In this episode of Startup Hustle, Matt Watson interviews Krishna Oza, founder and COO of Git Hired, discussing the challenges of hiring software engineers, particularly for startups. Krishna shares his personal experiences that led to the creation of GitHired, an AI-driven platform designed to help startups find the right technical talent based on proof of work. The conversation delves into the unique needs of early-stage developers, the importance of product thinking, and how GitHired identifies and surfaces 10x engineers. Krishna also discusses the business model of GitHired and the struggles faced by startup founders in finding suitable engineering talent. TAKEAWAYS Krishna's personal experience with hiring challenges inspired GitHired. Startups need engineers who can match their fast-paced environment. Early-stage developers are builders who understand product development. Product thinking is crucial in today's AI-driven landscape. 10x engineers possess product vision and minimal organizational friction. Get Hired surfaces hidden engineering talent through GitHub analysis. The platform creates one-page portfolios for applicants based on their work. Complexity of projects is a key factor in evaluating candidates. The business model includes a flat fee for successful hires. Startup founders often struggle to find engineers who can build for users. ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 00:00 The Genesis of GitHired 03:01 The Ideal Early Stage Developer 07:01 The Importance of Product Thinking 10:10 Identifying 10x Engineers 12:52 The Role of Proof of Work 20:09 Business Model and Market Fit 23:40 Startup Founder Struggles Links & Resources Connect with Krishna Oza on LinkedIn What Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025 Subscribe to the Global Talent Sprint Full Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordably If you’re trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead. Follow the show, rate it, and send this to someone who’s still trying to do “real Scrum.” They need it more than you do.