Hypepotamus Newsletter: Let’s talk startup hiring

Rounding out the week talking about:

Let’s get reading.

This edition of Hypepotamus is brought to you by Live Oak Bank.

The Big Headline: Tech hiring isn’t frozen. But it is getting more selective. Southeast recruiters, founders, CEOs, and hiring managers told Hypepotamus that companies are prioritizing specialized skills, adaptability, and hires tied directly to business results. At the same time, AI-generated applications are flooding the pipeline and forcing employers to rethink how they identify real talent.

Startup To Watch: It’s 2026. Can you automate your company’s marketing? Atlanta-based Osmoti wants to show you that you can. The co-founders (a current Georgia Tech student and a recent GT graduate) built the MarTech platform to help SMBs gain traction online…and the early-stage company has already attracted clients in the med spa, retail, and services space. Meet the team here.

Bootstrapped Growth: Home building software startup ThreadKore got off the ground in 2020. 6 years later, it has helped builders with tens of thousands of jobs with its streamlined platform…and moved up to Alpharetta, Georgia to be closer to where their remote employees were. More here.

Live Oak Bank’s (NYSE: LOB) Venture Banking team provides non-dilutive growth financing that complements equity, along with tailored banking solutions, for venture-backed B2B software and healthcare companies at every stage of their financing journey. We understand entrepreneurs because we are entrepreneurs. Member FDIC.