mid-level positions are priced at $75-$110 per hour.

For You: How To Hire Dedicated Developers: Complete Guide

6. Codeable

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Codeable is another platform to help hire developers for a startup specifically for WordPress development. Their developers specialize in WordPress site builds, themes, plugins and customizations.

Think of them as a WordPress developer marketplace. They have a matchmaking system that involves connecting developers to a startup based on project requirements, expert skill sets and availability.

So if you’re thinking of getting started with WordPress, Codeable is the place to go. The pricing range of Codeable developers ranges from $80 - $120 per hour and are based on the project scope, complexity and urgency.

7. HackerRank

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HackerRank doesn’t just help startups build strong teams, but helps developers sharpen their skills, which is a win-win for both parties.

Although they don’t connect developers with startups, they help assess their skills by providing standardized coding tests, thereby improving hiring accuracy.

They give developers the tools they need to help startups scale better and faster. They don’t have options for non-technical roles as they just focus on coding and development roles.

8. Lemon Io

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Their talent pool is mostly from Eastern Europe and their rates range from $45 - $85 per hour.

Lemon Io ensures that 100% of their talents go through manual check and their technical interviews are handled by top engineers from their community.

Their system allows you to search for developers based on skill and role, thereby smoothing out the entire process. They are a great starting point for startups and short-term projects.

9. X-Team

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X-Team’s experience so far has proven that they fall under the category of top platforms to help hire developers for a startup.

Their team of dedicated remote developers helps startups build strong teams for short and long-term projects.

Compared to some platforms, X-Team’s cost is on the premium scale of $40 - $50 per hour, which may be difficult for startups with low funding to keep up with.

You Might Like: 9 Underrated Offshore Software Development Benefits

10. Scalable Path

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In the quest to help you hire developers for a startup, Scalable Path falls into the category of amazing helpers when it comes to their talent.

They offer developers that are human-vetted instead of relying fully on Artificial Intelligence alone to link expert developers to startups.

They connect developers, designers, and tech professionals and focus on project-based work with flexible timelines and a diverse talent pool, but there’s a catch.

They aren’t the best option when it comes to getting talents to manage long-term projects, only short-term ones which can be useful if you just want someone on a one-time project.

11. Codementor

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If you’re not just looking for developers but mentoring to help guide you along the way, Codementor can help with that.

They connect startups with expert developers for project-based work, one-on-one mentoring and the handling of complex technical needs. You can get help with on-demand code review and MVP building.

When it comes to cost, Codementor is an open marketplace that allows developers to set their rates. A mentor’s rate can range from $8 - $15 for every minute and some experienced mentors can range from $15 - $30 every 15 minutes.

Related: How To Hire An E-commerce Developer: 7 Steps & Platforms

How to Choose the Right Hiring Platform for Your Startup

There are a lot of options when it comes to the question of how to hire developers for a startup, but there are steps you can use to make sure you choose the right hiring platform for your startup.

Define Your Hiring Goals
Understand the Platform’s Talent Pool and Location Options
Work With Your Budget
Consider Developer Vetting
Be on the Look Out For Culture Fit

1. Define Your Hiring Goals

You need to identify the roles and skills you need to get the job done. Draw out the pros and cons of getting developers for a one-time project or full-time project.

Once this hurdle has been crossed, decide if you want to prioritize speed, cost or talent quality.

2. Understand the Platform’s Talent Pool and Location Options

Platforms like RocketDevs and Toptal focus on highly skilled technical experts with a seamless interview process, a factor that needs to be considered to hire developers for a startup successfully.

If location is important, try to figure out if you want to go for a fully remote team, hybrid or on-site setting.

3. Work With Your Budget

If the platform fees are in line with your current budget and are still willing to offer premium service, then that’s your logical pick. Determine if the platform charges by project, per hour or every month.

Although high quality platforms like Gigster, Toptal and X-Team indeed charge more, platforms like RocketDevs provide a more affordable option with top-notch pre-vetted developers which can take the stress of the high cost of your hands.

4. Consider Developer Vetting

This is an important factor to consider when you need to hire developers for a startup. There are some platforms that provide pre-vetted candidates which saves time. You need to also consider the transparency of the exercise and the process involved.

Top Pick: Top 100+ Active Angel Investors List

5. Be on the Look Out For Culture Fit

Platforms that don’t just focus on technical assessments, take the health of a startup into consideration in the long run.

If you’re hiring for permanent roles, go with the platform that includes soft skills like communication, flexibility and teamwork into their interview process.

RocketDevs: Your Best Bet

how to hire developers for a startup
When it comes to building a strong team for your startup, a lot of research comes into play, to avoid making the mistake of getting a bad hire, which can lay a bad foundation for your startup from the beginning.

RocketDevs gives you the option of laying out your expectations during the one-on-one consultation session.

Get access to top pre-vetted developers trained to help your startup scale at $8/hr. Monitor your team with productivity tools and build custom software with developers screened to Silicon Valley Coding Standards

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