Talent strategy for tough markets: How startups can adapt and thrive
In today’s market, startup and scaleup leaders face a tough hiring climate. Budgets are tighter. Timelines are shorter. Expectations are higher. But the demand for great talent hasn’t gone away—it’s just evolved.
At Aspire Life Sciences, we work closely with early-stage biotech and deep tech companies navigating the challenge of recruitment at the intersection of science and technology. Whether you’re in stealth mode or scaling post-Series A, smart, strategic hiring can give you a critical edge.
Here are five actionable strategies we’ve used to help our clients hire successfully, even in the most constrained conditions:
Embrace flexibility
Not every role needs a full-time hire—especially early on. For non-core or highly specialised functions, fractional executives, advisors, or contract talent can offer the perfect balance of capability and agility.
We partnered with a stealth-stage biotech company applying AI to drug discovery. With a small team, a bold vision, and limited margin for error, they needed to make foundational hires without overcommitting.
The solution? Deep alignment, market expertise, and end-to-end support. We helped them secure a top-tier AI Scientist, someone who could not only build but lead, setting the technical and cultural tone for the team. This fractional-to-core model gave them both flexibility and impact.
Lead with purpose
In a risk-averse market, purpose matters. People want to know why they should join your company. A clear, compelling mission can become your most powerful recruitment tool.
We’ve seen candidates choose early-stage, mission-driven roles over more lucrative offers simply because they believed in the company’s purpose. If you can tell that story authentically, you’ll cut through the noise.
Think laterally
Top talent doesn’t always come from the usual suspects. Scientists and engineers from industries like aerospace, energy, or defence often bring fresh thinking and highly transferable skills, especially in areas like computational biology, data science, or systems engineering.
We regularly help our clients evaluate adjacent sectors when shaping role profiles. In one recent case, we placed a data scientist from the aerospace sector into a biotech AI team, where their experience with large-scale modelling proved invaluable.
Use equity strategically
In a competitive talent market, offering equity gives early-stage companies a way to attract candidates who are builders at heart. But equity only works when it’s structured clearly and communicated well.
For example, A leading biotech company based in Paris needed to fill four roles in Computational Chemistry and Cheminformatics, fast. The brief was focused: candidates had to have deep expertise in generative and retrosynthesis AI, and the timeline was tight—under three months.
We not only sourced highly specialised talent across Europe but also helped the client shape attractive offers using a mix of equity, culture, and scientific mission to close top-tier hires in record time.
Outsource intelligently
Not every function has to be built in-house immediately. Until Series B or beyond, outsourcing specific areas, like regulatory, clinical operations, or parts of R&D, can offer strategic flexibility.
Still, some roles are simply too pivotal to outsource.
One of our clients, a biotech firm specialising in medicinal chemistry and protein degradation, needed to hire a Head of Medicinal Chemistry, a critical leadership role spanning teams in Austria and across Europe.
The brief was demanding: a Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry, proven expertise in protein degradation, leadership skills, hands-on lab experience, and a willingness to travel or relocate. We ran a highly targeted search and delivered candidates who met both the technical and cultural brief, enabling the client to move fast on a hire that directly impacted their R&D trajectory.
Let’s talk
If you’re hiring in a tough market—or looking for your next high-impact role we can help you find the right specialist for your team.
At Aspire Life Sciences, we specialise in partnering with high-growth biotech and deep tech companies to find the right people at the right time. Whether it’s your first key hire or scaling an entire function, our team brings deep industry knowledge, strategic thinking, and a hands-on approach.
Get in touch to find out how we can help you build your team or to take the next step in your own career journey.
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