Zygo People - hire top talent without wasting time, cash, or energy

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Today we're excited to meet Leigh Tobenas of Zygo People

So Leigh, tell us more about Zygo

Zygo is a recruitment partner for businesses who want to hire top talent without wasting time, cash, or energy.

We support founders and leadership teams across the UK, Europe, Middle East, Asia and the US, helping them build high-performing teams across tech, product, sales, marketing, and ops.

What makes us different? We ditch the bloated fees and rigid agency processes. Our flexible hiring models are built to protect cashflow, share risk, and move fast — so businesses can scale with confidence, not chaos.

We’re based in the UK but work globally, and we don’t just hire, we are your co-pilot for everything talent and scaling. And we’re building an ecosystem around it, connecting businesses to trusted partners in funding, legal, finance, benefits, and growth.

How did you come up with the business idea and what problem are you looking to solve?

I spent over a decade in recruitment, working with startups and scaleups and the same problems kept coming up: founders wasting 20+ hours a week trying to hire, burning through cash on big agency fees, or hiring too early and regretting it.

That's where Zygo comes in. We give founders flexible, low-risk hiring options that don’t drain their runway or slow them down. It's recruitment that actually fits how early-stage businesses work. Fast, lean, and focused on outcomes, not just CVs.

Now we’re expanding that model to support scaling SMEs and enterprise teams who want the same thing: better hiring, without the baggage.

What made you want to start your own business?

I’ve always had a bias for action and after years of seeing how complicated people can make it, I wanted to see if I could help bring it back to the simple process it can be.

I didn’t just want to place candidates. I wanted to build something that actually supports founders and scaling businesses in a way that makes sense for how they operate; fast-moving, resource-conscious, and under pressure to get it right.

I’ve worked across agency and internal talent roles, and that gave me the full picture; the good, the bad, and the unnecessary.

Starting Zygo was about cutting the fluff, building real relationships, and creating a business where delivery and reputation come first. I've wanted to do something of my own since my 20s, but never knew what until 2022.

What stage is your business currently at?

We're still young. We are 20 months old (Jan '24 launch).

The priorities are to help as many businesses as possible and show them how easy recruitment can be when you either do it on your own or work with someone like us in addition to still growing the ecosystem and getting involved in more events both as an attendee and as a host/sponsor.

What do you love most about being an entrepreneur?

I’m not sure I even see myself as an entrepreneur I just saw a better way to do things, so I built it. What I do love is the freedom to run the business in a way that actually works for my clients, for candidates, and for me.

No red tape, no fluff, just solving problems properly and building something that makes a difference.

What is the number one business tip you've learned that you'd like to share with fellow budding entrepreneurs?

Your reputation is your runway. Do good work. Be easy to deal with. Deliver what you said you would and people will come back, refer you, and back you when it matters.

You don’t need to shout the loudest if your work speaks for itself. Also never be afraid to ask for help and listen more than you speak.

A Favourite Book or Podcast?

Never Split the Difference

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