“Forward helped us land an exceptional VP Controller in just 30 days. They quickly calibrated on the profile, built a very high-quality pipeline from their deep finance network, and drove the process with a white-glove approach, incredible speed, and intensity through to close. They were always available and a true partner throughout the search. Highly recommend them!”
“Forward Search was an exceptional partner. They quickly understood the profile and introduced a strong slate of candidates, ultimately finding us an incredibly rare, AI-forward VP Controller combining deep accounting expertise with a highly technical and automation-driven mindset. We hired the first candidate they introduced and closed the search in just 28 days. We couldn’t be happier and would absolutely work with them again.”
“I’ve worked with the Forward team for over a decade, and they’ve helped me build leadership teams at two companies. I’m always impressed by their speed, strength of network, integrity, and ability to understand exactly what we need. I wholeheartedly recommend them.”
Stage Series C
Industry AI, Consumer
Investors Accel, OpenAI Startup Fund, Buckley Ventures
Placement(s)
VP of Growth
Head of International Growth
Head of US Growth
“I highly recommend Forward Search for any company seeking an exceptional executive search partner. Their communication was always clear and consistent, and their diligence in understanding our needs was impressive. Most importantly, their relentlessness in finding top talent helped us secure an outstanding VP of Growth. I’d gladly work with them again.”
Stage Series C
Industry Consumer, Healthcare
Investors Lightspeed Venture Partners, TPG Growth, Insight Partners
Placement(s)
Chief Growth Officer
VP of Partnerships
VP of Growth Marketing
“Simon and Fred are two of the best recruiters we have ever worked with. They’re down to earth, very well connected, and most importantly, have a sixth sense for great talent.”
Stage Series C
Industry Health-tech
Investors Wing Venture Capital, Tribe Capital, Upfront Ventures, Hedosophia
Placement(s)
VP of Finance & Strategy
Controller
VP of Sales
Head of Strategic Finance
VP of Data & Analytics
“Forward know the market well and always come out of the gate hot with a fantastic set of candidates. This is clearly a result of their relationship-building in the market. They also keep a steady flow of new candidates coming and know how to run a tight ship. Look forward to working together with them on the next search!”
“Forward has been an invaluable search partner for us, completing two critical go-to-market searches (VP of Marketing and CRO) back to back. They have a rare ability to identify executives with the right fintech pedigree for a company at our stage and pace of growth. Both hires have made an immediate impact.”
“Forward were an exceptional partner in helping us find our first GTM leader. Understanding the needs of research productionization and identifying the right candidate in that 0-1 journey is an extremely hard task. Forward search was able to grok that and made sure that the quality of the candidate slate was incredibly high. Their deep market knowledge, thoughtful advice and willingness to challenge our thinking made sure that the right hire was made within a month instead of 6. They felt like a true extension of our team, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.”
“Forward was an outstanding partner on our CMO search. They quickly dialed into the profile, brought us a consistently strong slate of candidates, and kept the process moving with real urgency. We were able to identify and close our new CMO in just 44 days, without compromising on quality. The team was thoughtful, responsive, and highly engaged from start to finish.
”
“Forward delivered an outstanding CMO for us in just over 60 days. Their ability to move quickly without sacrificing candidate quality made all the difference. They understood our needs from the start and brought the right people to the table. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”
“The Forward team has been an outstanding search partner as we’ve scaled our GTM organization. They placed both our Head of Marketing and Head of Sales, two of the most critical hires we’ve made, and delivered exceptional candidates both times. Their ability to understand exactly what we needed at our stage, move with urgency, and close top talent sets them apart.”
“Forward executed two VP searches and one Sr. Director search for me within 90 days of my start at Weights & Biases. They were able to dial into the candidate profile quickly, find and present high-quality candidates, and run a strong process through to close. I’d happily use the Forward team again for senior searches.”
Stage Series D
Industry Health-tech
Investors Oak HC/FT
Placement(s)
Chief Marketing Officer
Chief Financial Officer
“One of our most effective executive search partners. Their process, ability to listen/understand, and crisp execution was top-notch. Couldn’t recommend them more highly.”
Stage Series D
Industry Marketplace
Investors Matrix Partners
Placement(s)
Chief Operating Officer
“The Forward team completed a COO search with us after a search with another firm had failed. They dialed into the right candidate profile quickly, helped us recalibrate based on what the business actually needed, and brought a strong slate of candidates throughout. We landed a leader I’m confident in, and I’d partner with them again in a heartbeat on our next senior search.”
Stage Series C
Industry B2B SaaS, Health-tech
Investors Buckley Ventures, Point Nine
Placement(s)
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Financial Officer
“The Forward team was one of the most effective search partners we’ve worked with. They moved quickly, listened closely, and focused on the right profile — not just in skills, but in values and mission fit. Their efficient process, clear communication, and market insight helped us land an A+ COO in under seven weeks. Couldn’t recommend them more highly.”
Stage Series B
Industry Fintech, SaaS, Logistics
Investors Index Ventures, Founders Fund, 8VC, J.P. Morgan Growth Equity Partners
Placement(s)
Chief Financial Officer
Head of Finance
VP, Revenue
“Forward landed us our unicorn executive in 61 days. They helped refine our ideal candidate profile, sourced and managed an exceptional pipeline built on their deep relationships in the market, and closed our top pick. They are an elite, high-velocity recruiting partners. We are excited to partner with Forward again on our next search.”
Stage Series A (acquired)
Industry AI, Healthcare
Investors Battery Ventures, Matrix Partners, Google Ventures
“We’ve worked with Forward Search on several commercial and finance roles, and they’ve done an outstanding job. In particular, they build and iterate candidate pipelines very fast, which we find is the area where search firms serving startups usually fall short.”
Stage Series C
Industry AI, Gaming
Investors Lightspeed Venture Partners, Y Combinator, M12
Placement(s)
VP of Growth
VP of Finance
VP of Partnerships
VP of Product
“Forward was a great partner for our us as we built our first executive leadership team across Growth, Finance, Partnerships and Product. They built strong candidate lists and helped us vet and close our top choices. We’d work with them again.
”
Stage Private Equity
Industry Music
Investors Flexpoint Ford
Placement(s)
SVP of Finance
SVP, Controller
SVP of Product
“Forward is our go-to search partner for many of our most critical hires. They’re exceptionally well-networked and move quickly, while taking the time to deeply understand our needs and tailor the process accordingly. Communication has always been clear, thoughtful, and high-caliber — we’ll absolutely partner with them again.
”
Stage Series E
Industry Insurtech
Investors King River Capital, Dawn Capital, Spark Capital, Sompo Holdings
Placement(s)
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Revenue Officer
Controller
“ForwardSearch delivered an exceptional experience during a critical hiring period for us. We had a tight timeline to recruit two C-level executives - a CFO and a CRO - and their team stepped up with speed, professionalism, and precision. Despite the complexities of global time zones and significant travel schedules, they ensured the process was seamless end-to-end. Their responsiveness, strategic guidance, and access to outstanding candidates made all the difference. We’re incredibly pleased with the hires and the partnership.”
Stage Series A
Industry AI, Chemical
Investors Index Ventures, Coatue, J.P. Morgan Growth Equity Partners
Placement(s)
VP of Finance
“I deeply appreciate the amazing work that Forward Search did to bring this amazing hire to our organization. Our new VP Finance is already making a strong impact. Special thank you again to the team for their impeccable focus, ease of working with and their deep-rooted network in the financial field.”
Stage Series B
Industry AI, Developer Platform
Investors Mayfield Fund, Benchmark, NVentures
Placement(s)
Chief Marketing Officer
“Forward was an exceptional partner in helping us define the right candidate profile, source top-tier talent, and run a high-velocity, efficient search process. They brought a steady stream of strong candidates, conducted thorough diligence, and ultimately helped us land a fantastic CMO. We’d work with them again in a heartbeat.”
Stage Series A
Industry AI, Geospatial, SaaS
Investors Point72 Ventures, M12
Placement(s)
VP of Sales
“Forward’s dedication to understanding the specific needs of our role, growth stage and company culture resulted in a rapid stream of high-quality candidates that perfectly aligned with our requirements. Their customer orientation and friendliness made the entire experience seamless and enjoyable. Thanks to their efforts, we identified and recruited the ideal candidate within just six weeks.”
Stage Series C
Industry Marketplace, Healthcare
Investors Felicis, Craft Ventures
Placement(s)
Chief Financial Officer
“I had an exceptional experience with Forward Search. The team is wonderful; they are down-to-earth, responsive, and trustworthy, and they deeply understand how to support high-growth startups.”
STAGE Series B
INDUSTRY Marketplace, Consumer
INVESTORS Andreessen Horowitz, Fifth Wall, Album VC, Pelion Venture Partners
Placement(s)
VP of Marketing
“Forward showed us they were truly a full-service executive search business. In addition to sourcing and screening, they conducted countless reference checks and back-channels, and kept dozens of candidates warm while we worked through a lengthy interview process. They also took the time to get to know our company and the candidate profile in a detailed way so that they could be a true advocate for our company to candidates.”
Stage Series A
Industry Insurtech
Investors Centana Growth Partners
Placement(s)
Chief Financial Officer
“The team at Forward Search was an exceptional partner in our recent CFO search, successfully concluding the search within just over 30 days with remarkable velocity and precision. Their ability to quickly surface high-caliber candidates, combined with their professional responsiveness and deep understanding of our needs, made the entire process seamless and efficient. I recommend the team at Forward Search without hesitation for any organization seeking top-tier executive talent!”
Stage Series A
Industry CPG, Health
Investors The Production Board, Alpha Edison
Placement(s)
SVP of Marketing
“They ran a really thorough search process for us. Our search was uniquely challenging given our high expectations for this critical hire, involvement of multiple stakeholders, combined with our early company stage.”
Stage Series B
Industry SaaS, Adtech, Climate-Tech
Investors Craft Ventures, Venrock, Google Ventures
Placement(s)
Chief Financial Officer
“Forward was efficient and effective in helping us figure out the right kind of candidate for our stage and aspirations. They sourced strong candidates and helped us maintain momentum through the hiring process. We ended up with multiple finalists that we really liked and could have hired, and chose a fantastic leader that will be instrumental in the future of the company.”
Stage Series B (acquired)
Industry Fintech, Consumer
Investors Craft Ventures, Spark
Placement(s)
Chief Financial Officer
Head of Strategic Finance
Head of Growth
Chief Credit Officer
Chief Risk Officer
Head of Fraud
“Forward has been a fantastic team to work with; their ability to get high-quality executive-level candidates to the table is unmatched.”
Stage Series B
Industry AI, Developer Platform
Investors Accel, Insight Partners
Placement(s)
Chief Financial Officer
Head of Revenue Operations
“I had a fantastic experience working with Forward Search. We worked with them on a couple of searches and the team demonstrated exceptional professionalism and a keen understanding of our needs. The candidates presented exceeded our expectations, both in terms of technical skills and cultural fit. Forward’s commitment to communication made the entire process seamless. Thanks to their efforts, we successfully onboarded a strong Finance leader and a strong Revenue Operations leader. I highly recommend Forward Search to any company seeking a top-notch recruitment partner.”
“We trust Forward with our executive hiring, because they’re collaborative, dynamic in adapting to our evolving business, and well-connected with top talent.”
“I never really understood how impactful a search firm could be before working with the team at Forward. The quality of the candidates, organization, communication, and sense of partnership made an otherwise painful process smooth and efficient. I look forward to working with them again across our investment portfolio for a wide range of C-Suite hires. I cannot recommend working with them strongly enough.”
“They act as a great source of unbiased counsel for CEOs to make sure they end up with the best fit for their company.”
“Forward Search helped us navigate a highly nuanced AI leadership search. They worked with us to calibrate on what kind of leader we needed, pressure-tested different candidate archetypes, and consistently brought high-caliber talent that aligned with the company’s real needs. Their judgment, speed, and execution was strong.”
“Rare to engage with an executive search firm run by such authentic operators, who partner with founders to deploy very thoughtful hiring strategies.”
“Working with Forward Search across our portfolio has been a consistently strong experience. They bring genuine expertise in understanding what early-stage companies need and match that with candidates who make an immediate difference.”
“Their high IQ+EQ and years in the space have resulted in successful outcomes for our portfolio companies and for us.”
