commit raises $6m seed round to match senior engineers to startups they want to work for
Commit Secures $6 Million Seed Funding to Connect Engineers with Startups
Commit, a startup headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, is revolutionizing the way engineers find employment with early-stage companies. The company recently announced a successful $6 million seed round.
Investment Details
Accomplice spearheaded the funding round, with significant contributions from Kensington Capital Partners, Inovia, and Garage Capital. This investment will fuel Commit’s expansion and further development of its unique matching platform.
Company Origins and Mission
Founded in 2019 by Greg Gunn (CEO) and Beier Cai (CTO), Commit emerged from the founders’ experiences at Hootsuite. They initially bootstrapped the company while refining their approach to connecting talent with promising startups.
Greg Gunn explained the impetus behind Commit: “Founders with groundbreaking ideas consistently faced a major hurdle – attracting skilled engineers to join their teams.”
Addressing the Challenges of Early-Stage Hiring
Founders often seek experienced, full-stack tech leads. However, these engineers are frequently content in established roles at larger organizations.
The founders discovered that many engineers valued the support systems within their current companies, including mentorship and professional development opportunities. Furthermore, the traditional hiring process for early-stage startups can be cumbersome and inefficient.
Commit’s Innovative Solution
Commit addresses these challenges by rigorously vetting both startups and engineers. This ensures that engineers are connected with legitimate companies poised for success.
Engineers undergo a technical interview with Commit, streamlining the process and eliminating the need for repeated assessments during interviews with partner companies. Currently, engineers typically meet only 1.6 vetted founders before initiating a pilot project.
Financial Security for Engineers
To alleviate the financial risks associated with transitioning to a startup, Commit provides a salary to engineers while they search for a permanent position. Approximately 90% of engineers who begin pilot projects ultimately secure full-time employment.
Community and Support
Beyond matching, Commit fosters a thriving remote-first community. Members gain access to peer support, career guidance, coaching, and other resources to facilitate a smooth transition.
Data-Driven Matching and Diversity Initiatives
Commit leverages data analytics to optimize the matching process. The company is dedicated to building a diverse network of founders and engineers, ensuring equitable access to opportunities.
“We are actively working to counteract the systemic inequalities that limit access to these opportunities,” Gunn stated. “Our model allows individuals to live where they choose while still accessing top-tier opportunities.” Commit plans to launch a dedicated diversity hiring initiative later this year.
Current Partners and Future Growth
Commit currently collaborates with startups such as Patch, Plastiq, Dapper Labs, Relay, Certn, Procurify, Scope Security, Praisidio, Planworth, Georgian Partners, and Lo3 Energy.
Having worked with fewer than 100 engineers to date, Commit aims to expand its community to 10,000 engineers within the next year. Interested engineers can now join the waitlist to participate in the program.
Image Credits: Commit Beier Cai, co-founder & CTO, Greg Gunn, co-founder & CEO, Tiffany Jung, VP, Strategy & Ops Image Credits: Commit