Scene is trusted by some of the world's leading funds. We asked our investor partners what sets Scene apart. Here's what they said, in their own words.

When you think about the recruitment partners you trust most with your portfolio, what earns that trust, and how have we demonstrated it in practice?

At Octopus Ventures we know that behind every great company is a great team and to build a great team is challenging. Our most trusted recruitment partners are those that take the time to understand a team and business such that they are able to place the best person in the role, and those that consistently collaborate and partner in a way that adds value to the company that they are working with. They aren't just filling roles.

Can you share an example of where our work had a tangible impact on a portfolio company's trajectory, whether that was growth, execution speed, or leadership quality?

Every hire in a startup or scaleup has either a positive, neutral, or negative impact on the growth, pace of execution, or leadership quality in the company. The majority of the businesses we have referred, including the likes of Mojo, Seatfrog, Pelago, Guardian Angel, Vitesse and Raylo have consistently gone back to Scene in order to find high impact hires.

What do you think we understand particularly well about working with VC-backed companies that generalist recruiters often miss?

My experience is that the team at Scene goes beyond matching skillsets to job requirements, and truly takes the time to get to know candidates and what motivates them in order to put them into an opportunity that fully aligns. For VC backed companies, this is essential, because we aren't looking for people who can just do a job, but for the ambitious and talented people who want to build something great. Few recruitment partners understand this in a way that they translate to their work product, Scene has managed to do so.

What do you see as our USPs?

Quality in collaboration and in the work delivered. To me, this is the most important element. On speed and cost, I find Scene to uniquely be a partner that is able to work on and deliver those up-and-coming leadership levels, so your heads of and directors of the world. In the rest of the market, the big (expensive) recruitment firms either will overcharge or won't take these on, and the rest of the market focuses more junior.

How do we balance the needs of founders with the expectations of investors when supporting a portfolio company?

Scene has always taken the time to understand a founder's needs and what is driving those, which often comes from the investors.

How do we act as a valuable partner to you as a Fund, as well as to your Port Co's?

Consistently delivering a high quality experience and outcome. This means our recommendations continue to be taken seriously. High quality hires that accelerate a business' performance reduce risk, and again, building a great team is the most important factor in building a great company, which is our goal.

If you were introducing us to another fund or founder, how would you describe what it's like to work with us?

I would say that Scene are the best partner to work with on Exec-1 Leadership and building high-quality teams at pace. Unlike other recruiters, the team will really take the time to understand your company and needs in the role, and they will curate a high quality and highly relevant talent pool for you. We consistently receive great feedback from companies that work with them.