Haptiq – IT recruitment for an AI startup expanding into Warsaw

Tatia Tatoshvili

Last updated on March 6, 2026 | 14 min read

• Learn how DevsData LLC helped Haptiq recruit two Warsaw-based Node.js developers in five weeks, ensuring hybrid readiness, cultural alignment, and immediate product impact.
• Discover how a consultative recruitment approach and local expertise enabled a fast-scaling AI startup to accelerate hiring cycles and build a sustainable growth framework in Central Europe.

Introduction

Building next-generation AI products demands more than just technical talent, it requires having skilled professionals physically based in the target market, a deep understanding of startup culture, and the ability to scale teams quickly without compromising quality. For ambitious startups expanding internationally (especially in highly competitive markets like Central Europe), securing top-tier engineers and operational specialists is a key success factor.

Haptiq, a fast-scaling American artificial intelligence startup, partnered with DevsData LLC to support its hybrid team expansion in Warsaw, Poland. After securing two Node.js developers who could make an immediate impact, the leadership recognized the need to strengthen operational capacity as well, which expanded the scope to include a Business Analyst role.

This case study details how DevsData LLC’s agile recruitment model, combined with deep local market insight, enabled Haptiq to secure top talent aligned with both the company’s technical vision and operational structure, laying the groundwork for long-term success in the region.

Client overview

Haptiq is a dynamic American AI-native technology company that delivers operational efficiency and data-driven decision-making through its enterprise-grade AI PaaS and SaaS platforms. Its solutions range from AI-powered dashboards for private equity firms to workflow automation modules and real-time data integration tools used in digital transformation projects. Specializing in AI-powered automation, analytics, and consulting playbooks, Haptiq serves clients across industries such as private equity, fintech, marketing technology, and digital transformation.

Headquartered in the US and supported by over 300 specialists across global locations, including Poland, US, India, Canada, and Saudi Arabia, Haptiq brings tailored digital solutions to complex enterprise problems.

Haptiq acts as a central platform where enterprises can automate workflows, bring together scattered operational data, and apply AI insights to improve efficiency and support growth.

Challenge

As Haptiq accelerated its expansion across global markets (including a strategic presence in Warsaw), the company faced an urgent need to recruit high-caliber technical and business talent capable of operating in a hybrid model. Haptiq’s rapid growth, ambitious product roadmap, and distributed organizational structure demanded a precise, locally rooted hiring strategy. This wasn’t simply about filling roles, it was about finding candidates who could operate autonomously, align with Haptiq’s fast-paced AI-driven culture, and integrate seamlessly into cross-border teams. Several challenges emerged:

Hybrid-first model with local talent constraints

Haptiq required developers and analysts physically based in Warsaw and willing to work in a hybrid office setup. This narrowed the candidate pool significantly, especially in a post-COVID market where many professionals preferred fully remote roles. DevsData LLC needed to identify not just technically qualified talent, but those committed to in-person collaboration within a competitive local hiring landscape.

Demanding technical expectations in a startup setting

The initial roles, specifically senior Node.js developers, required more than proficiency in backend development. Haptiq looked for engineers who could handle rapid iterations, own feature delivery end-to-end, and make architectural decisions under pressure while still maintaining code quality and long-term scalability. Candidates needed to demonstrate startup readiness: adaptability, speed, and a bias toward action in a resource-constrained environment where priorities shift quickly.

Diverse, evolving role types

While engineering was the initial focus, Haptiq’s leadership realized that scaling effectively in Warsaw also required local business-side support. This led to the addition of a Business Analyst role to bridge technical teams with operational and strategic initiatives. Succeeding in these roles required not only analytical thinking and stakeholder communication but also direct experience with SaaS or data-driven products, combined with the capacity to turn insights into practical outcomes. As the hiring needs evolved, DevsData LLC had to adjust sourcing strategies on the fly without losing momentum.

High selectivity and cultural fit requirements

Beyond skills, Haptiq emphasized cultural alignment, particularly candidates’ ability to thrive in a mission-driven, AI-focused startup. Candidates had to show not only technical skills but also independence, good communication, and the ability to thrive in Haptiq’s fast-paced environment. This required rigorous vetting across both technical and soft skills dimensions, often involving multiple stakeholder interviews across different time zones.

Our approach

DevsData LLC was selected for its proven record of sourcing niche technical talent under tight deadlines and specific geographic constraints.

Our prior engagements highlight this track record. For example, we hired two senior Ruby developers across Europe and Asia for Memory AS, delivered three PHP developers in under three weeks for Prime Insights, and placed seven senior Java developers, including a technical lead, at BNP Paribas.

These projects demonstrated our ability to identify scarce skill sets, assess cultural fit, and embed talent into mission-critical teams while advising on long-term integration strategies. Drawing on this experience, we approached Haptiq’s hybrid-first recruitment challenge in Warsaw with precision and agility. We leveraged our Central European network, applied multi-stage screening for both technical and soft skills, and kept feedback loops with Haptiq’s leadership intentionally short to maintain momentum. This combination ensured we delivered two successful Node.js developer hires and built a pipeline for business-focused roles, while also advising on key areas such as compensation benchmarks and hybrid workplace expectations, and helping design integration strategies tailored to Poland’s competitive talent market.

To meet Haptiq’s expectations, we executed a structured, consultative recruitment approach:

Focused sourcing in the Warsaw talent pool

We leveraged our deep network of engineers and analysts in Central and Eastern Europe, with a particular focus on Warsaw-based professionals open to hybrid arrangements. Advanced sourcing techniques, combining LinkedIn Recruiter, GitHub mapping, and community referrals, allowed us to target candidates who not only had the right technical background but were also committed to on-site collaboration.

Rigorous multi-layered screening

Every candidate went through a multi-layered process that combined technical assessments with behavioral interviews and in-depth evaluations of cultural fit. For the Node.js developer roles, this included live coding exercises and system design questions tailored to Haptiq’s backend-heavy AI platform. For the Business Analyst pipeline, the focus was on candidates who could solve complex problems and communicate effectively with stakeholders, while also bringing experience in SaaS or data-driven workflows.

Agile and transparent collaboration

Our recruitment process was fully integrated with Haptiq’s leadership team, including direct collaboration with the CTO and senior managers, supported through weekly calls, shared dashboards, and ongoing Slack/email updates. This allowed Haptiq’s leadership to maintain full visibility while we handled sourcing, vetting, candidate engagement, and continuous feedback management. Feedback loops were kept intentionally short, ensuring rapid iteration and minimal loss of top candidates to competing offers.

High-caliber placements and pipeline growth

The first wave of hiring resulted in two successful Node.js developer placements, both of whom were locally based in Warsaw and aligned with Haptiq’s hybrid work model. In parallel, we initiated recruitment for a Business Analyst, expanding the scope from pure engineering to include operational and analytical support roles.

Consultative partnership beyond recruitment

Beyond filling roles, DevsData LLC acted as a strategic growth partner, supporting Haptiq with insights that extended far beyond recruitment delivery. We advised on compensation benchmarking to ensure offers were both competitive and sustainable in Warsaw’s rapidly evolving tech market, helping the company attract senior-level talent without overextending budgets. Our experts also guided Haptiq on hybrid workplace expectations, from defining in-office collaboration rhythms to setting flexible policies that resonate with Polish professionals.

In addition, DevsData LLC provided best practices for integrating new hires into a distributed international team, including frameworks for onboarding, communication cadence, and feedback loops across time zones. These insights helped Haptiq strengthen its organizational cohesion and retention strategy as it scaled. Ultimately, this consultative partnership transformed the engagement from pure talent acquisition into a broader advisory collaboration, ensuring that every hire contributed to the company’s long-term operational and cultural alignment.

Solution

To meet Haptiq’s need for hybrid-ready technical and business talent in Warsaw, DevsData LLC implemented a structured, consultative recruitment solution designed to balance speed, technical precision, and cultural alignment, without compromising quality or long-term retention.

The Haptiq engagement focused on speed and transparency. Within weeks, our team aligned with leadership to target backend and business analysis roles, combining agile collaboration with structured sourcing.

Two Node.js engineers were placed within five weeks, with the Business Analyst search underway. Using LinkedIn, GitHub mapping, and ATS dashboards, we built a clear, consultative process and a lasting talent pipeline.

Results

Through DevsData LLC’s consultative recruitment model and tight integration with Haptiq’s leadership, the company gained rapid access to local hybrid-ready talent in Warsaw. While the engagement is still ongoing, several clear outcomes have already been achieved.

Successful placement of key technical roles

Within five weeks of launching the engagement, DevsData LLC successfully placed two Node.js developers based in Warsaw. Both hires were evaluated for technical excellence, startup readiness, and cultural alignment, ensuring immediate contribution to Haptiq’s AI platform development.

Faster hiring cycles in a competitive market

By narrowing the search to Warsaw-based candidates open to hybrid arrangements and applying multi-stage, role-specific vetting, DevsData LLC reduced Haptiq’s typical hiring cycle from an estimated 8-10 weeks down to 5 weeks, enabling faster onboarding of critical talent.

Stronger local presence in Warsaw

The engagement directly supported Haptiq’s strategic goal of building a sustainable, hybrid team in Poland, reinforcing its global expansion strategy while maintaining high hiring standards.

Consultative insights beyond recruitment

Beyond filling immediate roles, DevsData LLC advised Haptiq on compensation benchmarks, hybrid workplace trends in Poland, and integration best practices for distributed teams. This helped strengthen Haptiq’s long-term hiring strategy and employee retention framework.

While further placements are underway, the early results already demonstrate the value of a precise, locally rooted recruitment approach, laying the foundation for Haptiq’s long-term growth in Central Europe.

Business impact

The partnership with DevsData LLC enabled Haptiq to rapidly strengthen its Warsaw operations by securing highly skilled Node.js developers in just five weeks, significantly faster than the regional average. This accelerated hiring not only expanded Haptiq’s technical capacity but also gave the company a reliable foundation for hybrid collaboration in Poland, aligning local execution with global leadership. Haptiq is well on its way to broadening its capabilities beyond engineering into strategic and operational functions.

Equally important, the collaboration provided Haptiq with a repeatable recruitment framework tailored to Poland’s competitive market. By combining precise candidate sourcing, rigorous vetting, and consultative guidance on compensation and hybrid workplace trends, DevsData LLC helped Haptiq establish a scalable model for future hiring.

This impact extends beyond individual placements, strengthening the company’s long-term ability to attract, integrate, and retain top talent in Central Europe while maintaining the agility required for a fast-scaling AI startup.

Case match: Is your company similar to Haptiq?

A short 3-question diagnostic:

1. Are you expanding into new markets and need locally based, hybrid-ready talent?
2. Do your teams require external recruitment expertise to accelerate hiring without sacrificing quality or cultural fit?
3. Are you looking for a strategic partner to develop a scalable recruitment model that aligns with your growth?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above, DevsData LLC may be the right partner for your recruitment initiatives, just as we were for Haptiq.

For additional consultations or to learn more about our case studies, contact us at general@devsdata.com or visit www.devsdata.com.

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Tatia Tatoshvili Copywriter and Marketer

Tatia Tatoshvili is a Marketing and Communications professional with deep expertise in digital strategy and project management. Tatia’s experience includes implementing strategic marketing campaigns, elevating brand visibility, and building partnerships that expand education and job opportunities in the digital sector. She is passionate about fostering innovation and advancing digital literacy to create lasting impact.

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