Profile: Kaleb Dumot
Name: Kaleb Dumot
Current Job: Founder and CEO, Integrity Power Search
Current City: Cleveland
Q: What is it that you do at IPS?
Integrity Power Search is a 17-person boutique retained search firm for high growth startups and technology companies across North America. We partner with technology executives, venture capitalists, and private equity firms to build amazing teams for the world’s most disrupting companies. Since 2012, we’ve successfully executed 800+ searches and our clients have collectively raised over $2.5B in VC funding and counting.
Q: What’s a problem that you are working to solve?
We prospect, recruit, and hire Executives, Technologists, Operators, and Go to Market Sales and Marketing talent for high growth technology companies. Net net we save our clients a lot of time running a truly comprehensive search. Per search we prospect 1,000+ candidates, interviewing 50 to 75 candidates, and hand-select the top 3-4 candidates that match exactly what we are looking for.
We recruit the most talented and usually passive candidates that are happy in their current role but we convince to meet with our clients.
Q: What’s a lesson you’ve learned that has helped shaped your work?
The best startup talent is not motivated by perks, remote flexibility, salary, stock options, or benefits. The best talent is motivated by the impact they can have and the types of problems they will get to solve. As a founder or a Tech Executive, you need to be able to clearly articulate your vision for your company, the values you care deeply about, and the interesting and challenging problems you are solving.
Q: What’s a trend in technology or innovation that you believe doesn’t get enough attention?
The cost of living on the East and West Coast is absolutely insane. $4,500+ a month for a 1 bedroom "cozy" apartment? Crazy. I recently saw a CNN article about a man who commutes 4 hours and 140 miles every day to avoid paying for rent in San Francisco. The situation in San Francisco has even been deemed a human rights violation by the United Nations.
There is so much tech talent out there - some with long commutes, some living in tents and some living with 5 roommates. A 4 hour commute given a five-day workweek is about 43 full days on the road per year. 43 days!!! Imagine having an extra 43 days put into your year. What would you do with all that time?
Meanwhile, the middle of the country is becoming an incubator for startups and tech companies - whose employees can build a billion dollar company (Root, CoverMyMeds, etc.), afford a home, raise a family and enjoy a low cost of living.
Q: What’s a recent book, podcast or news story that you found interesting?
The differential podcast put on by my good friends at Drive Capital is really, really good. Chris Olsen, the Co-Founder of Drive Capital, does an incredible job of digging in with his guests and asking thoughtful questions to his guests. If you are new to the podcast check out the episode with Hannah Powell. You can find the podcast here.
Q: What is your favorite place in Ohio?
Cruising on Lake Erie on a flat day in the summer.
Q: What makes Ohio special to you?
The people is what keeps me in Ohio. We have some of the most creative, smart, hard-working yet incredibly humble populations of people out there.