Herizon vs. Recruitment Agencies
Traditional agencies charge 15-25% of annual salary and take months to deliver. We built a faster, more cost-effective alternative for startups.
Quick overview
How they compare
Herizon
AI-powered matching with pre-vetted candidates, startup specialization, and transparent pricing starting from €3,000.
Traditional Recruitment Agencies
Established networks and industry contacts, but high fees (15-25% of salary), slow timelines, and often lack startup experience.
Why Herizon
The Herizon advantage
Transparent, fixed pricing
Concierge starts from €3,000 — no percentage-of-salary surprises. You know the cost upfront, not after the offer letter.
Startup specialization
Built by the team that scaled Supermetrics and Freska. We understand startup speed, culture fit, and the need for versatile hires.
Pre-vetted candidate pool
2,926 candidates verified with real tasks — not just CV reviews. Every candidate proves their skills before entering our database.
AI + human matching
AI surfaces the best fits from our database instantly. Human recruiters verify cultural alignment and motivation.
Speed to shortlist
First candidates delivered quickly. Traditional agencies often need 4-8 weeks just to present their first shortlist.
Self-service option
With Talent Matcher, you can search and match candidates yourself — no recruiter needed for every role.
Side by side
Detailed comparison
| Herizon | Traditional Recruitment Agencies | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Fixed fee from €3,000 or self-service | 15-25% of annual salary |
| Cost for a €60K hire | From €3,000 | €9,000 - €15,000 |
| Time to first candidates | Days, not weeks | 4-8 weeks typical |
| Candidate verification | Skills-tested with real tasks | CV review + phone screen |
| Startup experience | Built for startups, by startup recruiters | Varies widely |
| Technology | AI matching + human expertise | Manual search + network |
| Guarantee | 90-day replacement guarantee | 30-90 days (varies) |
| Candidate pool | 2,926 pre-vetted across 116 countries | Depends on agency network |
Pricing model
Fixed fee from €3,000 or self-service
15-25% of annual salary
Cost for a €60K hire
From €3,000
€9,000 - €15,000
Time to first candidates
Days, not weeks
4-8 weeks typical
Candidate verification
Skills-tested with real tasks
CV review + phone screen
Startup experience
Built for startups, by startup recruiters
Varies widely
Technology
AI matching + human expertise
Manual search + network
Guarantee
90-day replacement guarantee
30-90 days (varies)
Candidate pool
2,926 pre-vetted across 116 countries
Depends on agency network
When to use what
Which one is right for you?
Choose Herizon when:
- You want predictable, transparent pricing
- Speed matters — you need candidates in days, not months
- You value skill verification over CV claims
- You're a startup that needs recruiters who understand your pace
- You want the option to self-service with Talent Matcher
Consider traditional recruitment agencies when:
- —You need a very niche, senior executive search (C-suite)
- —You have an existing agency relationship that works well
- —You need candidates exclusively from a hyper-specific local market
The verdict
For European startups hiring across roles, Herizon delivers better value with faster timelines and verified candidates. Traditional agencies make sense for very senior executive searches where their personal networks are irreplaceable — but for most roles, you're paying a premium for a slower process.
FAQ
Common questions
Ready to try a better way?
Self-service AI platform or white-glove recruitment. Both powered by pre-vetted candidates.