321: Finding Real Talent in AI & Web3: Insightful hiring tips with Ian Brunner from IPTS.ai

In this episode I chat with Ian Brunner, co‑founder and CEO of IPTS - Interplanetary Talent Services, about how recruiting in Web3 and AI safety is changing — and how founders and job‑seekers alike can win. Ian shares how he pivoted from ad‑tech and Facebook into Web3, helped build recruiting at Protocol Labs, then spun out to form IPTS and now supports over a hundred companies placing talent across complex, frontier tech roles. We dig into real tactics for hiring: spotting fake AI‑written resumes, structuring hybrid roles, and mapping the cycles of the talent market. Whether you’re a founder scaling a startup, or a candidate trying to break into Web3/AI, you’ll pick up actionable advice you can use now. 

Key Learnings

• [00:03:00] How Ian made the jump from Facebook recruiting to Web3, and why direct access to leadership mattered for his decision.

• [00:06:00] The origin story of IPTS: how the recruiting team at Protocol Labs shifted into an agency model and spun out.

• [00:08:00] What sets IPTS apart: mission‑alignment, success‑based models, network depth, and a hands‑on operations mindset.

• [00:12:00] How IPTS acquires new clients and the power of referrals in this talent market.

• [00:13:00] Two major hiring trends in Web3/AI: the lack of entry‑level roles, and the rise of "Frankenstein roles" combining multiple functions.

• [00:20:00] How AI is disrupting recruiting: job descriptions created by AI, applications written by AI, and the challenge of verifying authenticity.

• [00:22:00] Real tactics for vetting candidates: ask about team structure, who managed them, who they interacted with — questions scammers/bots struggle with.

• [00:23:00] The resurgence of reference and background checks: what was ignored in hiring booms now is mandatory.

• [00:24:00] Global hiring in Web3: remote first, equitable pay across locations, and the attractiveness of arbitrage (talent anywhere).

• [00:38:00] Advice for founders: spend time upfront clarifying what you’re hiring for; understand the hiring cycles of the year; and define what carrot you’re offering if you need hires in tight windows.

• [00:31:00] The highest‑demand roles right now: senior to staff engineering; marketing/ecosystem/community growth; and BD/sales in Web3/AI contexts.
  

Disclaimer

Nothing mentioned in this podcast is investment or financial advice and please do your own research.

Connect

https://ipts.ai/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/ipts/

https://x.com/iptsai

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianbrunner/

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