How We Work
Every business is different, but our process is always people-first, strategic, and built for scale.
​
At Root + Rise, we collaborate with early-stage teams to create tailored, sustainable people strategies. Whether you need a one-time project, foundational setup, or fractional support, we meet you where you are—and grow with you.
Case Study 01
Building HR from the Ground Up for a Pre-Seed Startup
Client Stage: Pre-Seed | Team Size: 12 | Industry: SaaS
Engagement Length: 3 months | Service Areas: HR Infrastructure, Onboarding, HRIS Setup
The Challenge
A recently funded SaaS startup was preparing to double in size but lacked any formal HR infrastructure. The founders were managing hiring manually, relying on ad hoc templates, and onboarding new employees inconsistently. They needed to establish scalable systems that would support growth without overcomplicating operations.
The Root + Rise Solution
We began with a discovery and risk assessment to understand immediate gaps. From there, we delivered:
-
Implementation of a lightweight, scalable HRIS for employee records, payroll, and compliance
-
A culture-aligned employee handbook and onboarding toolkit
-
Offer letter templates and structured onboarding workflows
-
A 6-month hiring roadmap to align growth with business priorities
Results
The company gained clear HR processes, improved compliance, and set the tone for a strong people-first culture. New hires were onboarded seamlessly, and the leadership team felt confident moving forward with a system that could grow alongside their business.
Case Study 02
Revamping Talent Acquisition and Onboarding for a Series A Startup
Client Stage: Series A | Team Size: 30 | Industry: Digital Marketing
Engagement Length: 6 weeks | Service Areas: Recruiting Strategy, Interview Design, Onboarding
The Challenge
After a period of fast scaling, the company faced major inefficiencies in hiring and onboarding. Interviews were unstructured, candidate experience was inconsistent, and early turnover (within 90 days) had become a concern.
The Root + Rise Solution
We ran a full audit of the existing hiring process and designed a consistent, scalable framework:
-
Standardized job descriptions with clear responsibilities and success metrics
-
Structured interview guides, question banks, and scoring rubrics for hiring managers
-
A 30/60/90 onboarding framework with clear milestones and feedback loops
-
Manager coaching on best practices for interviewing and new hire integration
Results
Time-to-fill improved by 20%, new hire ramp time shortened, and early turnover dropped. Managers felt more confident and consistent in their hiring decisions, while new employees felt supported and engaged from day one.
Case Study 03
Optimizing HR Systems and Performance Management Post-Funding
Client Stage: Series A+ | Team Size: 45 | Industry: Fintech
Engagement Length: 3 months + ongoing | Service Areas: HRIS Optimization, Performance Management, Data & Analytics
The Challenge
The company had scaled quickly but was running HR operations through disconnected tools and spreadsheets. Performance reviews were inconsistent, and leaders lacked data to track employee engagement or development.
The Root + Rise Solution
We delivered an integrated solution to improve efficiency and transparency across the org:
-
HRIS audit and replacement with an all-in-one platform for time-off, payroll, and employee data
-
Built a performance review cycle based on OKRs and quarterly feedback
-
Created templates for manager 1:1s, growth conversations, and feedback loops
-
Set up dashboards to track employee trends in retention, engagement, and performance
Results
The leadership team gained visibility into talent metrics and employee sentiment. Employees appreciated the clear structure and regular feedback, and the company was equipped to grow toward 75+ employees without breaking its people systems.