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Today, we're sharing some news: Growth by Design Talent has been acquired by Cursor.
We wanted to reflect on our journey, what we've built, and what comes next.
Our beginning
Six years ago, we set out with a mission: to help high-growth tech companies build world-class teams. Over the years, GBD grew into something we're incredibly proud of. We partnered with some of the most innovative companies in tech, from early-stage startups to public companies. We helped them hire the people who would define their futures. We created a team culture that prioritized both excellence and flexibility. And we built a community of 1,000+ talent leaders who share ideas, support each other, and push the industry forward.
When we first heard about Cursor, it was clear that their product is transforming how developers build software. And while they were our client, we got to know their incredible team. The company’s growth has been extraordinary, and with growth comes a new kind of challenge: building the system, culture, and talent function to sustain and support the company. This was exactly the kind of challenge we wanted to take on in our next chapter.
Why Cursor
Cursor's ambition is to build the best way to write software with AI. That vision is already resonating. Developers love the product, and enterprises are adopting it at an unprecedented pace. 64% of the Fortune 500 and more than 50,000+ engineering teams already use Cursor.
Scaling that kind of adoption requires exceptional people and thoughtful systems that are built to move as quickly and intentionally as the company. Now we get to apply our experience scaling talent functions to help Cursor build theirs from the ground up.
What's next for our team
While two of GBD’s founding partners (Adam and Mike) and a few other team members are joining Cursor, the rest of our exceptional team is exploring what's next. These are some of the most talented recruiters, sourcers, and operators we've ever worked with.
A group of these folks are continuing GBD's advisory and recruiting work independently, with a focus on foundational recruiting, processes, and strategic guidance. If you’d like to discuss new opportunities with any of the GBD alumni, head here.
Gratitude
To our clients: thank you for trusting us with your most important work. Building great teams with you has been the honor of our careers.
To our team: you built this with us—thank you.
To our community: thank you for sharing your insights and supporting each other. The conversations we've had and relationships we've built with you all will continue long after GBD.
As we close this chapter and begin the next, we're grateful for everyone who was part of the journey.
— Adam, Mike, and Jill
Founding Partners, Growth By Design Talent
