Scaling in a talent crunch: Strategies for founders in high-growth environments image

Startup Life

Scaling in a talent crunch: Strategies for founders in high-growth environments

Wed 10 Jun 2026 / 12:00 - 13:00 (BST), 13:00 - 14:00 (CEST)

About the event

After a year marked by talent shortages and hiring challenges, Europe’s high-growth startups are facing a new reality: scaling ambitions increasingly hinges on access to the right people. One in three UK founders say talent is their biggest barrier, but how much of the labour crunch is perception and how much is reality? Where are talent gaps most acute, which sectors are feeling the pressure and how do these patterns differ across the UK and Europe? How can founders rethink their talent strategies to keep growing in a competitive market?

Date & Venue

Wed 10 Jun 2026 / 12:00 (BST), 13:00 (CEST)

Virtual (Zoom call)

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We'll be discussing

  1. Where are the demands for skills rising across Europe?
  2. Growth challenges: What hiring bottlenecks mean for scaling startups
  3. How are companies expanding their talent pools?
  4. Building resilient teams: Approaches to hiring, upskilling and workforce planning
  5. AI talent paradox: How AI is creating shortages in high-skill roles while driving overcapacity elsewhere and what this means for how founders hire and scale.

Moderators & Speakers

Caitriona Staunton
Caitriona Staunton

VP People @ Primer

Felix Steffens
Felix Steffens

CEO @ WorkMotion

Valerie Bures
Valerie Bures

Partner @ XAnge

Vishal Marria
Vishal Marria

Founder and CEO @ Quantexa

Éanna Kelly
Éanna Kelly

Contributing Editor @ Sifted