Hire startup developers

Forget exhausting sourcing and screening the wrong candidates. Hire fast and on budget—place a request, interview 1-3 curated developers, and get the best one onboarded by next Friday. Full-time or part-time, with optimal overlap.

1.5K+
fully vetted developers
24 hours
average matching time
2.3M hours
worked since 2015
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Hire remote startup developers

Hire remote startup developers

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Developers who got their wings at:
Testimonials
Gotta drop in here for some Kudos. I’m 2 weeks into working with a super legit dev on a critical project and he’s meeting every expectation so far 👏
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Francis Harrington
Founder at ProCloud Consulting, US
I recommend Lemon to anyone looking for top-quality engineering talent. We previously worked with TopTal and many others, but Lemon gives us consistently incredible candidates.
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Allie Fleder
Co-Founder & COO at SimplyWise, US
I've worked with some incredible devs in my career, but the experience I am having with my dev through Lemon.io is so 🔥. I feel invincible as a founder. So thankful to you and the team!
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Michele Serro
Founder of Doorsteps.co.uk, UK
View more testimonials

How to hire startup developer through Lemon.io

Place a free request

Place a free request

Fill out a short form and check out our ready-to-interview developers
Tell us about your needs

Tell us about your needs

On a quick 30-min call, share your expectations and get a budget estimate
Interview the best

Interview the best

Get 2-3 expertly matched candidates within 24-48 hours and meet the worthiest
Onboard the chosen one

Onboard the chosen one

Your developer starts with a project—we deal with a contract, monthly payouts, and what not

Testimonials

What we do for you

Sourcing and vetting

Sourcing and vetting

All our developers are fully vetted and tested for both soft and hard skills. No surprises!
Expert matching

Expert
matching

We match fast, but with a human touch—your candidates are hand-picked specifically for your request. No AI bullsh*t!
Arranging cooperation

Arranging cooperation

You worry not about agreements with developers, their reporting, and payments. We handle it all for you!
Support and troubleshooting

Support and troubleshooting

Things happen, but you have a customer success manager and a 100% free replacement guarantee to get it covered.
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FAQ about hiring startup developers

Where can I find startup developers?

Where you find startup developers depends on your budget and time constraints. If you’re on a tight budget, social media, professional communities, and freelance platforms are your best bet. But you’ll need to take over the screening and vetting process, which can delay the development start. If you’re in a time crunch, using an outsourcing vendor is a faster solution, but it’s also more expensive and less transparent.

Lemon.io is a freelance developer marketplace that saves you time by pre-screening and vetting developers. We also provide on-point developer matching and ensure direct communication.

Can I test the developer skills during the no-risk trial period?

Yes, you can test the developer skills during the no-risk trial period at Lemon.io. You can request a paid trial of up to 20 hours and have your developer work on specific tasks or demonstrate technical skills. If you aren’t happy with their performance, we will substitute the developer with an alternative candidate of equivalent level and skill set. Use the “Report a problem” feature in your client profile and specify your concerns if you want to replace the developer or receive a refund of up to 40 hours.

Are startup developers in demand?

Yes, startup developers are in demand despite the latest advances in software development automation. There are thousands of job offers across freelance platforms, social media, and professional communities. Startups require developers with specific skill sets capable of creating minimum viable products (MVPs) from the ground up. Hiring freelance developers is more cost-efficient for startups than supporting an in-house IT team, especially in the early stages without secure funding.

How quickly can I hire a startup developer through Lemon.io?

You can hire a startup developer through Lemon.io in 24 to 48 hours. After you complete our short questionnaire and provide project details, we’ll match you with the right developer and schedule an interview within two days. Two-thirds of our clients are happy with the first candidate we suggest and can immediately get started on the development stage. If unsure about our first choice, you can request an alternate or run a paid trial to see the developer in action.

What is the vetting process for developers at Lemon.io?

The vetting process for developers at Lemon.io includes four stages:
1. Automatic application screening based on technology stack, experience, and English level.
2. CV, portfolio, and professional profile evaluation.
3. A screening interview with a Lemon.io recruiter with English proficiency assessment and basic programming competency testing.
4. A technical interview with senior developers, including live coding tasks.

This vetting process ensures only the top 1% of applicants make it to the Lemon.io talent pool.

Why should I use Lemon.io for hiring developers?

You should use Lemon.io to hire developers if you want to find the right person for the job within 48 hours. We save you time by pre-screening and vetting developers and matching your project with engineers best suited to tackle it. Moreover, Lemon.io offers flexible part-time and full-time cooperation with weekly and monthly subscriptions. Direct communication with the developer, starting with the interview and weekly reports, ensures you’re always aware of the progress. Besides, you can always get a substitute if the developer cannot continue your project or you aren’t happy with their performance.

How much does it cost to hire a startup developer?

Hiring a startup developer costs between $55 and $85 per hour, according to Glassdoor. Software developers’ total annual pay ranges from $104K to $165K, but most startups do not require engineers’ services year-round. Instead, most projects last four to six months. If your project falls within this timeframe, you should budget between $40,000 and $88,000. You’ll get a more accurate estimate if you account for the developer’s experience, expertise level, location, and productivity.

How are Lemon.io startup developers different?

Lemon.io developers are different because, unlike freelance platforms, we only work with strong middle and senior-level engineers. Moreover, each has solid English proficiency and excellent communication skills, which are vital for a successful outsourcing experience. Most importantly, we carefully match developers with projects based on engineers’ expertise and preferences and the clients’ requirements. This ensures that 70% of our clients are happy with our first recommendation, while 20% go with our second pick.

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Ready-to-interview vetted startup developers are waiting for your request