Missing Link

Missing Link is a frontier-tech executive search firm specializing in high-conviction searches for hard-to-fill leadership roles and high-impact specialists in emerging technology sectors. Founded as a boutique search firm, Missing Link has established itself as a trusted partner for Web3, AI/ML, deep tech, and hardware companies seeking top-tier talent where traditional recruiting approaches fall short.

Core Services

Missing Link operates with a distinctive methodology focused on signal-driven, iterative search processes. Rather than volume-based profile forwarding, they run high-conviction searches built for hires that last. Their approach includes mapping the entire market, calibrating through structured feedback, presenting every candidate with a written thesis and explicit risks to probe, and running tight end-to-end processes with protected candidate experience.

The firm offers two primary search modalities: Executive Search for board members, C-level executives, VPs, heads, and management positions; and IC Search for individual contributors in tech and go-to-market roles, providing a flexible search extension for particularly challenging positions.

Key Strengths

Missing Link has built deep domain expertise across frontier technologies including zero-knowledge cryptography, AI infrastructure, developer tooling, Web3/blockchain, hardware, and deep tech. They also serve scaled tech sectors including digital health, fintech, marketplaces, e-commerce, supply chain, and gaming.

Their track record speaks to their effectiveness: 95% placement rate on retained searches, delivering 3+ vetted candidates within 2 weeks, achieving a 92% interview rate for introduced candidates, and introducing the hired candidate within an average of 24.3 days. The firm has successfully closed over 100 leadership hires.

Notable Clients & Projects

Missing Link's client roster includes prominent Web3 organizations such as Ethereum Foundation, Polkadot, Web3 Foundation, zkSync, Lido, Parity, OP Labs, Nexus Mutual, Mina Protocol, Li.Fi, Cosmos, Celo, and Aleo. They also work with leading venture capital firms including a16z Crypto, 1kx, and Greenfield Capital.

Beyond Web3, their clients span AI infrastructure (deepset), developer platforms (Alchemy), cloud infrastructure (DigitalOcean, Supabase), DevOps (CircleCI), and enterprise software (SAP, commercetools).

Why Choose Missing Link

Missing Link positions itself as the partner for companies seeking quality over quantity in executive search. Their high-touch, meticulous approach is designed for searches where obvious experts are rare and the talent market is particularly noisy. They explicitly state they are "not the right partner" for volume recruiting or simple profile forwarding - instead focusing on the hard hires that require exhaustive market mapping, deep domain knowledge, and structured candidate assessment. For Web3 and frontier tech companies building specialized teams in emerging fields, Missing Link offers the domain expertise and network depth that generalist recruiters typically lack.