Executive Search for Life Sciences Startups

Now you have the funding in place, and you need to assess
the ever-changing, dynamic market and effectively grow.

As a smaller, relatively unknown organization, you face the incredible challenge of growing exponentially in a short period of time. Cornerstone’s 20-plus years of expertise navigating this complicated process offers a one-stop solution for every unique situation.

Customizing Your Services

Our flexible, customized search offerings allow you to choose the level of service you require.

Listening to Your Story

Candidates need a compelling story. We will uncover what differentiates you in the market, learn your culture, understand your goals and address objections.

Making the First Impression

Leave it to our team of senior-level Partners with an average tenure of 18+ years to directly communicate to all candidates.

FIND YOUR CANDIDATES

Building a Brand

Cornerstone has spent more than two decades in startup executive search for life sciences. We work closely with your executive team to develop the right strategic approach in order to build brand awareness in this highly competitive space.

OUR SERVICES

Specialized, All-in-one Consultancy Practice

In addition to the core startup executive search services offered, Cornerstone’s Consultancy Practice can provide startups with a full suite of human resource services, partnering directly with your executive team and allowing them to focus elsewhere.

Services include talent acquisition, operations, administration, business partner, and benefits/compensation.

Cornerstone’s Partners have a rich history of serving start-up organizations. For over 20 years we have sat side-by-side, every step of the way with startup executives to navigate their critical and timely needs across executive search, expansions, leadership/culture assessment, market mapping, human resources suite, and real-time market intelligence.

Specialized, All-in-one Consultancy Practice

MEET OUR TEAM

Frequently Asked Questions

When should a life sciences startup bring in an executive search firm?

Typically right after a financing, ahead of a key milestone, or when founders are making their first executive hires. Those first leaders shape your culture, your credibility with investors, and every hire that follows. Startup executive search is about getting those hires right the first time.

Should our first executive hires be specialists or generalists?

Usually leaders who can do both. At an early-stage company, a head of clinical may also own regulatory strategy, and a CFO may also run HR and operations. We look for executives who are comfortable building and executing, and we tell you plainly when a candidate is better suited to a larger organization.

How does a startup attract experienced executives without a big-company brand?

With a compelling story told well. We help you articulate what makes your science, team, and opportunity different, and a senior Partner, not a junior recruiter, makes the first impression with every candidate. In startup executive search, the first call often decides whether a candidate engages at all.

What HR support does the Cornerstone Consultancy Practice provide beyond search?

Our Consultancy Practice can provide a full suite of HR services, partnering directly with your executive team across talent acquisition, operations, administration, HR business partnering, and benefits and compensation. That lets founders stay focused on the science and the business.

Can an early-stage startup afford a retained executive search?

We customize the level of service to your stage and budget. More importantly, consider the alternative: a failed executive hire at a startup costs far more than the search, in lost time, burned capital, and investor confidence. We will help you scope an engagement that fits.