Series Funding for Startups: A Guide To Hiring Your Initial Team

Key takeaways

• Startups in series funding require specialized hires. At this stage, companies need experts in finance, law, marketing, and product to meet milestones and secure future funding rounds.
  
• Independent professionals provide flexibility and expertise. Engaging freelancers and independent professionals lets startup founders access top skills without long-term commitments.
  
• A strategic hiring process accelerates growth. Knowing how to hire employees for startup success — whether for your first hires after a seed round or during later series funding for startups — can improve execution and investor confidence.

For many entrepreneurs, reaching the point where you’re looking for series funding is both exciting and challenging. The next step often means making critical first hires, which begs the question of how to hire the right employees for startup growth while also balancing limited resources. Unlike early-stage startups relying solely on founders, this phase demands specialized talent to hit key milestones, drive traction, and prepare for future funding rounds.

In this guide, you'll learn which independent professionals and freelancers to engage at pivotal moments, including growth marketing, product development, and strategic team building. 

We'll also explore smart sourcing and hiring process strategies that help startup founders build expert-driven teams quickly. With Upwork, entrepreneurs can assemble flexible, on-demand talent that accelerates progress toward the next round of funding.

Roles startups should hire for their initial team

Startups moving through funding stages need more than great ideas; they need the right people to build, operate, and scale the business. By hiring these experienced professionals early, founders can create a solid operational base, reduce risk, and present a stronger case to investors.

Financial and business experts

Startups looking to scale through successive funding rounds need more than a promising product — they need financial credibility. That means assembling the right team and resources to ensure their business plan, projections, and metrics meet the expectations of investors. 

Essential financial roles and resources that help startups build investor-ready operations include:

1. Financial analysts. Financial analysts refine the business model, forecast cash flow, and help with company valuation. Their ability to turn complex data into investor-ready reports is critical during fundraising.
2. Business consultants. These experts offer strategic guidance on revenue growth, market positioning, and operational planning to ensure the business plan aligns with investor expectations.
3. Data analysts. Data analysts monitor and project key performance indicators such as burn rate, customer acquisition cost, and profitability, giving founders the clarity to make informed decisions.
4. Mentors and accelerators. Entrepreneurs often benefit from programs and partnerships that offer guidance, access to capital providers, and valuable industry connections to accelerate growth between rounds.

Pitch deck and investment readiness

To attract investor interest and streamline the fundraising process, startups need to present a polished, credible case for their growth potential. That means more than just great design; it requires a clear narrative, validated financials, and a deep understanding of what investors expect at each stage. Founders who prepare thoroughly not only stand out but also move through funding rounds with greater speed and confidence.

Key strategies to strengthen your pitch deck and overall investment readiness include:

• Working with professional designers and consultants. Designers and consultants help craft pitch materials that clearly communicate product-market fit, growth trajectory, and traction, while reinforcing credibility through aligned milestones and financial projections.
• Preparing for due diligence early. Consultants ensure financial statements, market research, and supporting documents are accurate and investor-ready, minimizing friction during investor conversations.
• Using proven frameworks. Reference playbooks popularized by accelerators like Y Combinator present your narrative in a format that resonates with experienced investors.
• Hiring specialized experts on demand. Upwork can connect you with vetted professionals for everything from storytelling to financial validation, helping you move faster and more efficiently through the fundraising process.
• Focusing on clarity and confidence. Engaging the right professionals can add polish and rigor, ultimately boosting investor confidence and improving your chances of securing capital.

Legal and compliance support

Startups need strong legal and compliance support to safeguard operations, protect founder equity, and prepare for major milestones. As businesses grow and attract investors, even minor oversights can lead to delays, disputes, or regulatory issues that derail momentum. Proactively addressing legal needs at every stage helps maintain operational clarity, uphold investor trust, and set the stage for long-term success.

Key areas to address include:

• Contract and equity management. Legal consultants draft and review contracts and manage equity structures to protect founders and ensure fairness for investors during each funding round.
• Startup formation. Early legal guidance helps establish incorporation documents and equity agreements, setting a strong foundation for growth.
• Intellectual property protection. Securing patents, trademarks, or copyrights prevents infringement and adds value ahead of an acquisition or IPO.
• Public offering compliance. As startups prepare to go public, compliance experts oversee SEC disclosures, monitor liquidity events, and manage regulatory requirements.
• International labor compliance. For global growth, legal specialists help navigate international hiring laws and labor regulations to avoid costly missteps.

Here are some common legal milestones across the funding stages:

‍

Growth and marketing specialists

As startups advance through funding rounds, growth marketing becomes a key driver of momentum. It signals traction to investors, attracts top talent, and expands the customer base. Engaging the right specialists early on can turn a good product into a scalable business.

Experts who can help build that repeatable growth engine include:

• Digital marketing managers. Oversee campaign strategy, budget allocation, and performance tracking to ensure scalable growth across channels.
  
• Social media strategists. Build brand visibility and engagement by tailoring content and campaigns to each platform's audience.
  
• SEO professionals. Optimize on-site and content strategies to drive organic traffic and improve search visibility.
  
• Recruitment consultants. Help attract and hire key marketing talent to strengthen internal capabilities as the company grows.
  
• Paid advertising experts. Manage PPC and social ad campaigns that deliver measurable results and insights for future funding conversations.
  
• Content producers. Create high-impact assets, such as blog posts, videos, and whitepapers, that support lead generation and brand authority.
  
• Niche marketing specialists. Provide deep expertise in vertical-specific channels and tactics to unlock new growth opportunities.

Sales and customer support 

To scale effectively, startups need both strong sales execution and reliable customer support. Sales teams convert interest into revenue, while support teams turn customers into long-term advocates. Together, they create a growth engine that drives acquisition and retention.

Key roles in this full-cycle system include:

• Sales development representatives (SDRs). Qualify leads, personalize outreach, and guide prospects through the early stages of the sales pipeline.
  
• Account executives. Close deals by addressing customer pain points, presenting tailored solutions, and negotiating terms.
  
• Customer success managers. Build relationships post-sale, helping customers realize value and reducing churn.
  
• Helpdesk and live chat agents. Provide quick, accessible support to resolve issues and enhance customer satisfaction.
  
• Onboarding specialists. Ensure new customers experience a smooth transition and understand how to maximize the benefits from the product or service.

Creative and product development talent

Early product teams play a critical role in translating vision into reality, especially during the transition between funding rounds. The right creative and product hires drive product-market fit, enhance usability, and shape how the broader team executes. For startups, assembling this talent early can make the difference between an MVP that stalls and a product that scales.

Key roles that shape product development and investor appeal include:

• Product managers. Own product strategy, prioritize features, and align cross-functional teams to deliver customer value.
• UX/UI specialists. Design intuitive user experiences and interfaces that reduce friction and increase satisfaction.
• Visual designers. Create polished, on-brand visuals that enhance product appeal and usability.
  
• Prototyping experts. Build functional prototypes that enable rapid iteration and early feedback from users or stakeholders.
  
• User researchers. Conduct testing and interviews to validate ideas and identify areas for product improvement.
  
• Freelance creatives. Support short-term initiatives with specialized skills in areas like animation, branding, or microcopy.
  
• Growth-focused designers. Collaborate with marketing to design assets that support acquisition and retention goals.

Hiring strategies for early-stage startups

For early-stage founders, developing a structured hiring strategy is one of the most critical steps toward long-term success. The right plan helps you hire employees efficiently and also ensures alignment with company goals, values, and culture. A thoughtful hiring process allows startups to attract great candidates, thoroughly evaluate them, and seamlessly integrate each new employee into the team's growth journey.

Let's review some core strategies to build a strong foundation for hiring in early-stage startups:

• Use diverse sourcing methods. Tap into job boards, LinkedIn, AngelList, referrals, recruitment agencies, social media, and your own networks to identify and connect with the right people.
  
• Write a compelling job description. A well-written job description outlines core responsibilities and highlights your mission and values, helping attract talent who match your company’s culture.
  
• Streamline the screening process. Review resumes, conduct structured interviews, and include assessments. Use the interview process and in-person conversations to evaluate both skill sets and team alignment.
  
• Optimize your onboarding process. An effective onboarding process ensures each new employee feels welcomed, understands the company's vision, and can contribute quickly to the startup's growth lifecycle.
  
• Leverage human resources expertise early. Even if you don't yet have a full HR team, consulting with HR advisors or freelancers can help refine the recruiting process, structure benefits, and improve employee retention.

By focusing on both tactical sourcing and cultural alignment, startup founders can build a team that supports innovation and scales effectively. A deliberate recruiting process, starting with the earliest hires, sets the stage for a resilient, high-performing organization.

Build lasting momentum

For startup founders navigating series funding, one of the most important priorities is hiring the right professionals to accelerate growth. While capital and equity funding are crucial, building a strong base of team members is equally vital for achieving milestones and signaling growth potential to investors.

Relying only on in-house staff can slow progress. By engaging independent professionals and freelancers, entrepreneurs and business owners can quickly fill skill gaps, test new ideas, and scale without committing to long-term overhead. Whether it's partnering with a co-founder, leveraging mentors, or tapping into niche expertise, early-stage startups benefit from flexible models that align with the startup's culture while preparing for the next level of growth.

To move beyond funding stages and reach full potential, founders should prioritize expert support that matches their evolving needs. Upwork can connect you with proven specialists who can strengthen your foundation and maintain momentum. 

Startups ready to accelerate can sign up for Upwork today to build out their initial teams and scale with confidence.

‍

Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this article. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.

This article is intended for educational purposes and should not be viewed as legal or tax advice. Please consult a professional to find the solution that best fits your situation.