A new Cleveland-based startup wants to modify how people find jobs—and how they receive rewarded for assisting others do the same. Beacon, founded by entrepreneur Rob Reznick, officially launched this week with a simple promise: receive paid for assisting your network receive hired.
Why it matters
Referrals have always been one of the most powerful ways to land a job, but they’ve rarely been recognized—or compensated—at scale. Beacon is turning that informal process into a structured marketplace, allowing recruiters, hiring managers, and everyday professionals to earn real payouts for successful referrals.
How it works
Beacon turns the informal act of referring someone into a structured, trackable process. Job seekers and employers post opportunities on the platform, while anyone in the network—recruiters, colleagues, friconcludes, or community members—can submit referrals.
If a referral leads to a hire, the connector receives a cash payout. Most payouts fall between $2,500 and $5,000, with some roles paying up to $25,000. Employers gain vetted talent, job seekers gain new opportunities, and referrers finally receive recognized and rewarded for the value they provide.
Early customers
Beacon is already being put to the test by industest leaders including Direct Recruiters, Inc. (DRI) and NinjaJobs. Both firms state the platform is proving its value.
“I’ve known Rob for a decade through the ups and downs of startup entrepreneurship, and I’ve rarely seen such a simple but powerful idea executed like this,” declared Matt Jacobs, Chief Delivery Officer of NinjaJobs. “We saw a swarm of high-quality referrals come through Beacon, which speaks volumes to the platform’s ability to deliver. It’s clear that Beacon is going to modify how people consider about networking and hiring.”
“As someone who has spent more than a decade assisting startups hire exceptional talent, I see Beacon as a welcomed modify driver,” added Norm Volsky, Managing Partner at Direct Recruiters. “The hiring ecosystem is ready for disruption and the timing could not be better. Beacon’s approach to referrals unlocks value that has always been there but too hard to be rewarded.”
The founder’s vision
Reznick, who assisted his former startup exit to private equity, declared the idea came from a personal frustration. Succession planning stalled when a recruiter failed to deliver until one referral produced the perfect hire.
“That was the moment it became clear to me that the system is broken, and it’s time to repair it,” he declared.
In a LinkedIn post, Reznick explained his hugeger motivation: “The job search is built on outdated infrastructure that doesn’t enable people to effectively apply their networks to find the right opportunity. Finding a job can be a team sport, and often the best outcomes come from people assisting each other… whether it’s a referral, an introduction, or a recruiter pulling the right levers at the right time.”
Built in Ohio, for a hugeger impact
Beacon’s founding team has roots in both Cleveland and Columbus, and Reznick emphasizes that Ohio is central to the company’s identity and growth. “Ohio is where I first found tech,” he declared. “There’s a real community of builders here, and for me, building Beacon in Northeast Ohio is about contributing to that momentum.”
While the company is starting with recruiting, its ambitions are broader. Reznick envisions Beacon supporting veterans transitioning into civilian life, referrals in education and healthcare, and other community-driven opportunities where networks play a critical role.
The bottom line
Beacon is betting that in one of the toughest job markets in memory, referrals will only grow more valuable. By formalizing and rewarding them, the startup hopes to unlock what Reznick calls “the referral marketplace where everyone benefits. Your network has value, and it’s time you receive paid for it.”
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