Post by Idris Akinlabi , PHRi™ MCIB

How to Find Startups and Solo Founders for Your Job Search (Even If You Have Zero Connections) If you’re tired of applying for jobs on traditional platforms like Indeed or LinkedIn and you want remote roles where your skills are valued fast, startups and solo founders are your goldmine. Here’s exactly how to find them: 1. Twitter/X Advanced Search Search terms like: ~ “building in public” ~ “founder of” ~ “launching soon” ~ “need help with” ~ “hiring a VA / hiring a designer / hiring content help” Then filter for ‘Latest’ posts. Start engaging with these tweets. Follow up in DMs with custom, value-first pitches. 2. IndieHackers.com This is where solo startup builders live. Many of them are bootstrapping their projects and looking for reliable, affordable help. Steps: ~ Go to www.indiehackers.com ~ Browse the “Products” and “Milestones” tabs ~ Look for people who just launched something new or hit a growth milestone Reach out with: “Hey, I saw your recent milestone, congrats! I’m a [title] who supports founders with [skill]. Let me know if you could use some support right now!” 3. Product Hunt New products = new teams = hiring needs. On www.producthunt.com, search for recently launched products. Click on the product, find the maker’s name, then trace them on LinkedIn or Twitter. Most of them are accessible and would respond if your message is specific and useful. 4. Slack Communities Yes, many founders post job openings in Slack groups that never make it to LinkedIn or job boards. Search for Slack groups related to: ~ Remote work ~ Startup builders ~ No-code or AI tools ~ Women in tech / underrepresented tech communities Use Slofile or Standuply’s Slack directory to find them. 5. LinkedIn Keywords Strategy Search for people with titles like: ~ “Founder” ~ “Co-founder” ~ “Bootstrapped” ~ “Building in public” ~ “Startup founder” Filter to People, then to Locations (e.g., Europe, US, Canada). Start connecting and engaging with their content. Once you build rapport, pitch yourself as support staff. Bonus Tip: Make Yourself Discoverable Post once a week about: ~ How you help founders ~ A problem you solved recently ~ Your process as a professional Add call-to-actions like: “If you’re a solo founder who needs help, my DMs are open.” Let them come to you too. You don’t need a fancy degree or referral. You just need strategy and consistency. I’m Akinlabi Idris I share real job search strategies, personal branding tips, and how to make bold career moves from Nigeria to the world.