[bdcravens]

> I have been brainstorming a startup focused around recruiting

I think the difficulty around finding good engineers is because they hide from the traditional recruiting markets, as recruiting is typically a negative experience for the developers involved. Good engineers don't need recruiters, and likely have a network that is far more valuable when they need a job.

> I am an engineer myself who has struggled with this in the past in small startups

I assume you mean that it's hard to find a good engineer at "small startup" rates? Offer 1.25x market, and you'll find good engineers.