Jared Watts

Founder and Principal Recruiter @ nxtplay Search Group. I have an extensive background in building successful teams across multiple Venture Capital and Private Equity portfolios.

With comprehensive experience placing top talent at high-growth software companies, I have a strong track record of partnering with Founders and CEOs to execute critical leadership searches. Partnered with SaaS companies backed by JMI Equity, Radian Capital, Frontier Growth, Sequoia Capital, General Catalyst, Bessemer Ventures, Drive Capital, Accel Partners, Greylock Partners, and other great funds.

At nxtplay Search Group, we execute searches for PE and VC backed SaaS companies below $50M in ARR. We partner with companies that want to headhunt the best talent. Our recruiting philosophy is "People First, Performance Always." We have a playbook for success and track record of dominating our searches:

Recent clients include: Greenlight Guru, TimelyCare, Vantaca, DHW, Visiting Media, ServiceTrade, HM, and others.

- $10M+ closed in negotiated salary
- 200+ placements executed
- 92% first offer to close ratio (38.5 days completion average)

Before moving into executive search, I spent five years playing professional soccer in Major League Soccer (MLS) for the Colorado Rapids and the Houston Dynamo. I was the 33rd overall pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft and won the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. I earned my degree from Wake Forest University and completed my MBA while finishing my soccer career.