Y Scouts
Y Scouts is a privately held, purpose-driven retained executive search firm founded in 2012 in Scottsdale, Arizona, that places C-suite and VP-level leaders for enterprise, PE/VC-backed, and mission-driven organizations across North America using a proprietary values-alignment methodology.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersTempe, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Y Scouts does
Y Scouts is a privately held, purpose-driven retained executive search firm founded in 2012 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, that places C-suite and VP-level leaders (CEO, COO, CFO, CMO, CTO, CRO) for enterprise, PE/VC-backed, and mission-driven organizations across North America. The firm differentiates through a codified methodology that includes Role Visioning and Success Outcome Design, an Organizational DNA cultural-fit assessment, a Leadership Model for Hiring on Purpose, and a proprietary Covert Discovery outreach process that the company reports yields a 30% higher candidate response rate than traditional outreach. Search engagements are supported by structured 30/60/90/180/365-day post-hire check-ins and a 100% placement guarantee.
Y Scouts operates a horizontal segmentation model spanning 10 verticals (healthcare, consumer products, manufacturing and industrial, financial services, media and marketing, technology, professional services, non-profit, construction, and private equity/VC), each with a dedicated landing page and case-study evidence base. Notable enterprise and PE-backed logos include Airbus North America, BNY Mellon Wealth Management, Arrow Electronics, BJ's Restaurants, Benchmark Electronics, Apria Healthcare, Liberty Tax, and Paradigm Health Systems. Go-to-market is exclusively consultative, direct enterprise sales with a dedicated Search Director per engagement, supplemented by a thought-leadership funnel anchored on the Built on Purpose podcast, the Hiring on Purpose book, and a 60+ video testimonial library.
The core revenue engine is quote-based retained executive search fees with multi-year contracts. In October 2022 the firm joined the TRANSEARCH International network, extending reach to 60+ offices in 40 countries. In September 2025, founder/CEO Max Hansen co-founded Prevail Recruiting with Ryan Berry as a separately branded, jointly controlled sub-brand offering AI-enabled contingent staffing for mid-level and emerging leaders via the ScoutPath agentic-sourcing platform, capturing adjacent wallet share below the retained executive tier.
Y Scouts firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Y Scouts
- Legal name
- Y Scouts
- Website
- https://yscouts.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Y Scouts is a privately held, purpose-driven retained executive search firm founded in 2012 in Scottsdale, Arizona, that places C-suite and VP-level leaders for enterprise, PE/VC-backed, and mission-driven organizations across North America using a proprietary values-alignment methodology.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Y Scouts industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Search Services
- NAICS
- Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops) (BPACAAAB), Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search (BPACAAAK), General Permanent Placement (Multi-Industry) (BPACAFAA)
Keywords
Where Y Scouts is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tempe
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Y Scouts business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Retained Executive Search Fees: The company operates as a retained executive search firm, charging clients for a dedicated, white-glove search engagement. Fees are not publicly disclosed; pricing is quote-based and tailored to each engagement.
- Prevail Recruiting (Sister Brand - Contingent Staffing): Prevail Recruiting, co-founded by Max Hansen and Ryan Berry, handles mid-level and emerging leader placements using a contingent (performance-based) staffing model, powered by AI and agentic sourcing tools.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Retained executive search engagement — custom pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels9 records
Y Scouts product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Y Scouts is a purpose-driven retained executive search firm that recruits C-suite and VP-level leaders for organizations across multiple industries. The firm uses proprietary methodologies (Role Visioning, Organizational DNA, Leadership Model for Hiring on Purpose, and Covert Discovery) to align executive candidates with a client's mission, vision, and values rather than focusing solely on credentials. Engagements are white-glove, consultative, and include post-hire check-ins at 30/60/90/180/365 days with a 100% placement guarantee.
Product overview
Y Scouts operates as a purpose-driven retained executive search platform with a portfolio of complementary offerings. The core product is Y Scouts Executive Search, a premium retained search firm focused on C-suite and senior executive roles across multiple industry verticals (healthcare, consumer products, manufacturing, financial services, technology, professional services, non-profit, and construction). A related sub-brand, Prevail Recruiting, provides agile contingent recruiting for mid-level and emerging leaders using AI-enabled sourcing. The ecosystem also includes content offerings: the 'Built on Purpose' podcast and the 'Hiring on Purpose' book. Additional specialized services include Private Equity & VC executive search, coaching and networking executive search, and nontraditional search for EOS Integrators. Together, these products form a complete leadership ecosystem addressing hiring needs at every organizational level.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Prevail Recruiting: An agile contingent recruiting partner for mid-level and emerging leaders, focusing on high-performing managers, individual contributors, and operational leaders. Part of the Y Scouts ecosystem.
- Built on Purpose Podcast
- Hiring on Purpose
Products and services
- Y Scouts Executive Search Purpose-driven retained executive search firm specializing in C-suite and senior executive roles with a deep, consultative partnership approach focused on values-driven matching of role and culture.
- Prevail Recruiting
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% success rate — Y Scouts guarantees placement on every engagement ('Every. Single. Time.')
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Y Scouts
Customer profileNamed customers21 records
Segments11 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Y Scouts technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Y Scouts partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Prevail Recruiting (powered by ScoutPath)corePrevail Recruiting was co-founded by Y Scouts CEO Max Hansen and 15-year recruiting veteran Ryan Berry. Built as a response to client demand for mid-level and emerging leader placements, Prevail uses AI-powered (ScoutPath) contingent staffing to fill manager, senior IC, and operational roles in as little as two weeks. Y Scouts refers mid-level or volume-based hiring needs to Prevail; Prevail refers senior executive or retained search needs to Y Scouts.
- TRANSEARCH International (powered by Orxestra)coreY Scouts joined TRANSEARCH International in October 2022, extending the firm's operational reach from North America to 60+ offices in 40 countries. The partnership aligns Y Scouts' purpose-driven approach with a global executive search network, enabling cross-border searches while maintaining the firm's values-first philosophy.
- Genius NetworkminorAffiliation with the Genius Network entrepreneur network, which Y Scouts uses as a peer connection and thought leadership community.
- COO AllianceminorAffiliation with the COO Alliance, a peer network for Chief Operating Officers that Y Scouts is connected with for referrals and industry relationships.
- EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System)minorY Scouts is affiliated with the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) ecosystem and offers a specialized 'Nontraditional Executive Search for EOS Integrators' service. They specifically recruit EOS Integrators as executive placements.
- SaaS AcademyminorAffiliation with the SaaS Academy network, an entrepreneur and business acceleration community Y Scouts is connected with.
- Conscious CapitalismminorY Scouts is affiliated with Conscious Capitalism, aligning the firm's purpose-driven hiring philosophy with the broader conscious capitalism movement emphasizing higher purpose and stakeholder alignment.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Y Scouts competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Spencer Stuart: One of the world's largest retained executive search firms, with deep C-suite and board practice across all major verticals. Direct competitor to Y Scouts on enterprise C-suite mandates, but with vastly larger research infrastructure and global footprint.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Global retained executive search and leadership advisory firm with strong presence in financial services, technology, and healthcare verticals. Competes with Y Scouts on C-suite and VP-level engagements for enterprise clients.
- Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with a large executive search practice, complemented by assessment, RPO, and leadership development services. Largest publicly traded peer in the executive search category.
- Egon Zehnder: Privately held global executive search and leadership advisory firm known for culture-fit assessments and board advisory. Comparable to Y Scouts' purpose-driven, culture-fit positioning, but at much larger scale.
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with deep functional practices across CEO, CFO, CMO, CTO, and board. Direct competitor on enterprise C-suite search mandates, especially in technology and healthcare verticals.
Others
- TRANSEARCH International: Global retained executive search network (60+ offices in 40 countries) that Y Scouts joined in October 2022. Both a partner and a peer; member firms within TRANSEARCH compete for similar mandates within their respective geographies.
Direct peers
- Boyden: Global retained executive search firm with a partner-led model that, like Y Scouts, emphasizes personal relationships and consultative engagements. Competes most directly with Y Scouts in the mid-market C-suite segment across multiple verticals.
- Odgers Berndtson: Global retained executive search firm with strong PE/VC-backed company practice and board advisory services. Comparable to Y Scouts in serving growth and PE-backed companies with mid-sized mandates.
- DHR International: Global retained executive search firm with a strong PE/VC portfolio practice and multi-vertical coverage. Direct peer in serving PE-backed and growth-stage enterprises with C-suite mandates.
Emerging players
- True Search: Mid-sized retained executive search firm with a strong PE/VC-backed company practice. Comparable emerging player in the values-driven, PE-aligned search niche where Y Scouts positions itself.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Y Scouts social profiles
Digital presenceY Scouts financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Y Scouts leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Y Scouts subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Y Scouts funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Y Scouts M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Y Scouts
What does Y Scouts do?
Y Scouts is a purpose-driven retained executive search firm that recruits C-suite and VP-level leaders for organizations across multiple industries. The firm uses proprietary methodologies (Role Visioning, Organizational DNA, Leadership Model for Hiring on Purpose, and Covert Discovery) to align executive candidates with a client's mission, vision, and values rather than focusing solely on credentials. Engagements are white-glove, consultative, and include post-hire check-ins at 30/60/90/180/365 days with a 100% placement guarantee.
Is Y Scouts a public or private company?
Y Scouts is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Y Scouts founded?
Y Scouts was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Y Scouts based?
Y Scouts is headquartered in Tempe, United States, in the North America region.
How does Y Scouts make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Retained Executive Search Fees are the primary driver. The others are prevail Recruiting (Sister Brand - Contingent Staffing).
Who are Y Scouts's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Spencer Stuart, Heidrick & Struggles, Korn Ferry, Egon Zehnder and Russell Reynolds Associates. TRANSEARCH International is listed as an others. Direct peers are Boyden, Odgers Berndtson and DHR International. True Search is listed as an emerging player.
Does Y Scouts have an API?
No public API is recorded for Y Scouts.
What industry is Y Scouts in?
Y Scouts's product category is Executive Search Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAA, C-Suite & Board Search, with a secondary code of BPACAAAB, Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops). Its NAICS code is 561312 and its SIC code is 7361.