NEW YORK, NY, January 9, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- 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.