RO
Recruitment Partners to Clean Energy & Infrastructure
6,000 +
Talent pool of niche industry professionals
13
2021 starting fee earner headcount
CEO
Emrah Baykal
Business Location: UK/US
Clients' Location: US
Market: Clean Energy & Infrastructure
Investment type: Start-up
RO began their journey in 2018 with the ambitious vision of becoming the number one recruitment agency for Renewables in the US. To date, the vision has far surpassed that, with successful growth into the Utilities and Transportation Market.
EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD
RO identified the US Solar industry as their focus and have built a brand synonymous with market expertise and contingent delivery. Their talent pool of skilled professionals is unrivalled, billing £110,000 in a single month from candidates sourced within their database.
In 2020 they released the Solar industry's first Salary Guide and are at the forefront of conversations around diversity and the long-term vision of Clean Energy in the US.
After winning business from more established competitors and doubling their headcount year on year, RO is now strategically expanding into complementary niches including Wind, Utilities and Transportation.
2019 NFI - Mean number of recruiters 4
£680,000
2020 NFI - Mean number of recruiters 8
£1,120,000
2021 (projected) NFI - Mean number of recruiters 16
£2,100,000
Average deal value in 2020
£24,000
Building a Foundation
Ryan and Wade started making calls, and both understood the opportunity ahead. They established where Wade would need the most support and set to work building a business plan. In conjunction with this, Wade was introduced to the advisory board and the Tempting Ventures team.
When it was time to get to work, equipment, a CRM system, a Payroll system, and Timesheet tracking were set up as a priority:
"It was like a well-oiled machine. The Tempting Ventures team had us up and running within 2 weeks."
While infrastructure had been established, processes were put in place across operations, finance, and marketing, all with the aim of giving Harba the best chance of success in hiring new starters, attracting candidates, and working with new clients. The entire plan focussed on laying a foundation for a business that could scale organically and become a talent consultancy with longevity.
The Journey So Far
Since Tempting Ventures and Harba Solutions joined forces, the Harba team has grown to 25 billers and over 300 active contractors working for various leading names in the scientific field. Harba has doubled revenue year on year and is on pace to do it again in 2024. The rapid growth saw Harba move to larger offices twice in Indianapolis and open offices in Boston and Tampa.
"Ryan and Adam are very good at what they do. Negotiations, access to capital, insurance, planning ahead and making decisions for the future, establishing how to create value, industry connections… the list goes on. If someone said here's a blank check to start a business or here's Tempting Ventures capital and support, I'd go with Tempting Ventures every time."
The platform is now in place for Harba to continue to reap the rewards of its hard work with a focus on continuing to scale. Wade notes his most significant achievements include maintaining a solid foundation built to last for the future and the strong values his company has worked by since its founding.
The future looks bright, and Wade now has an eye on investing, utilizing his knowledge, Tempting Ventures support, and the Harba team to support other scientific talent consultancies.