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Our portfolio companies have used Bridge to request over 1,000 introductions to candidates that we sourced, curated and shared with them. This has resulted in filling 55+ roles and saving over $2.5 million in recruitment spending.

Bridge has helped us streamline the entire process from sharing candidates, managing introductions, capturing feedback, and keeping track of every connection. As a small team, Bridge has helped us scale our impact and provide better service to our hiring teams and candidate network.

Nell Hardie Head of Talent Blackbird Ventures

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Can you tell us what the Lilypad program is and how it works?

The Lilypad is a self-service hiring platform exclusively used by Blackbird Ventures' portfolio companies. It streamlines the hiring process by providing access to a diverse range of candidates and promoting inclusive and equitable hiring practices. The platform makes it easier for portfolio companies to fill critical roles and hire top talent efficiently and at scale.

How does the Lilypad program benefit Blackbird's portfolio companies?

The Lilypad program streamlines the hiring process for Blackbird's portfolio companies by providing access to a wide pool of diverse and talented candidates. It allows companies to augment their own talent teams and bring additional candidates into their networks, enabling them to scale faster and save millions of dollars in recruitment fees. With the program's open application process, candidates with diverse backgrounds, who may not have prior startup experience or industry networks can apply. This helps companies build high-performing teams and diverse cultures.

How does the Lilypad program help deliver diversity?

The Lilypad program's open application process allows individuals from varied backgrounds and skill sets to apply, even if they do not have prior startup experience or industry networks. This allows Blackbird's portfolio companies to access a wider pool of talent and find candidates with diverse backgrounds, which helps to build high-performing teams and diverse cultures. It also provides talented individuals with the opportunity to find roles in startups and become part of a startup talent community, even if they don't have prior experience in the industry.

Can you tell us about the impact the Lilypad program had on Blackbird Ventures?

The Lilypad program had a significant impact on Blackbird Ventures by enabling them to provide better service to their portfolio companies and unlock scale for both their portfolio companies and the firm. By providing a self-service hiring platform, Blackbird's portfolio companies were able to fill critical roles faster, while saving millions of dollars in recruitment fees.

Can you share a success story of a portfolio company that leveraged the Lilypad program to scale their team?

One of Blackbird Ventures' portfolio companies, Canva, leveraged the Lilypad program to scale its team quickly and efficiently. The program provided access to a diverse range of candidates, and with Bridge's help, they were able to streamline the hiring process. Today, Canva is one of the world's fastest-growing companies, and their partnership with them is a testament to the success of the Lilypad program.

How did the Lilypad program help Blackbird's portfolio companies save money on recruitment fees?

The Lilypad program made it easier for Blackbird's portfolio companies to hire top talent efficiently and at scale. By using the program, their portfolio companies were able to fill 55+ roles and save over $2.5 million in recruitment spend.

How did Bridge help streamline and scale the hiring process?

Bridge helped Blackbird Ventures streamline the entire process from sharing candidates to managing introductions and capturing feedback. The platform provided access to a vast pool of talented candidates, which was invaluable in helping them fill critical roles in their portfolio companies.

What were some of the challenges you faced while managing the Lilypad program?

With a small team, it was challenging for Blackbird Ventures to manage the program effectively and keep track of every connection. They needed a platform that would help them streamline their process and provide better service to their hiring teams and candidate network.

Can you tell us about the impact of the Lilypad program on Blackbird Ventures' talent network?

The Lilypad program connects talent from all walks of life with the hiring teams at Blackbird portfolio startups, often providing access to roles that were not yet advertised. Through the Lilypad, candidates can be searched and get directly introduced to founders and hiring managers for over 100 portfolio companies, with roles on offer from internships to senior leadership. The Lilypad has helped talented individuals land epic roles with various startups and become part of a startup talent community.

How did your unique skillset and expertise help you build and scale the Lilypad program?

The Lilypad program was built and scaled with the help of a talented and dedicated team passionate about building high-performing teams and diverse cultures. We were able to design a platform that is easy to use, efficient, and provides access to a diverse range of candidates. Our strong talent function helped us source and curate top talent from a variety of sources, enabling us to fill critical roles faster while saving millions of dollars in recruitment fees.

What advice would you give to other venture capital firms looking to build a hiring platform like the Lilypad?

To build a successful hiring platform like the Lilypad, it is important to focus on building a platform that is easy to use, efficient, and provides access to a diverse range of candidates. Leveraging technology to streamline the hiring process and provide better service to your portfolio companies is also crucial. Additionally, building a strong talent function that can help source and curate top talent from a variety of sources is key. This advice comes from my experience building and scaling talent functions at some of Australia's highest performing VCs.