From seed to Series C: who to hire in different phases of growth

Hiring in a B2B SaaS company is always a challenge—but when you’re scaling fast, the stakes are even higher. Knowing who to hire and when is critical, yet many startups struggle to get it right. In fact, competition for top talent is one of the biggest operational risks for scaling companies today.

Most B2B SaaS companies go through similar growth phases, and the people you need at each stage will change. A hire that thrives in a seed-stage startup might struggle in a Series B company. Understanding these shifts can mean the difference between accelerated growth or costly missteps.

Let’s break down what each stage requires—and how hiring the right people at the right time sets you up for long-term success.

Seed stage: it’s all on the founders

At this stage, the focus is on finding product-market fit. You’re testing your value proposition, validating your repeatable and scalable business model, and likely pivoting along the way. Keeping costs low is essential.

Hiring at this stage? Generalists over specialists. You need people who can wear multiple hats, operate in uncertainty, and execute relentlessly. Founders often lead sales, marketing, and product development themselves, while early hires tend to be problem-solvers who can jump into anything.

Common roles in the seed stage:

• First hires: Engineers, product builders, and operational generalists.

• Sales: Founder-led sales, sometimes supported by an early SDR or AE.

• Marketing: Typically handled by founders, with support from agencies or freelancers.

Series A: first key hires & specialisation

At Series A, you’ve proven your business model and found traction. Now, it’s time to shift from validation to scaling—which means bringing in specialised talent to take things to the next level.

With more budget and less uncertainty, Series A companies start making their first specialist hires—moving from execution-focused generalists to experienced functional leads. Hiring at this stage is about building a solid foundation for predictable, repeatable growth.

Key shifts at Series A:

• Hiring experienced heads of sales, tech, and product to build and lead their departments.

• Bringing in the first marketing and finance specialists to drive demand and professionalise operations.

• Laying the groundwork for data-driven decision-making and KPI tracking.

Series B: team-led execution & scaling fast

At Series B, growth is the priority. Whether you’re expanding into new markets, launching new product lines, or doubling down on enterprise deals, hiring shifts from building a foundation to scaling execution.

This means more leadership hires, deeper specialisation, and a focus on efficiency. Hiring mistakes at this stage can be expensive—so attracting and retaining top talent becomes a major focus.

Common hiring trends at Series B:

• Growing teams across all functions—engineering, sales, marketing, and customer success.

• Bringing in VPs & senior leaders to lead execution at scale.

• Investing more in employer branding & recruitment to stand out in a competitive hiring market.

Series C: hiring for maturity & expansion

By Series C, the company is no longer a scrappy startup—it’s an established, fast-growing business. Now, hiring is less about filling gaps and more about building a world-class team for sustained success.

Key shifts at Series C:

• International expansion—hiring local market experts for go-to-market teams.

• Building a strong C-suite—bringing in executives who’ve scaled companies before.

• Refining company culture—maintaining the startup DNA while evolving into a structured organization.

At this stage, hiring gets harder. Many employees who joined in the early days struggle with the changes that come with scale. Culture becomes a retention challenge, and companies must double down on employee experience and leadership development.

What’s next?

Now that you know who to hire at each stage, the next big question is compensation—and how much you need to invest in building the right team.

At Taleron, we help fast-growing SaaS companies navigate these hiring challenges with expert guidance, tailored recruitment strategies, and real-world insights.

📩 Need help building your team? Let’s talk.