Compare/Head to head

DMtheFounder vs TrueUp

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

DMtheFounder

Free Free tier

Free job board for early engineering roles at startups. It gathers the hiring posts founders write on X and Hacker News, has a person check each one, and lists it with a direct line to the founder. Founders can submit a role free; engineers apply by email or on X with no form in between. It launched in October 2026.

Where DMtheFounder fits

  • Founders hiring a first or founding engineer
  • Pre-seed to Series A startups with no recruiting budget
  • Founders who already post roles on X and want more reach
  • Engineers who want to join a startup early

TrueUp

12%/hire

Tech job marketplace plus TrueUp Talent intros. Employer hires via TrueUp Talent cost 12% of first-year base salary.

Where TrueUp fits

  • Listed tech companies hiring engineers and PMs
  • Startups that want intros without a 25% agency fee
  • Teams already on Ashby, Greenhouse, or Lever
  • Employers who will wait for mutual-interest matches

At a glance

DetailDMtheFounderTrueUp
Starting priceFree12%/hire
Free tier✓Yes–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No–No
Listed underJob boards, SourcingJob boards, Sourcing

Where they pull apart

DMtheFounder

Stands out: Every role is written by a founder or early employee, not a recruiter, and a person checks it before it goes live. Engineers skip the application form and write straight to the founder, and each listing shows the company's stage and recent funding.

Watch out: It is very new, launched in October 2026, so it has no track record or outside reviews yet. It only covers engineering roles at early-stage startups, and much of the list is re-posted from public X and Hacker News threads rather than submitted directly.

Not the right fit for

  • Non-engineering roles such as sales, ops or design
  • Agencies and recruiters, who are excluded
  • Larger companies hiring at volume

TrueUp

Stands out: Warm intros only after both sides confirm interest, at 12% instead of a classic 20-35% fee.

Watch out: Only companies already on TrueUp can apply, and they need a Trajectory Score of 60-plus or venture backing.

Not the right fit for

  • Companies that are not already on TrueUp
  • Teams that need an ATS rather than a talent channel

Pros and cons

DMtheFounder

  • Free for founders to post and for engineers to use
  • Every role is checked by a person and comes from the company itself
  • Direct contact with the founder, no application form
  • Launched in October 2026, no track record yet
  • Engineering roles at early-stage startups only
  • No applicant tracking or candidate management for founders

TrueUp

  • Talent fee is 12% of first-year base
  • Intros only after mutual interest
  • Named Ashby, Greenhouse, and Lever fit
  • Only companies already on TrueUp qualify
  • Trajectory Score 60-plus or VC backing
  • Not a full ATS or recruiting CRM

What each one costs

DMtheFounder

Free

Listing a role is free for founders, and the site states this on its post-a-job page. Engineers browse and apply for free, and can sign up for a weekly email of new roles every Monday. No paid plans or promoted listings are published. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Oct 2026

TrueUp

12%/hire

TrueUp Talent is 12% of first-year base salary for hires sourced through Talent. The public job board is free for members. TrueUp AI is listed as unlimited roles. Only companies already on TrueUp can apply, with a Trajectory Score of 60+ or venture backing. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Can you try DMtheFounder or TrueUp for free?
DMtheFounder carries a free tier on our listing.

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 19 Oct 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?