đź’° $500K - $3M funding stage

Founding Engineer for Seed Stage Startups

Post-validation stage focused on scaling initial traction and building the core team. Get senior engineers who ship like your first 5 hires tailored to your stage without the full-time commitment.

$35M+
ARR guided
2
Acquisitions
Seed→A
Stages supported
15+
Startups

Seed Stage Challenges a Founding Engineer Solves

At the seed stage stage, you face unique technical and organizational challenges. Here's how a founding engineer helps:

Seed Stage Challenges

  • ⚠️Scaling from MVP to production-grade
  • ⚠️Making first engineering hires
  • ⚠️Investor technical due diligence
  • ⚠️Establishing engineering culture

How We Help

  • âś“Fractional CTO
  • âś“Founding Engineer Pod
  • âś“Technical Due Diligence Prep
  • âś“Direct access to senior engineers in Slack
  • âś“No rotating contractors or account managers

What to Expect from a Founding Engineer at Seed Stage

At the seed stage stage ($500K - $3M), you need a founding engineer who understands the unique pressures of your growth phase. You're not a large company with established processes—you need someone who can move fast while building foundations that scale.

Typical Seed Stage Engagement

  • • Hours: 10-25 hours/week depending on needs
  • • Duration: 6-18 months typical engagement
  • • Communication: Direct Slack access, weekly syncs
  • • Scope: Scaling from MVP to production-grade, making first engineering hires

Why Seed Stage Startups Choose HyperNest

We've helped startups navigate from seed stage to the next stage. Our founding engineers have supported 2 successful acquisitions and helped scale companies from $100K to $5M+ ARR. We understand what it takes to hit your next milestone.

“Aravind is in the top 1% of engineers I've hired. He supported us from $100K to $5M ARR, keeping us shipping through crazy growth and investor scrutiny.”
Tara Viswanathan
Co-founder & CEO, Rupa Health (Acquired by Fullscript)

Founding Engineer for Seed Stage FAQs

When should a Seed Stage startup hire a Founding Engineer?

Seed Stage startups ($500K - $3M raised) typically need a founding engineer when scaling from mvp to production-grade. At this stage, you need senior technical leadership without the full-time commitment or cost.

How much does a Founding Engineer cost for Seed Stage startups?

For Seed Stage startups, founding engineer engagements typically range from $8,000-20,000/month for 10-25 hours/week. This is significantly less than a full-time hire ($300-500K+ salary + equity) while getting senior expertise from day one.

What does a Founding Engineer do at the Seed Stage stage?

At Seed Stage, a founding engineer focuses on scaling from mvp to production-grade and making first engineering hires. They provide senior engineers who ship like your first 5 hires tailored to your funding stage and growth trajectory.

How long do Seed Stage startups work with a Founding Engineer?

Typical Seed Stage engagements last 6-18 months. Many startups continue through their next funding round, with the founding engineer eventually helping hire a full-time replacement.

Ready for a Founding Engineer for your Seed Stage startup?

Let's discuss your seed stage challenges and how we can help you reach your next milestone.