8 Reasons to Work with a Boutique Executive Search Firm

Attracting and hiring a new executive is no small undertaking. This individual will have substantial influence over the continued success and trajectory of your organization, as they will be in charge of planning, directing and coordinating critical business objectives. Their strategies and processes will be instrumental to the long-term growth of your company.

Such fundamental positions cannot be left to chance, as is often the case with standard hiring practices. The best and brightest executives are rarely looking for new roles or submitting their resume to job postings. Businesses need a search firm with the right experience and proven ability to attract, nurture and deliver the industry leading executive suited to their specific needs.

Executive Search Firms are specialized in helping companies find top level candidates for executive and management positions. Below are a few of the ways working with an executive search firm can transform your hiring process.

Search Experts

Executive search firms are solely focused on developing the most elite strategies for attracting executive leaders to new organizations. Years of experience, testing and process development allow them to know exactly where to find industry leading talent, and they are qualified in fielding these candidates to determine if they have the skills you are looking for. They can provide expertise at every stage of the recruiting process and solutions for any obstacles that may arise.

Boutique Firm vs Large Firm

There’s no shortage of executive search or recruiting firms, both large and small, but there are many benefits to working with a smaller boutique firm specialized in executive placement. To the casual observer, a larger firm would appear to have deeper resources and a larger network but often this can lead to serious problems.

Many of the larger search firms will have non-competes in place that don’t allow them to recruit from their current clientele. Their abundance of active searches may be impressive at first glance, but upon further investigation, can severely limit the pool of talent they are able to draw upon. This can lead to your organization potentially missing out on what should have been the best executive fit for your company and industry.

Boutique firms often have higher close rates by choosing to work on a limited number of searches within a given industry to keep from running into these types of obstacles.

Personalized Attention

Firms with a more general focus may be conducting several searches at once, detracting from their ability to remain focused on your need of finding a qualified candidate in a timely fashion.

A boutique executive search firm works on fewer projects and is able to dedicate more strategic resources aimed at delivering on the needs of your search and to your expectations.

Deep Understanding of Your Organization

It is an executive search firm’s duty to familiarize themselves with your organization so they may better understand your exact criteria in terms of a potential candidate’s qualifications, culture and personality. And there’s much more to understanding a company than simply reading a few articles online and visiting their website.

An experienced firm will be familiar with the process involved in learning about the intangibles of your organization, which are often overlooked. We’ve found this to be a critical element in assessing both the immediate and long-term fit. An executive search firm with niche specific experience can understand the ins and outs of your organization beyond a surface level, allowing them to provide a higher level of service to deliver on your objectives.

Time and Cost Effective

Companies that struggle to find new executives sacrifice valuable time and money. Not only do they need to spend that time and money searching for candidates, they also lose productivity due to positions not being filled.

An executive search firm has the ability to identify, engage and develop potential executives quickly and efficiently, cutting down on expenses and opportunity cost in the long run.

Extensive Network

An executive search firm will have access to a great network. They will know exactly where to look for the talent you need and who to engage with. Many in-house teams pull from only those actively looking for jobs and/or the easiest to locate.

The best candidates are often those who fly under the radar and are only unearthed upon deeper research and strategic networking. An executive search firm’s network not only includes both potential and passive talent but leaders beyond the normal scope like board members, industry leaders, venture capitalists and private equity firms who can make introductions to relevant contacts that may be open to discussing new opportunities. This allows them to find the best possible candidates, whether those candidates are actively searching for a job or not.

Onboarding Assistance

Sometimes companies may be able to find the right candidates for their business but fail to retain them during the onboarding process. They may not have the time to properly initiate the new candidate, failing to make them feel welcome or lacking the kind of communication a new recruit may feel they need to settle in. An executive search firm will oversee the onboarding process to make sure your new employee becomes integrated and feels comfortable in their new home.

Transparent Search Process

Larger executive search firms may face challenges when it comes to enforcing a standard methodology in their hiring processes. This is because communication breakdowns are more likely in bigger companies with multiple employees and departments. We all know how bureaucracy can get in the way of delivering results. Boutique firms will have a data driven methodology that they will be able to clearly demonstrate, as well as metric reporting that includes vital information concerning all candidates contacted for your search. This provides companies with a sense of trust and transparency when it comes to feeling confident their executive search firm is doing all it can to find the best candidates.

If you are looking for a high-level executive for your company, you need professional services you can trust. An executive search firm will prioritize your best interests when it comes to finding the right candidate for the job.

Final Thoughts

If there is an opening for an executive position in your company, the process doesn’t have to be painful, but it shouldn’t be taken lightly either. Finding the right leader will require more than a job posting and fielding applicants. To make the best decision, it will require painstaking research, market mapping, strategic outreach, networking and much more. Working with a firm that implements a strategic approach, performs a thorough executive search process and has the experience to deliver will be invaluable to attracting the best executive for your organization. Feel free to read more about our 10 step executive search process.

Austin Venture Capital Firms

When it comes to startups and investments, 2019 has proven that venture capital is alive and well in Austin. Throughout 2019, startups in and around Austin saw 263 venture deals and raked in over $2.2 billion. The most successful year in terms of funding was the year 2000, with $2.52 billion in investments.

2019 has shown that Austin is heading back towards its former glory. In fact, it was one of the top 10 venture markets in the US that year. But, to understand whether a market has a healthy source of investments, it’s essential to look at the investors.

Here are some of the key VC firms in Austin, Texas.

LiveOak Venture Partners

The primary focus of the LiveOak Venture Partners firm is on series A and seed funding. Live Oak occasionally invests in later stages, but their main area of expertise is early-stage help. Their investments range from $250k up to $4 million on average.

This company looks to be the largest investor in all companies they work with. So far, LiveOak has had over 50 investments, and in 31 of them, they are the leading investor. The company was founded in 2012 in Austin, and it has been operating from there ever since.

The most significant investments so far: Eventus Systems, RxWiki, OJO Labs, InforcePro, and Infocyte

Total funds managed: $109 million

Detailed information about LiveOak Venture Partners

Central Texas Angel Network

CTAN (Central Texas Angel Network) focuses on providing specialized early-stage funding to accredited angel investors, early-stage companies, and entrepreneurs. They provide funding, education, guidance, networking opportunities, and information.

Since it was formed in 2006 as a non-profit organization, CTAN has invested in over 110 companies. However, only 30 of their investments are transparent. One of the most recent major investments was in the Rocket Dollar Company ($3.4 million).

The most significant investments so far: Rocket Dollar, Loan Genius, Infinite, Curb, Apptive, CSID, Localeur, and ClearBlade

Total funds managed: Individual investments of $64 million

Detailed information about Central Texas Angel Network

ATX Venture Partners

ATX Venture Partners was founded in 2014, and this firm focuses on investing in application companies, marketplaces, and B2B software. Most of their investments are early-stage, helping out aspiring entrepreneurs and startups.

The company is also known as ATX Seed Ventures because they specialize in this kind of funding. So far, the company has made over 56 investments. They have 29 lead investments, and some of the most recent ones are in Joust, Pens Systems, and Slingshot Aerospace.

The most significant investments so far: IdealSpot, Unbill, AlertMedia, Everfest, RideScout, and Team

Total funds managed: $25 million

Detailed information about ATX Venture Partners

Mercury Fund 

Mercury Fund was founded in 2005 in Houston, Texas, but they’ve opened a secondary office in Austin. This is an early-stage VC firm with investments all across the middle-US. Their focus is on technology innovation, aspiring entrepreneurs, and brand new startups.

It’s one of the most significant investment funds for new startups in the middle of the US. Their REED investments start at $50k and go up to $500k, while their series A funding ranges from $1 million to $2 million. Mercury Fund has an average investment, throughout the company’s lifetime, at $4.5 million.

They have over 12 investments under their belt, with 41 lead investments.

The most significant investments so far: Olea Edge Analytics, TeleVet, GameSalad, ShareThis, BlackLocus, Spruce, and Datical

Total funds managed: Over $200 million

Detailed information about Mercury Fund

S3 Ventures

The S3 Ventures firm is focused on helping out aspiring entrepreneurs in the state of Texas. They help with both early-stage investments but also in later stages with various growth strategies. This is one of the most successful and largest venture capital firms in Texas.

S3 Ventures has investments across various industries, including technology, healthcare, marketplaces, IT infrastructure, consumer software, and much more. The company was founded in 2007, and since then, they’ve been involved in 65 investments, 39 of which are lead investments.

The most significant investments so far: IFM Restoration, LeanDNA, Liveoak Technologies, Interplay Learning, Phunware, Favor, and Datical

Total funds managed: $500 million

Detailed information about S3 Ventures

Silverton Partners

The Silverton Partners venture capital firm is primarily focused on early-stage investments. Their investment portfolio ranges from CPG brands, tech services, to software solutions. Both entrepreneurs and teams looking to start new tech projects in Austin can rely on Silverton for funding.

Their initial investments go from a minimum of $200k on average, and up to $2 million. They have 44 lead investments and a total of 135 investments. Silverton has several investment funds, and each of them is focused on different types of deals or markets.

The most significant investments so far: Gembah Inc, Living Security, The Zebra, OneDay, TurnKey, WP Engine, Self Lender, Equipboard, and TrendKite

Total funds managed: Over $250 million

Detailed information about Silverton Partners

Next Coast Ventures

Founded in 2015 in Austin, Texas, the Next Coast Ventures VC firm focuses on series A, series B, and seed investments for technology companies. Both early-stage and middle-stage companies can seek investments from them.

This venture capital currently has two funds. The first one topped at $130 million with individual investments ranging from $3 to $5 million. Their primary investment markets are in between the two coasts. Next Coast has made 35 investments with 12 leading ones.

The most significant investments so far: AlertMedia, DOSH, 101 Commerce, Swivel, Stoplight, Tenfold, TrustRadius, and Diligent Robotics

Total funds managed: Over $130 million

Detailed information about Next Coast Ventures

Austin Ventures

Austin Ventures is one of the largest and oldest venture capital firms based in Austin. It was founded in 1984 and has had over 374 investments in their portfolio. They’ve made 137 lead investments, which is over a third of their total number.

The firm has raised over $4.5 billion in investments, and they invest in a variety of industries from manufacturing, software industry, tech innovation, and so on.

The firm works with young entrepreneurs, startups, early-stage companies, and middle-market businesses. Their focus is on the Texas business market, where they dominate with their numbers.

The most significant investments so far: Spredfast, Onit, Tasktop, Vyze, Ambiq Micro, Vyze, Bloomfire, Datical, and many others

Total funds managed: Over $4.5 billion

Detailed information about Austin Ventures

CAVU Venture Partners

This venture capital firm was founded in 2015 in New York. Their headquarters are in New York, but they have offices across the US, including Austin, Texas. This is one of the most active venture capital firms focused on the food and beverage industries.

The firm has made over 17 investments with ten leading. Even though it’s a young firm, CAVU has demonstrated a lot of success and know-how. This is evident as the firm currently has five funds.

The most significant investments so far: Kettle and Fire, REBBL, Once Upon a Farm, Kite Hill, Good Culture, Hippeas, Vital Proteins, and dot.LA

Total funds managed: Undisclosed

Detailed information about CAVU Venture Partners

Elsewhere Partners 

This is one of the newest venture capital firms in Austin, founded in 2017. Even though the firm is a new player, they’ve been actively boosting Austin’s business ecosystem from the very start. Their primary focus is on growth-stage companies that have achieved great results with little money.

Elsewhere Partners work in the software industry and have over 150 partners. They help companies achieve growth with vital investments, strategic advice, and industry expertise. Their fund was opened in 2019, with a total of $70 million. The company specializes in series A and Series B investments.

The most significant investments so far: Itential, Statflo, Relatient, ActivTrak, OpsCompass, and many more

Total funds managed: Over $70 million

Detailed information about Elsewhere Partners

What Makes Austin’s Startup Scene so Unique?

Austin has the fastest-growing metro area in the United States. It’s a hotbed for young people with a live music scene. A lot of tech talent is pouring into Austin from Silicon Valley and other hotbeds of the tech industry.

At the same time, some of the largest tech giants, like Facebook and Google, are increasing the number of employees here. Compared to other metro areas, it has a lower cost of living, which makes it ideal for millennials looking to live in a city and start a business.

Bottom Line

Austin is also the home of Silicon Hills, which is the hotbed of the tech industry in Texas. Venture capital leaders see potential in the area, and they are willing to support young companies. It’s up to people with business ideas to realize that opportunities are lying around here – they just need to seize them.