Contrario

Contrario is an AI-powered recruiting platform and managed recruiting agency designed to help companies fill critical roles faster by combining AI-driven matching with a network of 250+ vetted boutique recruiters. The platform positions itself as 'AI-empowered recruiters,' emphasizing that its software reduces administrative overhead while leveraging specialized, domain-expert recruiters to broaden the talent surface area beyond traditional agency sourcing. For employers, Contrario's core workflow centers on submitting a role and receiving high-quality, fully-vetted candidates with dramatically improved efficiency metrics. The platform highlights outcomes such as an 80% interview rate for submitted candidates, a 5:1 candidate-to-hire ratio, and faster time-to-hire measured in days to weeks rather than months. The platform targets companies from pre-seed through post-IPO stages, with particular focus on GTM, Engineering/AI, Product, Operations, and Talent roles. A key differentiator is Contrario's AI agent 'Nova,' which conducts technical screenings and generates dynamic talent scorecards with LLM-powered summaries of candidate proficiency. This automation layer handles time-consuming evaluation tasks while maintaining quality through human recruiter oversight. Operationally, the platform removes administrative burden from the recruiting process through built-in scheduling tools, native ATS integrations (Ashby, Lever), and Slack workflows to help teams coordinate hiring efficiently. The platform emphasizes white-glove support with dedicated talent operators and unified communication channels. Contrario uses a hybrid pricing model where employers subscribe to post and manage roles, then pay a success fee (percentage of salary) when a hire is made. The company offers a 90-day placement guarantee, providing either a replacement search at no cost or a full refund if a hire doesn't work out. The platform has achieved 100% customer renewal after first hire, indicating strong customer satisfaction. Contrario is Y Combinator-backed (W25 batch, founded 2025) with $500K in seed funding from Y Combinator, Dash VC, Exitfund, and Inventum Ventures. The company maintains a pre-vetted candidate pool of 2,500+ engineers and is best suited for early-stage tech startups and venture-backed growth companies seeking high-quality candidates for critical roles.