Building an AI product is no longer the hard part. Finding the right engineers to build it is.
Demand for qualified AI and software engineers is growing faster than the industry can keep up with. According to the World Economic Forum, demand for AI and machine learning specialists is projected to grow 40% by 2027. At the same time, nearly 72% of employers worldwide report difficulty finding the specialized technical talent they need to move AI projects into production. The gap between ambition and execution is real, and it is getting wider.
That is the problem we are building toward at Index.dev. And it is exactly why we acquired Hirebolt, a Y Combinator-backed company. By integrating Hirebolt’s high-speed matching infrastructure, Index.dev is evolving into a comprehensive AI engineering capacity platform.
What Is Hirebolt
Hirebolt, which has raised approximately $1.5 million from Y Combinator, Entrepreneur First, and other leading investors, initially gained recognition for automating high-volume hiring. Under Index.dev, it is now repositioned as an AI engineering capacity platform, providing immediate access to verified global engineers, technical evaluation tools, and flexible delivery support for AI projects.
Backed by Y Combinator, whose alumni include Airbnb, Stripe, and Dropbox, Hirebolt brings proven technology and credibility. YC’s rigorous selection process—acceptance rates below two percent—signals strong technical foundations, validated products, and a founding team capable of executing at scale.
It also connects us to a global ecosystem of 6,000 founders and companies who share the same standards, reinforcing our position as a trusted partner for startups and enterprises worldwide.
The Matching Engine That Outgrew Its Industry
Initially, Hirebolt refined its engine by automating hiring for thousands in the hospitality sector. However, the technology’s true potential lay in solving more complex technical challenges.
"What we were building was never limited to one industry," said Alex Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Hirebolt. "As the product developed, we saw it could handle more complex roles and more demanding use cases. Joining Index.dev means we can now focus that engine on software engineering, where the talent gap is most critical and the stakes are highest."
Lorenzo Sani, co-founder and CTO, shared the same perspective. "The long-term vision was always bigger than one market. Software and AI represent a much broader challenge and a much larger opportunity to change how global engineering teams are built. That is exactly where we want to be."
This is not a pivot born out of necessity. It is a technology that was ready for a bigger stage.
What Hirebolt Becomes Inside Index.dev
We didn’t acquire Hirebolt for what they did in the past; we acquired them for what they can become within the Index.dev ecosystem.
Post-acquisition, Hirebolt serves as the AI engineering capacity and talent access layer within Index.dev. It operates as a curated network with instant search capabilities rather than a traditional hiring pipeline.
“The companies winning in AI today are not always the ones with the best ideas,” said Sergiu Matei, co-founder of Index.dev. “They are the ones that can build fast and build well. This acquisition gives companies that advantage: faster access to the right engineers and the ability to move from decision to execution without delay.”
The new, integrated platform offers four core capabilities designed to help companies ship AI products faster:
- Verified Network: A curated global network of engineers across software development, data engineering, machine learning, and AI implementation. Companies tap into a pre-qualified talent layer rather than building one from scratch.
- Instant Search: Teams can search by skill, role, and capability to quickly find the right engineers, reducing time from need to interview.
- AI-Augmented Teams: Flexible engineering capacity that helps companies build and ship AI products faster, without relying solely on full-time hires.
- Expert Evaluation: Deep technical review and AI-focused assessment, providing confidence in the engineers engaged.
These capabilities address a growing market challenge: companies are ready to invest in AI but often lack the execution capacity to scale. As Andi Stan, CSO of Index.dev, notes, “Companies are no longer just looking for talent. They are looking for ways to access engineering capacity quickly and with confidence in quality. Integrating Hirebolt technology helps us deliver that model.”
Part of a Broader M&A Strategy
The Hirebolt acquisition is part of a deliberate series. Codemotion, a custom software development company acquired in October 2025, was the first. Both acquisitions follow the same strategy: identify companies with strong technology and ambitious founders, integrate them into Index.dev, and expand their impact through a global network.
"We did not acquire Hirebolt for what they did in the past, but for what their technology can become inside Index.dev," said Andi. “Alex and Lorenzo always envisioned a bigger impact. By focusing this technology on software engineering, we can support it with the infrastructure needed to scale globally.”
Acquiring a YC-backed company adds strategic value beyond the technology itself. The accelerator’s ecosystem includes thousands of active founders building technology-first companies and scaling engineering teams, creating opportunities for collaboration and new partnerships.
While financial terms were not disclosed, both companies confirmed that integration is underway. Index.dev will focus on aligning capabilities and expanding access to its combined platform while continuing its growth through organic expansion and future acquisitions of innovative technology companies and strong founding teams.
⭢ Curious how this all started? Read how the Codemotion acquisition laid the foundation for Index.dev's global software development strategy.
About Index.dev
Index.dev is a global talent network connecting high-growth companies with top remote engineering talent across software, data, and AI implementation. Recognized by the FT1000 as one of the fastest-growing startups in 2024, its clients include companies backed by Kleiner Perkins, Goldman Sachs, and StartX, such as Omio, Perforce, and Entrupy.
Engineering talent is sourced from high-potential regions including Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Each professional undergoes rigorous verification, including background checks, technical and soft skills assessments, and English proficiency evaluations conducted by experienced talent evaluators. This human-in-the-loop verification, combined with Hirebolt’s instant search, ensures speed does not compromise quality.
About Hirebolt
Hirebolt is a Y Combinator-backed company founded by Alex Zhou and Lorenzo Sani. Built on high-velocity AI matching technology, Hirebolt now serves as the AI engineering capacity and talent access layer within Index.dev, giving companies fast access to verified global engineering talent for software and AI product development.
Are You Building Something That Deserves a Bigger Stage?
The Hirebolt acquisition is not a one-off move. It is part of a deliberate and ongoing strategy. Index.dev is building a platform that gives companies everything they need to execute on AI, and it is doing that by bringing in the best founders and the most capable technology it can find.
Codemotion in October. Hirebolt in March. Two acquisitions in six months. Both with strong founding teams. Both with technology that was ready for a bigger stage. Both now operating inside a platform with global reach, verified talent network, and the infrastructure to scale.
And we are not done. Index.dev is actively seeking its next acquisition. We are looking for founders who have built something exceptional but are ready for more. If you have built a platform that simplifies technical complexity, accelerates engineering delivery, or redefines how teams build in the AI era, we want to talk.
➡︎ Let’s explore what your technology can become inside Index.dev. Connect with our team today to discuss how we can build the future of engineering capacity together.
