Stage-Specific Expertise
Venture
Find visionary leaders for early-stage growth
Early-stage companies face unique challenges during rapid growth. From concept to product market fit to IPO, we’ve placed more foundational and visionary technical leaders in Seed to Growth stages across pioneering companies than any other executive search firm. We connect you with leaders who will shape the future of your business and guide every transition.
Hear from our Venture partners
Placements
across portfolio
“Riviera Partners is a trusted partner for Polaris Partners portfolio companies, consistently placing high-impact tech executives who have driven success in our companies. Their unparalleled access to top talent and deep industry knowledge set them apart as a key partner in our portfolio growth strategy.”
– Gary Swart, General Partner
Portfolio placements include:

Placements
across portfolio
“Riviera is my go-to partner for finding and placing the highest caliber technical leadership. Their smart, strategic approach and commitment to understanding the unique needs of our portfolio companies have played a pivotal role in building out product and engineering teams that scale.”
– Mike Volpi, Partner
Portfolio placements include:

Placements
across portfolio
“Riviera Partners’ ability to identify and place high-caliber technical leadership is unmatched. Their strategic approach and commitment to excellence have been pivotal in our companies’ scaling efforts.”
– Steve Vasallo, General Partner
Portfolio placements include:

What our clients say

“I want to express my sincere thanks to Riviera Partners for their outstanding support during our recent CTO search. We’ve successfully concluded the process and secured our top choice for the role. Riviera Partners demonstrated exceptional expertise and dedication throughout the search. Their team was detailed, communicated effectively, and truly advocated for the candidate we were seeking. The entire experience was top-notch, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome. I highly recommend Riviera Partners and would definitely work with them again in the future.”
Will Donnelly
Co-Founder & CEO

“Riviera was an invaluable partner in our recent VP of Engineering search, helping us secure the perfect fit at a pivotal moment for our company. Their expertise and dedication made all the difference. I look forward to collaborating with them again on key executive hires as Rad AI continues to scale.”
Doktor Gurson
Co-founder & CEO

“Partnering with Riviera Partners was a game-changer for one of the most critical hires in my company. They were highly conscientious about delivering the best service and experience for both clients and candidates alike. Their proven search practices ensured an optimal outcome for me. I am grateful and would not hesitate to partner with them in the future.”
Eugenio Pace
Co-founder & CEO

“Riviera is the best recruiting partner I’ve worked with, providing a world-class search process that consistently identifies the best candidates—a feat I have never seen matched in my 25+ year career. For any leadership search, there is only one team I will reach out to, and that is Riviera Partners.”
Paul Petrus
CTO

“Thank you, Team Riviera, for landing us 2 great hires. You have been a joy to partner with!”
Helen Park
SVP, People

“Thank you, Team Riviera, for being a great partner and helping us hire our VP of Product, AI. You guys understood our needs really well and have sourced some really great candidates throughout the process.”
Edna Yan
VP Talent

“We had an excellent experience working with Riviera Partners in our search for a Product Leader. Not only were we able to find our first choice candidate very quickly, but we knew how we got to that result through a well run process where the team were in control and kept us informed throughout. We particularly appreciated Riviera’s advice on navigating an unfamiliar market.”
Justyna Walkowska
Director of Product Management

“As the CEO of a rapidly growing tech company, I have had the pleasure of working closely with Riviera Partners for the past 3 years. Their expertise and dedication have been crucial in building our world-class leadership team. Riviera Partners excels in understanding our industry and unique company culture. They consistently identify and attract top-tier talent aligned with our technical needs and core values. Their rigorous vetting process has led to the successful placement of key executives who have significantly contributed to the success of GetYourGuide.”
Johannes Reck
Co-founder & CEO
Placement highlights

Company: Faire
Headquarters: San Francisco, CA
Stage: Series E
Sector: eCommerce & Marketplace
Placement: CTO
Company description: Empowering brands and retailers to strengthen the unique character of local communities.

Company: Quince
Headquarters: San Francisco, CA
Stage: Series B
Sector: eCommerce
Placement: VP Data
Company description: Quince is an affordable luxury brand that sells high-quality fashion and home goods at radically low prices— direct from the factory floor.

Company: ConvertKit
Headquarters: Boise, ID
Stage: Seed
Sector: Internet, Software & Services
Placement: VP Product
Company description: ConvertKit helps 600k+ creators work smarter – not harder – with email, automation, and monetization tools that work together to drive continuous growth.

Company: Personio
Headquarters: Munich, Germany
Stage: Series E
Sector: HR & Workforce Management
Placement: CPTO
Company description: Personio’s all-in-one software makes HR processes as efficient and effective as possible so organizations can focus on what matters: people.

Company: Lottie
Headquarters: London, UK
Stage: Series A
Sector: Healthtech
Placement: CTO
Company description: Lottie is a free service that helps families and retirees find the UK’s best care homes and retirement living communities.
Insights and news
Explore Riviera’s latest venture practice news, insights, and industry trends.
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London – May 7, 2025 — Riviera Partners, the premier executive search firm specializing in technology leadership, is pleased to announce that Lydia Shepherd has…
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San Francisco, CA – April 21, 2025 — Riviera Partners, the leading executive search firm specializing in technology leadership, is pleased to announce that Sam…
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