AI Startup CEOs Prioritize Adaptability Over Resumes When Hiring

Amid a competitive job market, three AI company leaders share what they value most in candidates.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 9:39am

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Three CEOs of AI startups in San Francisco - Arvind Jain of Glean, Daniel Yanisse of Checkr, and Vipul Ved Prakash of Together AI - recently shared with Business Insider what they look for when hiring. Rather than focusing solely on resumes or job descriptions, these companies value candidates who are genuinely excited about AI and can adapt to rapidly changing technology. They screen for people who instinctively use AI to solve problems, thrive in startup culture, and are passionate about the possibilities of AI.

Why it matters

As AI continues to transform the tech industry, these hiring insights from AI startup leaders highlight how the skills and mindset needed for these roles are evolving. Rather than prioritizing traditional credentials, these companies are seeking candidates who can keep pace with the rapid changes in their field and contribute to building innovative AI-powered products and services.

The details

The CEOs explained their unique hiring approaches. Arvind Jain of Glean said he rarely hires for a specific task, instead looking for adaptable people who have already started using AI in their personal or professional lives. During interviews, Jain gives candidates a task so difficult that they couldn't complete it in the allotted time, to see if they instinctively turn to AI tools. Daniel Yanisse of Checkr said he seeks people who will thrive in a startup culture, valuing self-drive, flexibility, and a willingness to reimagine roles with AI. Vipul Ved Prakash of Together AI prioritizes passion for AI over technical expertise, looking for people excited about the possibilities of the technology.

  • The interviews with the three AI startup CEOs took place in March 2026.

The players

Arvind Jain

Cofounder and CEO of Glean, an AI-powered enterprise search and workplace productivity platform.

Daniel Yanisse

Cofounder and CEO of Checkr, which uses AI to conduct background checks.

Vipul Ved Prakash

Cofounder and CEO of Together AI, which enables developers to train generative AI models.

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What they’re saying

“For example, we are looking to hire an engineer, a product manager, or a human resources person, and they have a very large range of tasks that they're going to be doing. So the hiring is done at a bit higher level. And one of the key things that we look at is, are we hiring a person who's curious and who has started to use AI in their personal lives or in their previous job?”

— Arvind Jain, Cofounder and CEO of Glean

“We're over 900 people, so we're not a small startup, but I'm a startup guy. People who come here — they need to be OK with uncertainty, be self-driven, adaptable, flexible, willing to do new things, and solve new problems without too much guidance or structure.”

— Daniel Yanisse, Cofounder and CEO of Checkr

“We look for excellence — and it doesn't have to be a specific kind of excellence. It's just like folks who are really interested in what they're doing. We look for folks who are excited by AI because it's who we are, and some people are more excited about the possibilities of AI than others.”

— Vipul Ved Prakash, Cofounder and CEO of Together AI

What’s next

The AI startup CEOs interviewed will continue to evolve their hiring practices as the technology and job market continue to change. Candidates interested in these roles should focus on demonstrating their adaptability, passion for AI, and ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment.

The takeaway

In the rapidly evolving AI industry, traditional hiring criteria like resumes and job descriptions are taking a backseat to more holistic assessments of a candidate's mindset and potential. These AI startup leaders are seeking people who can grow alongside their companies and contribute to building innovative AI-powered products, rather than those who simply fit a predefined role.