About

The right finance hire changes everything.

Ember Search is a specialist executive search firm for finance leaders in VC and PE-backed startups. We place CFOs, VPs of Finance, and Heads of Finance into high-growth companies across the US, from first finance hires to post-series D.

We are not a generalist recruitment firm. This is all we do. Founder-led. Finance-only. Built for growth.

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Who We Are

Our Story

From Vision to Reality

As two of the most experienced Finance executive recruiters in the space, we spent years as competitors–often hearing each other’s names from the same candidates and founders.

That mutual respect sparked ongoing conversations about our approaches to search, the types of companies we’re passionate about, and the kind of partnerships we value. Over time, we realized we shared the same frustrations with the industry:

Too many generalist firms with no real Finance or startup expertise.
Retainers sold by partners, then handed off to junior teams.
Off-limit restrictions that block access to top talent.
Transactional, impersonal candidate experiences.

So we decided to build the search firm we wished existed. Ember Search focuses exclusively on Finance leadership for VC-backed startups. Every search is partner-led. Candidates hear from one person: a partner. That consistency builds trust and drives stronger engagement.

The Truth

Most executive search firms weren’t built for startups.

Meet the Team

Legacy firms move slowly and hand your search to junior teams.

Contingent recruiters work volume, not depth.

Most do not understand what a Series A or PE-backed company needs from a finance leader.

That leads to wasted time, weak shortlists, and hires that struggle once the business scales.

So we built the finance search firm founders were missing.

Why founders work with Ember

Specialists. Not generalists.

We know the market because this is all we do. Candidates pick up when we call because they know we understand startup finance.

Speed is structural.
‍

We move fast because we already know the market.

Founder-led from start to finish.

Every search is run directly by Dan Himple and Theo Karen. No handoffs. No layers. No disappearing after kickoff.

Stats

The numbers behind the searches

Transforming lives through precision medicine solutions that improve patient care, accelerate treatment, and enhance overall well-being.

250⁺

Finance leadership searches completed

28⁺

Years combined experience

$4B⁺

Raised by placed candidates

Exits

Acquisitions

2.9⁺

Years average tenure

We place finance leaders into startups across the US, from first finance hires to post-Series B scale.

Roles we hire:

CFO
VP of Finance
Head of Finance
Controller
Strategic Finance

Our Specialism

Finance leadership search for VC and PE-backed startups.

Testimonials

"Ember Search helped us hire our VP of Finance at Hadrius and felt like an extension of the team throughout the process. They got up to speed quickly, which showed in the relevance of the candidates they brought forward. They also brought a thoughtful, consultative approach, sharing perspective from similar searches and helping us refine what we were looking for. The process ran smoothly and we’re very happy with the outcome."

Thomas Stewart | CEO & Founder @ Hadrius

"Ember Search quickly proved to be an invaluable partner. They understood our business, moved fast, and surfaced strong, relevant candidates right away. Thanks to their deep network and focus, we were able to make a key finance hire in record time following our Series B."

Asa Block | COO @ Near Space Labs

"What Embersearch offers is incredibly rare among recruiters (in my experience, at least). They have true domain expertise in consumer finance. Because they are laser-focused on this incredibly important, nuanced vertical, they can provide true advisory support, not just recruiter execution. They don’t just identify strong candidates broadly; they serve as deeply knowledgeable and trusted sounding boards regarding which candidates will truly be the right fit for your organization. I felt incredibly confident throughout my search, knowing that they would be honest with me about who would truly be the best fit for the role, and would work with me to find that perfect candidate. Highly recommend.”

Becca Millstein | Co-founder & CEO at Fishwife

"Thanks to Ember Search's extensive network, we were quickly able to consider a number of high caliber finance leaders. Their guidance and deep industry knowledge helped us shape the role, calibrate compensation, and close the hire efficiently. They ran a focused, consultative process that led to a strong outcome."

Uday Singh | Co-Founder @ ThreadBeast

"Dan and Theo moved with a sense of urgency and were so much further up the curve than other recruiters I've worked with. The process was smooth sailing from start to finish, and the communication throughout was consistent and top-notch."

Austin Harris | Chief Financial Officer @ Firehook

"We had a great experience working with Ember Search. They really understood our industry and what we needed in a CFO. The process moved quickly thanks to their network, and we're thrilled with the person we ultimately hired."

Quinn Roukema | CEO & Co-Founder @ SACHEU

"Dan and Theo were great to work with. They listened carefully to our specific priorities and needs in a Controller, and rapidly delivered a deep pool of qualified candidates. They were extremely responsive and reliable, and felt like true partners in our search. Highly recommend."

Eric Kaufman | VP of Finance @ AgVend

"We partnered with Ember Search on an SVP role, and I cannot say enough positive words about them. As a private equity backed business, we move at breakneck speed and expect top quality at all times. Ember delivered on both. We were blown away by the speed, accuracy, and overall quality of their search process. Great partners, quick to act, and easy to recommend."

Chandler Martin | Chief of Staff @ Accelevation

"Ember Search were great partners. They always operate with integrity and are focused on delivering the best service rather than chasing a few quick hires. They know the market and moved fast, quickly presenting a shortlist of outstanding candidates. I would highly recommend them."

Andrew Lappini | CFO @ Tiugo Technologies

"We were really impressed by the quality of the Head of Finance candidates Ember Search presented. Each candidate brought the right mix of strategic thinking and hands on experience, which made our evaluation clear and straightforward. The team was responsive, consultative, and made the entire hiring process feel effortless."