I prefer to hire for talent, ambition, and hard work rather than just expertise, especially when building something new.

In a startup, it's important to prioritize cultural fit and enthusiasm for the product over just technical expertise when hiring.

Experience matters for some roles, but for early hires in a startup, aptitude and belief in the mission are often more important than experience.

The obsession with hiring as many smart engineers as possible, regardless of the company's needs, became a common practice among startups, reflecting a superficial understanding of what truly drives success.

In the early days, hiring must focus on candidates who can contribute immediately, rather than those who may take longer to ramp up.

Hiring should prioritize passion for the mission and the ability to connect with the company's goals over traditional qualifications.

When hiring, Revolut prioritizes raw intellect, drive, and hunger over extensive experience, believing that internal transfers from other departments can lead to successful product leaders.

It's often more effective to hire a generalist who can handle multiple roles rather than specialists, especially in early-stage startups.

When hiring, prioritize trust and reliability over specific domain knowledge, as this approach can expedite team building during critical growth phases.