The quiet days of VC hiring are over. After two years of belt-tightening and stalled growth, venture capital firms are done playing defense. Portfolio companies are healthier, closer to profitability, and ready to scale. But without the right leadership, they’ll fall behind. Evan Berta, an Associate at Hunt Scanlon Ventures, explores NU Advisory Partners’ latest insights on how VC hiring is changing, and why firms need to refocus on talent now.
As venture capital firms emerge from two years of uncertainty, 2025 is shaping up to be a transformational year for leadership hiring. After a period of stalled growth and financial conservatism, firms are now focused on building elite, high-impact teams to drive profitability.
According to NU Advisory Partners, an AI and tech-led retained executive search and advisory firm, the expectations for leadership in venture-backed companies have never been higher.
“There is no room for error in building the teams that will drive the next wave of growth,” the firm said in a recent report for clients. In their view, the ability to scale responsibly, navigate volatile markets, and drive operational efficiency is now at the core of every hiring decision.
“There is no room for error in building the teams that will drive the next wave of growth.”
Shift in VC Hiring Trends
According to Ben Dewar, Jen Ringoen, and Matt Levy at NU Advisory, the days of belt-tightening and stalled growth in VC hiring are over. After a quiet period, hiring surged in late 2024, with the momentum carrying over into this year.
Renewed investor confidence and a more business-friendly environment are driving a new wave of calculated, high-impact hiring.
“Portfolio companies are healthier, closer to profitability, and ready to scale – but without the right leadership, they’ll fall behind,” said Mr. Dewar. His message is clear: hiring decisions can no longer be reactionary or based on outdated growth models. Firms must be precise and strategic in building leadership teams that will directly drive business outcomes.
“Portfolio companies are healthier, closer to profitability, and ready to scale – but without the right leadership, they’ll fall behind.”
A New Hiring Playbook
The growth-at-all-costs mentality is dead, according to NU Advisory, and firms are now focusing on sustainable, profitability-driven scaling. Instead of rapidly expanding headcount, VCs are concentrating on talent density, building lean, high-impact teams where every hire plays a pivotal role.
NU Advisory Partners notes a shift beyond wartime hires (CEOs, CFOs, and CROs), which were dominant in 2023 and 2024. Now, firms are reinvesting in roles like Chief Product Officer, Chief People Officer, and Head of Customer Success to support long-term infrastructure and scalability.
“For VCs, this shift represents an opportunity to rethink leadership pipelines and ensure portfolio companies are set up to thrive,” says Ms. Ringoen. Leadership strategies that worked in previous cycles won’t cut it in 2025, she noted. Firms, instead, must adapt to a rapidly changing talent landscape.
“For VCs, this shift represents an opportunity to rethink leadership pipelines and ensure portfolio companies are set up to thrive.”
New Standards for Venture Leaders
The expectations for VC-backed executives have never been higher. NU Advisory Partners highlights that venture-backed businesses now demand leaders with proven battle-tested experience, financial discipline, and the ability to execute effectively.
Executives must have successfully scaled businesses, navigated tight funding cycles, and delivered tangible results. They need to balance ambition with razor-sharp financial management, allowing no room for blank checks or unnecessary risks. The best leaders are analytical, data-driven operators who let their results do the talking.
“The war for talent hasn’t fully reignited yet, but the best candidates aren’t going to sit around. Waiting until late 2025 means competing for scraps. Now’s the time to move,” warned Mr. Levy.
Article By
Evan Berta
Evan Berta is an Associate at Hunt Scanlon Ventures, specializing in data analysis, market mapping, and target list preparation. He plays a critical role in identifying and building out groups of firms in sectors of interest, including preparing strategic overviews of top potential targets for acquisitions. Evan’s analytical expertise supports the firm’s sourcing initiatives, particularly in identifying niche and emerging market opportunities, and delivering actionable insights on tight timelines.
