Blog

31 Engineers in 7 Weeks: Beating the Market With AI Sourcing

Written by Laurence Sangarde-Brown | Oct 10, 2025 7:38:39 AM

By the seven-week mark, the DevTalent x TechTree collaboration had achieved something remarkable: 31 elite engineers onboarded in less than two months.

That number wasn’t just impressive in isolation. It represented 16% of the fintech’s 200-engineer target, achieved in under a quarter of the allotted time. Compared to the four traditional agencies that had collectively delivered just 22 hires in several months, TechTree’s results were transformative.

Breaking Down the Results

31 Engineers in 7 Weeks

This outcome was more than a win; it was validation of a new model of recruitment. AI-driven sourcing combined with human recruiter expertise had delivered speed, scale, and quality simultaneously — something traditional approaches consistently struggle to achieve.

Offer-Acceptance at 80%

Just as important as the hires made were the offers accepted. With an 80% offer-acceptance rate, TechTree proved that speed and precision in matching didn’t come at the cost of candidate alignment. High acceptance meant less wasted effort, fewer renegotiations, and faster onboarding.

Interview-to-Offer Ratio of 4:1

The project achieved a 4:1 interview-to-offer ratio, reflecting the quality of candidates put forward. In many traditional campaigns, ratios can run 8:1 or worse — indicating poor pre-qualification and wasted recruiter and hiring manager time.

The Ripple Effects

1. Accelerated R&D Milestones

By rapidly onboarding 31 engineers, the fintech was able to ramp up its AI hub activities months ahead of schedule. This meant critical research initiatives weren’t delayed, giving the company a competitive edge in its innovation roadmap.

2. Reduced Recruiter Burnout

DevTalent’s internal recruiters, freed from the grind of sourcing and qualification, focused on high-value activities like candidate interviews and client management. This shift didn’t just improve results — it boosted recruiter morale and sustainability.

3. Market Outperformance

While traditional agencies scrambled to fill roles, TechTree delivered 5.2 times more hires in the same timeframe. For the fintech’s leadership, this proved the superiority of the AI + recruiter network model.

Candidate Experience Wins

One of the most overlooked factors in recruitment success is candidate experience. Here, it was a clear differentiator. Candidates consistently reported:

  • Fast response times to applications and inquiries.

  • Transparent communication throughout the process.

  • Alignment of role expectations with actual offers.
In competitive markets, where engineers juggle multiple offers, these small but vital details made the difference between accepted offers and lost opportunities.

The Numbers at a Glance

  • 3,000+ profiles sourced by TechTree AI.
  • 167 profiles introduced to the client.
  • 151 interviews conducted (90%+ candidate-to-interview rate).
  • 38 offers extended.
  • 31 hires confirmed.
  • 80% offer-acceptance rate.

These weren’t vanity metrics — they were proof points that the combination of AI and human recruiters can deliver outcomes that outperform traditional models across every dimension.

Lessons for Talent Leaders

  1. Volume + Precision Wins
    High-quality pipelines aren’t built by adding more recruiters; they’re built by combining automation with human expertise.

  2. Candidate Experience Drives Conversion
    Fast, transparent communication isn’t just “nice to have” — it directly influences acceptance rates.

  3. Quality Ratios Reduce Waste
    A 4:1 interview-to-offer ratio saved hiring managers countless hours, proving the value of data-driven shortlisting.

The Strategic Message

This wasn’t just about filling 31 roles. It was about proving that enterprise-scale hiring can be faster, smarter, and more candidate-centric when technology and people work together.

In the next article, we’ll distill the entire project into five key lessons every talent leader can apply to their own hiring challenges.

 

Download: DevTalents & TechTree Case Study