A Top 1% Community

The search partner for forward deployed, AI/ML and software engineering hires.

Placing the top 1% between the UK and US since 2013.

The search partner for forward deployed, AI/ML and software engineering hires.

ArahiArahi
OrgvueOrgvue
SkySky
Daily MailDaily Mail
FujitsuFujitsu
SequoiaSequoia
Soma CapitalSoma Capital
Scope AIScope AI
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Y CombinatorY Combinator
Index VenturesIndex Ventures
ArahiArahi
OrgvueOrgvue
SkySky
Daily MailDaily Mail
FujitsuFujitsu
SequoiaSequoia
Soma CapitalSoma Capital
Scope AIScope AI
ClaimsortedClaimsorted
Y CombinatorY Combinator
Index VenturesIndex Ventures

Nelesh Panchal

Founder & Director

Connect with me

I'm Nelesh Panchal, Founder & Director of We Source Talent, the specialist engineering search practice I launched in 2013. I began by serving enterprise clients, and over the years moved deeper into the startup and AI world, today I help startups and AI companies hire the AI/ML, forward deployed and software engineers who turn ambitious roadmaps into shipped product.

Working across the UK and US, I place the top 1% engineering talent.

Over two decades in technical recruitment, I've built what I believe is an industry-leading network of candidates and clients, spanning global enterprise and the most ambitious early-stage startups. That network is my edge: it means I can connect the right engineer with the right company faster, and with more conviction, than almost anyone in the market.

One thing I'm proudest of is how my clients and candidates describe working with me: honest, no-spin briefs and feedback so everyone always knows where they stand; total discretion in how I represent people and opportunities; the speed to move decisively when the best talent is in play; and a search experience where candidates feel genuinely championed and clients feel they have a true hiring partner in their corner.

Whether you're scaling from prototype to production or making a career-defining move, my job is to make the match count.

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Years of experience

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Roles available

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Engineers & leaders recruited

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Startup partnerships

Client hiring experience

CTO @ Series A Startup
“Nelesh took the time to actually understand our engineering culture before sending a single CV. The shortlist was small, every name was relevant, and the hire we made is still one of our strongest two years on.”

CTO @ Series A Startup

VP Engineering @ Series B Startup
“We had been trying to close a Staff Engineer role for almost four months before we brought in We Source Talent. Nelesh had us interviewing credible candidates within a fortnight and we hired from the first batch.”

VP Engineering @ Series B Startup

Head of Talent @ Series A Startup
“What sets Nelesh apart is that he’s honest about fit on both sides. He’s talked us out of candidates he didn’t think would stick, which is rare and has saved us a lot of pain. It’s a real partnership.”

Head of Talent @ Series A Startup

Co-founder @ Enterprise Client
“We use We Source Talent for almost every senior engineering hire now. The quality of the briefing, the shortlist, and the candidate experience is consistently a level above the other agencies we’ve worked with.”

Co-founder @ Enterprise Client

Candidate success stories

“Nelesh was easily the most switched-on recruiter I’ve worked with. He read my CV properly, understood what I actually wanted out of my next role, and only introduced me to companies where the match made sense. The role I ended up taking at Arahi has been genuinely brilliant.”

Full Stack Engineer

Full Stack Engineer

Stealth Startup

“Most recruiters are on a checklist. Nelesh treated my job search like a project of his own. Clear updates, useful prep before every interview, and he went into bat for me when it mattered at offer stage.”

Forward Deployed Engineer

Forward Deployed Engineer

Series A Startup

“I was passive and not really looking to move. Nelesh reached out with a role that was so well targeted I couldn’t not take the call. Three weeks later I had an offer I was thrilled about. Total professional.”

AI Engineer

AI Engineer

Series B Startup

“What I appreciated most is that Nelesh was honest with me. He told me when he didn’t think a role was right, even when I was tempted. That kind of candour is rare and it’s why I’ll go back to him next time.”

Principal Engineer

Principal Engineer

Enterprise Client

“I’ve been through a lot of recruitment processes and We Source Talent is the one I’d recommend to friends. The prep, the communication, the follow-through – all on another level.”

Forward Deployed Engineer

Forward Deployed Engineer

Series B Startup

“Nelesh gave me better career advice in a 30-minute call than I’d had in a year. The placement was great, but the bigger value was the direction. Genuinely in your corner.”

AI Engineering Lead

AI Engineering Lead

Series A Startup

Everything you need to know

What is your average time to hire?

Our average time to hire varies by role complexity, but we typically present shortlisted candidates within 1-2 weeks and close roles within 4-6 weeks from kickoff.

What services do you offer?

We offer end-to-end recruitment services including executive search, retained search, and contingency recruitment. We specialise in placing software engineers, ML/AI researchers, engineering leaders, and technical leadership at venture-backed startups.

What does We Source Talent specialise in?

We specialise in building high-performing tech teams for growing start-ups and scale-ups. Our focus areas are software engineering, data and ML, and technical leadership — mostly for London-based and European companies.

Who are some of the partners you've worked with?

We partner with a mix of venture-backed start-ups, scale-ups and established tech businesses — primarily in the UK and US. Please get in touch if you'd like references from recent clients or candidates.

What is the best way we can contact you?

The best way to reach us is by email, phone, or LinkedIn. Our contact details are listed at the bottom of this page and we respond to all enquiries within 24 hours.

Get in touch

No form, no ticket queue. Reach Nelesh directly for hiring plans, candidate conversations, or a quick read on the UK and US talent market.

  • Product, Engineering and AI/ML roles
  • Graduate through leadership hiring
  • Confidential candidate conversations
  • UK and US startup networks
  • Permanent and contract searches