The most valuable startup roles are rarely filled in public. By the time a job appears on a job board or LinkedIn, the founding team is already in place, early equity has been allocated, and the people shaping the company have joined through private introductions. This hidden hiring layer has long benefited insiders while leaving ambitious operators on the outside.
Today, Andrew Yeung and Ivor Stratford announced the launch of The Shortlist, a new monthly event series and newsletter designed to surface breakout founders and early startup roles in New York City before they go public.
The Shortlist connects exceptional engineers, designers, and GTM operators with early-stage founders at the exact moment when teams are still forming. Each month, the series hosts a highly curated, application-only showcase featuring six founders and 50 vetted engineers, and GTM professionals in a room. Founders present what they are building, why it matters, and the specific roles they are hiring for.
Alongside the events, The Shortlist publishes a bi-weekly newsletter highlighting under-the-radar startup roles and founder spotlights. The focus is on Seed through Series B companies, many led by second and third-time founders building quietly before wider attention arrives.
“Hiring at the earliest stages has always been relationship-driven,” said Andrew Yeung, co-founder of The Shortlist. “What’s changed is how many high-caliber operators want access to that moment. We built The Shortlist to create a front door to an otherwise invisible market.”
A Founder-Operator Partnership
The Shortlist was created through a partnership between Andrew Yeung and Ivor Stratford, bringing together deep community building and hands-on operator experience. Ivor has spent his career working closely with early-stage founders on hiring, storytelling, and go-to-market strategy, with a focus on helping small teams attract top talent before they reach scale. Together, the pair designed The Shortlist to mirror how startup hiring actually works at the earliest stages: personal, high-trust, and driven by real connection rather than volume.
They have brought on Sangavi Suresh to lead marketing and operations for the business. Sangavi brings experience working across early-stage teams, helping founders turn informal community momentum into clear positioning, structured operations, and repeatable growth.
Design and Creative Direction
The Shortlist’s brand and creative direction were led by brand consultant Jamie Dong, who shaped the visual identity from first principles. Her work translates the core idea of early access into a clean, editorial system designed to feel credible, modern, and intentionally restrained. The result is a brand that looks less like a typical startup and more like a trusted publication you want to be early to.
Incubated within Fibe and Powered by Morpheus
The Shortlist is the fifth incubation to emerge from Fibe, a holding company founded by Andrew Yeung, focused on building B2B experiences and communities. Fibe has hosted hundreds of curated gatherings for founders, operators, and investors, and serves as a launchpad for new formats that start offline, prioritize real relationships, and scale through quality rather than volume.
The team at Morpheus will be supporting the growth of The Shortlist. Over the last five years, Morpheus has been supporting early and growth-stage start-ups to win the war for talent.
The launch comes as New York’s startup ecosystem continues to evolve. While San Francisco remains dominant in AI research and infrastructure, New York is seeing rapid growth in applied AI and industry-specific startups. Engineers and operators leaving big tech are increasingly choosing to build or join early-stage teams in New York rather than relocate west, creating new demand for better ways to discover emerging companies before they scale.
The Shortlistwill make its debut with its first New York showcase on January 27, with monthly events planned throughout 2025. Attendance is free, application-only, and intentionally limited to maintain high signal and real connection. The team’s primary metric is simple: hires made from presenting founders following each event.
For more information, applications, and upcoming events, visit The Shortlist’s website or follow its newsletter and social channels:
- Website: www.shortlistnyc.com
- LinkedIn: The Shortlist NY
- X: @TheShortlistNYC
- Instagram: @theshortlistny
About Fibe
Fibe is an events and media company based in New York City. Our mission is to create extraordinary experiences to gather, educate, and inspire founders, investors, and tech professionals. Key team members include CEO Andrew Yeung and Head of Partnerships Jacob Solano. For more information, visit www.meetfibe.com.
Media Contact
Andrew Yeung
andrew@meetfibe.com
