Second Talent

Second Talent handles sourcing, screening, contracts and payroll for US startups that want to hire AI-native engineers and specialists from Asia. Clients share the role and stack they need, and Second Talent sends a shortlist of screened candidates, usually within a day. Screening covers technical skills, English, and how candidates use AI coding tools and AI Agents. Most engineers work a shifted schedule to overlap with US hours. Engineers are employed through Second Talent's own entities in nine Asian markets, so you pay one monthly invoice, starting at $29 an hour, with no fee until you hire. If a hire doesn't work out in the first 90 days, Second Talent finds a replacement. Since 2023, Second Talent has helped Adobe, Truckstop, Tom Ferry, Animoca Brands, Lacoste and Neopets build AI-native engineering teams in Asia. Second Talent was founded in 2023 and is based in San Francisco.