The AI Operator’s Playbook: How to Scale Your Team and Secure Funding

Most early-stage founders treat hiring as a fire drill, especially in the AI era. They hire fast in order to fill gaps, only to face culture cracks and churn six months later.

Richard Hughes doesn't work that way. 🙅

As Operating Partner at Gutter Capital, he rolls up his sleeves and recruits directly alongside his portfolio companies. As a result, Gutter portcos see more than 80% employee retention at 18 months (significantly higher than the industry average).

On December 9th, we’re sitting down with Richard to dismantle the standard startup recruiting playbook. We’ll cover his philosophy on hiring fewer people, hiring them better, and keeping them longer.

Complete your event RSVP here:
https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-new-york-city-presents-the-ai-operators-playbook-how-to-scale-your-team-and-secure-funding/

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

• Cross-Functional Evaluation: How to assess and validate candidates in areas outside your own expertise (e.g., a non-technical founder hiring their first AI engineer).
• The Closing Framework: A structured approach for decision-making during late-stage negotiations to secure top prospects without losing leverage.
• Lo-Fi Talent Magnets: Scrappy, low-cost methods to position your company as a destination for top-tier talent, even before you have the brand recognition.
• The "Curve of Excellence": How to structure an interview process that builds conviction over time rather than just checking functional boxes.

Special Focus: The Elbow Grease Accelerator. Richard is also spearheading Gutter's new AI accelerator, Elbow Grease, which offers $300k in funding and runs locally in NYC.

If you are building in AI and looking for more than just cash, you need to be in the room to hear what they are looking for as they start recruiting for cohort #2.

Complete your event RSVP here:
https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-new-york-city-presents-the-ai-operators-playbook-how-to-scale-your-team-and-secure-funding/

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

• Pre-seed/Seed founders building their founding teams.
• Operators looking to transition into high-growth startup roles.
• AI builders interested in the Elbow Grease accelerator program.

Tickets for this event include food and drinks, as well as exclusive access to this VC who will change the way you're building teams.

You'll also meet dozens of other high-performing entrepreneurs who are creating their next big thing. Seriously, it's some of the best founder networking in the city.

Getting a ticket guarantees admission. No waitlisting.

AGENDA

• 6:00 PM: Networking, Food & Drinks
• 7:00 PM: Fireside Chat with Richard Hughes
• 8:00 PM: Meet the Speaker

And don't miss our other monthly tech events. They are great opportunities for builders, founders, and operators to network with each other to share best practices and find new resources to grow your startup the right way. See our full event lineup here.

Complete your event RSVP here:
https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-new-york-city-presents-the-ai-operators-playbook-how-to-scale-your-team-and-secure-funding/