What Big Wave Digital does

Big Wave Digital Pty Ltd is a Sydney-headquartered specialist recruitment agency founded in 2010 by Keiran Hathorn, operating an additional office in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. The firm places permanent, contract, interim, and executive-search candidates across AI, software engineering, data, cloud and platform engineering, embedded software, mobile, blockchain/Web3, fintech, and digital marketing disciplines, serving clients that span early-stage startups, scaleups, and ASX-listed enterprises across Australia and the wider APAC region. The go-to-market is a consultative, relationship-led model with specialist consultants embedded in each vertical and an 89% reported client return rate.

The company's core differentiator is domain specialisation: rather than operating as a generalist agency, Big Wave Digital maintains deep technical literacy across technology hiring niches, supported by 16 years of candidate network development and over 1,000 cumulative technology placements. The firm has operationalised AI internally through 'Rodney,' an agentic assistant used for sourcing, data enrichment, content scheduling, and CRM hygiene, and has appointed a dedicated Head of AI to lead the AI recruitment vertical. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; benchmark day rates for contract roles range from A$900 to A$1,700 plus GST depending on specialism, with a Fractional CTO service priced at A$1,500–A$2,200 per day equivalent. Marketing combines direct sales with content-led inbound across LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Substack, and Medium, complemented by an SEO programme anchored on salary guides and technical hiring content.

Revenue derives from professional-services fees: contingency or retained search fees for permanent placements, day-rate billings on contract and interim engagements, and executive-search retainers for CTO and senior leadership mandates. The business is founder-owned with no external investment or parent company disclosed. Recognitions include SEEK SARA Award winner for Best Small Recruitment Agency in Technology, AIMIA Awards finalist, and Recruitment International finalist. Customer logos include Apple, OpenAI, Anthropic (Claude AI), Prada, Universal Music, ChatGPT, Leonardo.ai, Perplexity, ABC, Crypto.com, FetchTV, World Nomads, and Nearmap.

Name

Big Wave Digital

Legal name

Big Wave Digital Pty Ltd

Website

https://bigwavedigital.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Big Wave Digital is a Sydney-based specialist recruitment agency placing AI, software engineering, data, digital marketing, fintech, and senior technology talent across Australia, New Zealand, and APAC for startups, scaleups, and ASX-listed enterprises through permanent, contract, interim, and executive search engagements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT Recruitment and Technology Staffing Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Data, AI/ML & Analytics Staffing (BPACADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technology & Product Leadership Search (CIO/CTO/CDO/CPO) (BPACAAAC)

Keywords

• Technology recruitment services
• AI talent placement
• Executive search technology
• Contract staffing solutions
• Specialist digital recruitment

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Permanent Placement Recruitment: Contingency or retained search fees for placing permanent candidates in technology, AI, and digital marketing roles. Charges based on successful placement of specialist talent.
2. Contract/Interim Recruitment: Places contractors and interim professionals for compliance-driven projects, platform migrations, and AI builds. Day rate billing for contract placements.
3. Executive Search: Specialist executive and leadership search for CTOs, VPs of Engineering, Heads of Product, and other senior technology roles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Big Wave Digital is a Sydney-based specialist recruitment agency that places technology, AI, and digital marketing talent on a permanent, contract, interim, and executive search basis for companies across Australia and New Zealand. The firm runs dedicated desks for AI, software engineering, data, cloud, platform engineering, mobile, blockchain/Web3, fintech, and digital marketing roles, with named clients including Apple, OpenAI, Anthropic, Prada, Universal Music, and ABC. Operations are run by a small team using proprietary candidate networks and an internal agentic AI assistant (Rodney) for sourcing and workflow automation.

Product overview

Big Wave Digital is a Sydney-based specialist technology, AI, and digital recruitment agency. The company operates as a service business offering bespoke recruitment solutions rather than a software platform. Their portfolio includes distinct specialist services: AI and machine learning recruitment, software engineering recruitment (full-stack, frontend, backend, cloud, platform), data and analytics recruitment, digital marketing recruitment, mobile recruitment, blockchain/Web3 recruitment, fintech recruitment, startup recruitment, and executive search for CTOs and senior technology leaders. Services are delivered as permanent placement, contract/interim staffing, and executive search. Founded in 2010 by Keiran Hathorn, the agency serves clients across Sydney, Australia, and the wider APAC region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AI Recruitment Services Specialist recruitment for AI engineers, ML engineers, data scientists, and AI product leaders for Australian companies across AI and emerging technology roles.
• Software Engineering Recruitment Placement of full-stack, frontend, backend, cloud, platform, and DevOps engineers across Sydney and Australia.
• Data and Analytics Recruitment Recruitment services for data engineers, data scientists, analytics leads, and data architects.
• Digital Marketing Recruitment Placement of digital marketing professionals including performance marketers, growth leads, SEO specialists, and marketing automation experts.
• Executive Search CTO, VP Engineering, Head of Engineering, and senior technology leadership placement services for Australian technology companies.
• Permanent Recruitment Direct hire placement services for permanent technology, AI, and digital marketing positions on a contingency or retained basis.
• Contract and Interim Recruitment Contract and interim staffing solutions for technology and digital roles on day-rate billing, including fintech contractors ($950-$1,500 plus GST), mobile contractors ($900-$1,300 plus GST), and interim technical leadership ($1,200-$1,700 plus GST).
• Fintech Recruitment Specialist recruitment for financial technology companies across payments, lending, wealthtech, regtech, insurtech, and digital assets.
• Startup Recruitment Founding team and early-stage hiring support for Australian technology startups and scaleups with startup-friendly success-based fee structures and volume arrangements.
• Mobile Recruitment iOS, Android, and cross-platform mobile developer placement services.
• Blockchain and Web3 Recruitment Specialist recruitment for smart contract engineers, blockchain architects, DeFi developers, and Web3 product managers.
• Platform Engineering Recruitment Placement of platform engineers, SREs, and cloud infrastructure specialists.
• Fractional CTO Services Interim technical leadership engagements typically delivered at 2-3 days per week at $1,500 to $2,200 per day equivalent, structured by engagement.
• Candidate Referral Program Earn $5k+ Referring Roles program that rewards referrals of candidates for technology positions across the firm's specialist desks.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% client return rate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• The Shepherd CentreminorOthersCharitable partnership supporting deaf children learning to listen and speak. Big Wave Digital team raises funds through ocean swims, charity events and direct donations. Utilises innovations like Cochlear technology and AI-powered hearing solutions.
• Sydney Children's Hospital FoundationminorOthersCharitable partnership supporting babies and young children through expert medical care, life-saving equipment, and groundbreaking research. Big Wave Digital provides donations to help meet urgent needs.
• Indigenous Literacy FoundationminorOthersCharitable organization supported by Big Wave Digital, focusing on improving literacy outcomes for Indigenous children.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Preacta: Sydney-based specialist recruitment firm focused on technology, digital, sales and marketing roles. Direct boutique competitor to Big Wave Digital in the ANZ specialist recruitment market.
• Bluefin Resources: Sydney-headquartered specialist recruiter covering technology, digital, data and business transformation roles. Directly comparable boutique size, geography and customer profile to Big Wave Digital.
• Talent International: One of Australia's largest specialist IT and digital recruitment firms with permanent, contract and executive search across ANZ. Direct competitor to Big Wave Digital in technology and digital marketing placements.
• Peoplebank: ANZ-focused IT recruitment specialist placing contractors and permanent staff across software, data and digital roles. Operates in the same end markets as Big Wave Digital with comparable mid-market and enterprise client base.
• Aurec: Australian technology, digital and executive search firm with offices in Sydney and Melbourne. Overlaps with Big Wave Digital on contract, permanent and senior tech leadership mandates.
• Greythorn: Specialist technology recruiter in Australia and the UK covering software, data, cloud and emerging tech. Most directly comparable boutique specialist to Big Wave Digital in vertical focus and headcount range.
• Paxus: Australian IT and engineering recruitment specialist with both permanent and contract capabilities. Competes with Big Wave Digital for mid-market and enterprise technology hires across ANZ.
• Xpand: ANZ-based IT, digital and project services recruitment firm operating permanent, contract and executive search. Overlaps with Big Wave Digital across enterprise tech mandates and consulting-style placements.

Broad incumbents

• Hays: Global recruitment and workforce solutions major with a substantial ANZ technology and digital practice. Competes with Big Wave Digital on enterprise tech mandates but as part of a much broader generalist portfolio.
• Hudson Global: APAC-focused recruitment and talent solutions firm with deep presence in Australia and Greater China. Competes for senior tech, digital and transformation mandates but at a larger, broader scale than Big Wave Digital.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MrBigwavedigital
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/big-wave-digital
• Instagraminstagram.com/bigwavedigital
• Xx.com/bigwavedigi
• Facebookfacebook.com/bigwavedigital

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Big Wave Digital