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Retained
How it worksThe mathFeaturesOpen Dashboard
The operating system for retained search

Run the search.

Retained replaces the unstructured process between your tools — intake prep, mandate formation, candidate defense, and firm memory — in one system built for partner-led search firms.

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Built by search operators25 years in executive searchSenior-level mandatesPrivate beta

The problem

Your tools track candidates.
Nobody runs the search.

There are 200+ tools in the recruiting technology market. They all do the same thing: track candidates through a pipeline. Not one of them runs the search.

Not one generates a structured mandate from an intake call. Not one builds an evidence-backed candidate defense. Not one preserves firm memory so the next similar search starts with context instead of a blank page.

Every tool in executive search helps you track candidates. Retained runs the search.

Not a CRM. Not an ATS. Not a sourcing tool. The operating system for how your firm runs searches.

The search workspace. Mandate, signals, deliverables, and firm memory in one view.

app.runretained.com/search/cto-fintech-series-c

Active Searches

CTO · Fintech · Series C
VP Eng · AI Platform
CFO · Healthcare SaaS

Firm Memory

12 completed searches

CTO · Fintech · Series C

Meridian Capital Partners · Mandate Active

Day 14
MandateCalibrationSlateSignalsDeliverables

Weighted Requirements

Distributed systems at scaleCritical
Series B→C operating experienceCritical
Regulatory/compliance (fintech)High
Public company readinessPreferred

Search Status

23Candidates identified
7Screens completed
3Defense briefs sent
1Client calibration this week

How it works

Six phases. One system. Zero rebuilding.

The entire retained search workflow runs inside a single structured system.

01

Intake Prep

Before the kickoff call, the system builds a role-specific prep brief, timed agenda, and diagnostic questions mapped to the position. You walk in with more structure than the client expects.

02

Mandate Formation

Intake answers flow into a structured mandate with scored must-haves, weighted criteria, and explicit trade-offs. The mandate is a document with teeth — not a text field.

03

Client Packages

Calibration briefs, search briefs, and market packages generate from verified search state. The output looks like a 20-person firm produced it.

04

Candidate Outreach

Outreach constructed from the mandate, the candidate’s signal profile, and market context. Specific enough that the candidate knows you’ve done the work.

05

Candidate Defense

Every screen produces structured signals. Every signal feeds an evidence-backed defense brief. When the client asks why this person, the answer is already written.

06

Firm Memory

Every signal, score, and outcome is preserved permanently. When the same candidate surfaces in two years, you have instant context. Your firm gets smarter with every search.

The math

What your current workflow actually costs.

These numbers are per search. Your firm runs 20, 30, 50 a year.

Intake prep

Now

1–2 hours of manual prep per call

In Retained

Role-specific brief generated in 10 minutes

2 hrs → 10 min
Mandate

Now

1–2 days writing up notes into a doc

In Retained

Weighted mandate with calibration framework, sent within the hour

2 days → 30 min
Packages

Now

4–6 hours reformatting candidate profiles

In Retained

Defense briefs and search updates generated from structured state

6 hrs → 15 min
Memory

Now

Everything disappears into email after close

In Retained

Every signal and decision is structured and searchable forever

Zero → Compounding

A 40-search firm recovers 300+ partner hours per year. That is a different operating model.

The intelligence layer

Signals are the primitive.

Every conversation produces unstructured insight. Retained turns it into structured, confidence-scored, verifiable intelligence. Signals power everything downstream — candidate defense, firm memory, search replay, and the scored slate.

Without Retained

“Spoke with Sarah — she’s open but wants more. Mentioned $650K. Also talking to others.”

↓ Lost in email after close

With Retained

CompensationHIGH85%

Current $650K total comp, seeking $700K+

MotivationHIGH88%

Interested in responsible scaling mission

RiskMEDIUM68%

Competing conversations — timeline pressure

↓ Searchable forever · Feeds defense · Builds firm memory

One search, end to end

See the chain. Every artifact connects.

Here is one VP Engineering search moving through Retained. Each stage produces a real artifact. No slide decks. No screenshots of other tools. This is the system working.

01

Intake call

Mandate

In: 45-min conversation with Anthropic hiring team

Out: Structured mandate with 8 weighted requirements, 3 candidate archetypes, explicit comp band ($600K–$750K), and off-limits list

02

Candidate screen

Signals

In: Phone screen with Sarah Chen (VP Eng, Stripe)

Out: 4 structured signals extracted: Compensation ($650K, seeking $700K+), Motivation (mission-driven), Leadership (scaled 50→500 engineers), Risk (competing conversations)

03

Defense brief

Brief

In: Signals + mandate alignment evaluated automatically

Out: Evidence-backed candidate defense: 94% mandate match, 7/8 criteria met, comp band fit confirmed, recommended Include on slate

04

Ranked slate

Slate

In: All candidates scored against the same mandate

Out: Ranked slate with visible reasoning per candidate — not a list of names, a scored argument for each one

05

Search closes

Memory

In: Sarah placed as VP Engineering at Anthropic

Out: All signals, decisions, and outcomes preserved. Next time a similar search opens, the system surfaces this context automatically via Search Replay

Five stages. Five artifacts. Zero manual reformatting.

Platform

Built for how retained search actually works.

Mandate-Driven Scoring

Every intake field becomes a scoring criterion. Candidates are evaluated against the mandate — not gut feel.

Signal Intelligence

Structured signals extracted from every interaction. Confidence-scored, timestamped, and verifiable. The intelligence layer that powers candidate defense, firm memory, and search replay.

Voice Debrief

Record a call debrief. Transcript appears. Signals extract. Brief generates. One conversation, three outputs.

Search Replay

Find similar past searches by mandate similarity. Import candidates and intelligence from prior engagements.

System-generated deliverables

Nine deliverables your firm currently rebuilds by hand, every search. Retained generates them from structured workflow state.

Intake Prep Brief
Intake Call Agenda
Diagnostic Question Set
Mandate / Role Brief
Client Calibration Brief
Search Strategy Brief
Outreach Package
Candidate Defense Brief
Search Update Memo

Your stack, unchanged

Retained sits beside your tools. It doesn’t replace them.

Your CRM tracks contacts. Your ATS tracks applicants. Your email handles communication. Your shared drive stores files. None of them run the search. Retained fills the gap between them.

CRM

Contact & client records

Stays

ATS

Applicant tracking

Stays

Email

Communication

Stays

LinkedIn

Sourcing & outreach

Stays
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Retained

Runs the search workflow between your tools: intake prep, mandate formation, signal capture, candidate defense, deliverable generation, and firm memory.

FAQ

Before you ask.

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You already know what this costs you.

Every search your firm runs without a system costs 6–8 hours of partner time in deliverable assembly alone. Retained fixes all of it.

Request a private walkthrough

30 minutes. A live search workspace — not a slide deck.

hello@runretained.com
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Retained

The operating system for retained search. Built for boutique and partner-led firms.

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© 2026 RetainedThe operating system for retained search.