Question 1

What exactly is Saiyō?

Accepted Answer

Saiyō is a firm of embedded headhunters for technology scale-ups. Our model is embedded headhunting: senior headhunters working inside your team on a proactive basis. Our subscription product, RaaS, is one way to buy that model; CVaaS and Executive Search are the other two.

Question 2

Is RaaS the same as your embedded headhunting model?

Accepted Answer

No. Embedded headhunting is our model, how we work. RaaS is the subscription product that packages it: a flat monthly fee with hiring credits deployed flexibly across roles and months. CVaaS and Executive Search are sibling services on the same model, sold differently.

Question 3

How is this different from RPO?

Accepted Answer

RPOs typically optimise for volume and run multi-year contracts with large delivery teams. Saiyō runs lean, senior pods on a flexible subscription with hiring credits deployed across roles and months, focused on proactive headhunting rather than inbound applicant management. Best for technology companies hiring 5 to 150 roles a year.

Question 4

How is this different from a recruitment agency?

Accepted Answer

Agencies are paid per hire, which means their incentive is to close quickly and move on. We are paid per month, which means our incentive is to keep you happy long-term. Same hunter, same scorecard, every role.

Question 5

What happens when a role needs expertise your embedded team does not have?

Accepted Answer

Your embedded headhunter stays accountable for the search and draws on Saiyō's curated global network of specialist headhunters for the functional, market or geographic depth the role needs. This is not a marketplace or an agency panel: specialists are individually vetted, work inside your existing process and ATS, and are activated only when their expertise improves the outcome. There is no additional fee.

Question 6

How much does Saiyō cost?

Accepted Answer

Plans start at a flat monthly fee with no per-hire markups. Final price depends on the number of concurrent roles and the seniority mix. See our pricing page for current ranges and a calculator.

Question 7

How flexible is the subscription?

Accepted Answer

The subscription is built around your hiring plan and flexes with it: scale up as hiring grows, scale down when it slows. Hiring credits are deployed flexibly across roles and months, whenever the need lands (fair-use policy applies), so ongoing plans and project-based hiring cycles both work. We agree the shape with you before you start.

Question 8

What happens if you can't fill a role?

Accepted Answer

We work the role until it is filled or you tell us to stop. There are no per-hire fees so there is no commercial pressure on either side to force a bad hire.

Question 9

How quickly do we get a shortlist?

Accepted Answer

First calibrated shortlist typically lands inside 7 to 14 days from kickoff, depending on the role. Most engagements go live within one to two weeks of contract.

Question 10

Do you work in our ATS?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We embed inside your existing tooling: Greenhouse, Ashby, Lever, Workable, Teamtailor, Workday. We do not introduce new tools.

Question 11

Who actually does the work?

Accepted Answer

A senior headhunter with years of technology search experience, with a research partner. The same person stays on your account for the duration of the engagement.

Question 12

Will we ever deal with anyone outside our embedded team?

Accepted Answer

No. Even when a specialist from our global network supports a search, the network is invisible to you operationally. One point of contact, one process, one contract and one invoice.

Frequently asked questions.

The model

Pricing

Process

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