FNDN Series

FNDN Series

Join discussions with Heads of People, Founders and experts in and around startups, to explore the topic of compensation.

Episodes

May 24, 2025 13 mins

Welcome back to the FNDN Series, where we continue our deep dive into startup compensation with Melissa Theiss, Head of People at Kit and founder of Fledge. In this third episode of our conversation, we unpack a hot topic in the startup world—are personal bonuses worth the trouble they cause? We explore how to transform bonuses from expected entitlements into true motivators, design programs that drive performance without creating ...

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Welcome back to the FNDN Series, where we continue our discussions with Melissa Theiss, Head of People at Kit and founder of Fledge. In this second episode, we dig deep into one of the thorniest challenges startups face as they grow—how to build a job structure that scales without killing agility. We explore progression steps, title frameworks, when to introduce levels, and practical strategies for implementing job architecture whi...

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Welcome back to the FNDN Series, where we dive deep into startup compensation with industry leaders from across the startup world. In this episode, we yarn with Melissa Theiss, Head of People at Kit and founder of Fledge, an HR consultancy helping people leaders think like business leaders. We explore how startups can reject cookie-cutter compensation models, build a comp philosophy that's truly fit for purpose, and implement princ...

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Description

Welcome back to the FNDN Series, join us as we speak with Adam Horne, co-founder of OpenOrg, about how transparency can transform company culture. With 14+ years of experience building startups, Adam shares practical insights on implementing pay transparency, connecting performance to compensation, and building trust through clear communication.


In this episode, we explore why both young and experienced employees val...

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In this episode of the FNDN Series, we delve into startup compensation strategies with guest Jessica Zwaan, a seasoned COO and author of 'Built for People.'

We examine how applying product management principles can revolutionise People operations. Jesse shares insights from practical experiences, emphasising the importance of a market-informed approach to compensation and the dangers of freezing compensation in times of financial s...

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Learn how Steve Cadigan, LinkedIn's first CHRO, scaled the company from 400 to 4,000 employees in 3.5 years by redefining startup compensation, cultivating a standout culture, and outmaneuvering Silicon Valley's biggest talent competitors.

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Discover how Immutable's Head of People, Ami Patel, tackled startup compensation challenges by blending transparency, data-driven strategies, and a pay-for-talent philosophy to build trust and support a high-performance culture — as well as what to do when your nascent industry has no benchmarking data.

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In this interview, Peter Walker, Head of Insights at Carta, shares his expert insights on building effective startup equity programs, navigating global compensation challenges, and the evolving role of People Operations in driving transparency and alignment in today’s economic landscape.

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Mark Frein, COO of Oyster HR, shares his insights on building transparent, fair, and scalable compensation frameworks for startups, emphasising the importance of clear communication and alignment with company values.

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Paul Stovell, Founder and CEO of Octopus Deploy, shares how transparent compensation models can build trust and improve pay equity in tech companies.

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Jess Blomfield, Head of People at Airtree, shares insights on compensation practices in startups and VC-backed companies.


She highlights the importance of fairness, competitive market rates, regular salary reviews, legal compliance, and financial sustainability as critical considerations in startup compensation practices.


Jess also emphasises the need for flexibility, aligning compensation with performance, and adopting...

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