News Summary

Alison Kaizer, a partner in talent at Golden Ventures, emphasized the importance of founders developing their own hiring capabilities rather than outsourcing them. Speaking at Uniting the Prairies 2026 in Saskatoon, Kaizer shared insights into building a ‘talent engine’ for early-stage companies, highlighting the shift in hiring dynamics due to AI. She pointed out that traditional hiring indicators like resumes are becoming less reliable, with learning aptitude now being critical for early-stage hires. Kaizer encourages founders to engage candidates in real-world scenarios to evaluate their problem-solving abilities with AI tools. She also stressed the importance of founders showing up prepared and having a clear understanding of their hiring needs. Andrew D’Souza, founder of Boardy AI, moderated the discussion and noted the growing necessity of AI tools in the hiring process.