Welcome to the Founder Stories Podcast. Host Donna Owen talks with Alexandra Chirica, founder of Recfindr, a new tech tool helping recruiters manage client deals better. From her early days in recruitment to starting a tech business, Alexandra shares her journey, why she pivoted her product, and how she raised funds as a solo founder. She opens up about the hard lessons, the power of believing in your “why,” and what it takes to launch a startup in a space that’s new and challenging.

Alexandra isn’t just a founder; she’s driven by a clear purpose to improve how recruitment agencies work with clients. Her journey from recruiter to tech builder shows how a strong belief in a mission can shape better tools. Her focus on learning and pivoting is helping reshape recruitment tech.

Alexandra ran a recruitment agency before starting Recfindr, a tech tool to help agencies manage deals better. At Recfindr, she uses smart tools to improve how agencies work with clients. She focuses on solving real problems and learning from users, using her past to build better ways to work in recruitment.

Key Takeaways:

• Building Recfindr: Alexandra talks about starting a tech tool for recruiters.
• Why the Pivot: How changing her idea helped her stay true to her mission.
• Raising Funds: What she learned from pitching and getting investment.
• From Recruiter to Founder: How her past work shaped her product.
• Smart Recruitment Tools: Using tech to help agencies work better and faster.

Additional Insights:

• Tech for Recruiters: Alexandra shares how Recfindr helps agencies close deals.
• Starting from Scratch: The ups and downs of building a product alone.
• Learning by Doing: How Past Mistakes Helped Shape Smarter Ideas.
• Believing in the Why: Why purpose matters more than the product.
• Growth by Change: How being open to new paths helped Recfindr grow.

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

• “Stick to your why, that’s what keeps you going.” - Alexandra
• “Raising money is hard, but belief in yourself is key.” - Alexandra
• “Tech can make recruitment smarter and simpler.” - Alexandra

Join Alexandra as she shares how purpose, learning, and smart tech are changing recruitment, helping agencies work better and connect more with their clients.

Episode Highlight

[00:00] - Teaser

[01:02] - Introducing Alexandra: From Recruitment to Recfindr

[01:28] - What Is Recfindr? Explaining a Digital Sales Room for Recruiters

[02:26] - Finding the Right Words: Messaging Recfindr to Recruiters

[04:07] - The Pivot Story: From Marketplace Idea to Deal Room Solution

[07:50] - Bootstrapping the Startup: Personal Investment and Hard Lessons

[08:20] - From Boutique Agency to Tech Builder: The Real Start of Recfindr

[11:39] - Raising Investment: From Angel Rejections to a VC Win

[14:58] - Post-Investment Shift: Rest, Reflection, and Real Product Discovery

[16:15] - Hiring and Product Discovery: Building a Strong Startup Team

[19:02] - The Early Years: Alexandra’s Journey from Law Aspirations to Recruitment

[22:54] - Creativity in Recruitment: How Alexandra Learned Her Niche

[24:17] - Getting Bored of Success: Why She Needed a New Challenge

[27:08] - Taking the Leap: How the Idea for Recfindr Took Shape

[28:32] - Darker Days: Stress, Fundraising Pressure, and Mental Strength

[32:25] - Looking Ahead: Scaling Recfindr and Embracing Growth

[35:26] - What’s Next: Investing, Innovation, and a Flexible Future

[39:27] - Final Advice: Underselling Yourself and Believing in the Why

FOLLOW THE GUEST:

LinkedIn Accounts: 

• Alexandra Chirica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrachirica/ 
• Recfindr: https://www.linkedin.com/company/recfindr/

Websites:   

• Recfindr: https://www.recfindr.co.uk/ 

FOLLOW THE HOST:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnalowen/ 
• Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-engine-growth/ 
• Website: https://www.theengine.uk/ 
• Email: [email protected]