About Tangerine Search — Startup Recruiting & Fractional HR Experts

Q: Why the name Tangerine?

The name Tangerine reflects our approach to recruiting and HR—fresh, vibrant, and human-centered.

Q: What inspired April to start Tangerine?

April Starlight founded Tangerine to create ethical, human-first hiring practices that support startups in building exceptional teams with scalable HR systems.

People Strategy for Scaling Startups

We partner with you to build exceptional teams and the systems that support them — so growth feels steady, intentional, and built to last.

Who We Are - The Team Behind Tangerine Search

Tangerine Search is a human-first recruiting and scalable HR partner for startup founders
and growth-stage teams.

For teams with or without a people function, hiring and HR can feel overwhelming.
You’ve built your product. You’ve built your vision.

But finding the right people to power that growth?
That’s a different kind of work and it shouldn’t slow you down.

Tangerine Search was built to create the bridge—between vision and execution,
founders and talent, strategy and heart.

We exist to change how recruiting and HR feels at every level.
Our clients tell us, they are finally sleeping peacefully at night.

Here, you won’t encounter resume dumping, robotic outbound messaging, or disconnected outsourcing.

You’ll find seasoned recruiters and HR strategists who listen, care, and act with purpose.

What Makes Tangerine Search Different?

Senior Recruiters. Senior Thinking.

Every candidate conversation is handled by a senior recruiter—no scripts, no AI bulk messaging. Just experienced professionals and real insight.

Long-Term Partnership, Not One-Off Placements

We don’t disappear after a hire. We help you build the systems that make your next hire easier and your team stronger.

People-Centered, Equity-Driven

We value inclusion, transparency, and care—not just transactions. Your success is measured in lasting matches, not metrics alone.

April Starlight meets recruiters and job seekers

Our Approach —
Curiosity, Clarity, Connection

At Tangerine Search, we take the time to truly understand your company and what success looks like for you. We personally vet every candidate, guide hiring decisions with insight and care, and build people systems designed to grow with you. Our goal is simple: ensuring you feel supported, informed, and confident at every step — never ignored, never left in the dark.

Our Identity
and Values

We believe hiring should be ethical, inclusive, and built to last. Tangerine Search is proud to be certified by the NGLCC, recognized by the ANA as a Certified Diverse Supplier, and woman-owned. Our work is rooted in emotional intelligence, strategic clarity, and transparency. We don’t chase placements — we build relationships grounded in equity, respect, and long-term success.

April Starlight meets job seekers in San Francisco

Tangerine is:

Women-owned business

Magnifying glass looking at a person user

I want to hire

Hiring top talent is difficult. That’s where our team of specialists comes in handy.

I want to apply

Hiring top talent is difficult. That’s where our team of specialists comes in handy.

Meet Our
Leadership Team

April Starlight - Founder & CEO

After a decade working inside boutique recruiting agencies, April founded Tangerine Search to do things differently.

She saw how startups were underserved, misunderstood, or stuck Googling how to hire a head of product and knew it could be better.

Today, April leads with warmth, precision, and speed. Whether you’re hiring your first key engineer or building a 50-person sales team, she’ll help you get the right people in the door, fast.

Her goal? To make your company look good to your clients, your investors, your team, and your future self.

Katie McGonigal — Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Katie is the powerhouse behind Tangerine’s HR magic. With 10+ years leading HR globally in tech, healthcare, and finance, she brings the structure and systems that fast-growing teams need to scale sustainably.

She’s built HR departments from scratch, led DEI initiatives at enterprise level, and helped startups stay compliant without losing their culture. Katie is certified, Columbia-trained, and Wharton-credentialed, but more importantly, she makes HR make sense.

Real Voices: Testimonials & Trust

“I had a great experience with Tangerine. They matched me with a fantastic organization and smoothed the way through an intensive interview and vetting process. I really appreciate their friendly professionalism and support.”

Smiling woman with brown hair wearing a purple top sitting outdoors on autumn leaves.

Gina Freeman, Freedom Financial

Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs

Why the name Tangerine?

Well… Apple was already taken.
More importantly, Tangerines represent brightness, energy, and substance. We wanted a name that felt different—because we do things differently. Human-first. Thoughtful. A little unexpected.

What inspired April to start Tangerine?

After years in traditional recruiting, April saw how founders were left hanging—without strategic support or heart. She built Tangerine to prove that hiring could be both effective and human.

Who is behind Tangerine Search?

Tangerine was founded by April Starlight, a seasoned recruiter dedicated to ethical, human-first hiring.

Where is Tangerine Search located?

We’re proudly based in the San Francisco Bay Area, partnering with startups across major tech hubs including New York, Austin, Seattle, Toronto, London, and Berlin.Local roots. Global impact.

Ready to Talk It Through?

Whether you're scaling your team, solving a compliance headache, or hiring for your next round or first round.

Tangerine’s got you.
We’re in your corner. We’ll make it easy. We’ll make it work.

Book a Discovery Call