John Ferneborg Email & Phone Number

California, United States

San Mateo, Ca, Us

San Mateo, Ca, Us

Our mission is simple: find the talent that turns boundary-pushing ideas into groundbreaking tech.Building a moonshot takes the right crew—dreamers, doers, visionaries, and engineers. We partner with deep-tech companies to assemble that mix and help them innovate, build, and scale.Talent Ingenuity Labs is our secret weapon. We combine AI-driven intelligence with hands-on recruiting to deliver talent faster, smarter, and more precisely. We don’t just find people; we find the right people, cutting hiring time by 40% while ensuring the quality is unmatched.We work with talent building the future—AI, Quantum Computing, Robotics, Biotech, Aerospace, HPC. Our mission? Equip companies with the visionary leaders and engineering talent that push boundaries and fuel the next wave of innovation.Quick Hits:• 50+ years of combined executive search in deep-tech and emerging sectors• Extensive expertise and network across tech sectors including: AI/ML, Biotech, Climate, Cybersecurity/PQC, Energy, Quantum-Tech, Robotics, SaaS, SpaceTech, VR/AR, and more.• AI-powered solutions that slash hiring time by 40%—without sacrificing quality• Specialists in engineering leadership and mission-critical technical rolesAt Silicon Partners, we’re building the future one hire at a time. Ready to unlock your next game-changing talent? Let’s make it happen now.

New York, Ny, Us

When John started working with Normal Computing as an interim Talent Lead, it felt like coming back to his roots. He had recruited the founders to X, The Moonshot Factory, where they had tackled moonshots together, and now they were ready to take on the next big challenge. When they tapped him to help launch their new venture, he was all in.Normal Computing had an audacious goal: to build the future of probabilistic AI and thermodynamic computing. John's mission? Bring together the brightest minds who could make that vision a reality. It wasn’t about just filling roles; it was about finding pioneers—people who weren’t afraid to dive into the unknown and push the boundaries of what’s possible.For over a year, John partnered with the CEO to recruit top talent and close key candidates. Their 100% success rate in hiring the right people helped shape the foundational team and talent strategy. The focus was on building a culture of curiosity, resilience, and innovation—creating a team primed for breakthroughs. The result? Brilliant minds and top engineers came aboard, sparking investor excitement and elevating confidence in the company's future, propelling it into its next wave of growth.

San Francisco Bay Area, Ca, Us

Advising the company in the development of a cutting-edge talent system with powerful AI workflows.

San Mateo, California, Us

At QuSecure, John stepped into the role of Vice President of Talent with a mission: build a team that could tackle the biggest security challenges of the future. QuSecure wasn't just any company—it was on the frontlines of quantum cybersecurity, working to protect national security against the looming threats of quantum computing.Think about it: every hire needed to be a perfect mix of technical wizardry and adaptability. It wasn't just about adding numbers to a roster; it was about curating a team that could innovate and respond to threats that most people couldn't even fathom yet.During John's time leading talent acquisition, the company's headcount grew by 48%. It wasn't just rapid growth—it was strategic growth, focused on building a group of people who could break new ground in quantum encryption and the security of sensitive data. The stakes were sky-high, but the mission was clear: safeguard tomorrow by bringing together the brightest minds today.

San Mateo, California, Us

John was recruited to Roblox to lead multiple recruiting pods and their Talent Leads, each focused on a key area of the platform’s growth: the Roblox Economy, Developer Studio, and Creator Cloud. These teams were essential to fueling innovation—from managing the massive digital marketplace and empowering creators with state-of-the-art tools, to supporting the infrastructure that keeps millions of user-generated experiences running smoothly.Under John’s leadership, the pods crafted hiring strategies to address immediate engineering needs while anticipating the platform’s future. By coordinating efforts across these diverse teams, he ensured Roblox had the talent to continually expand its creative ecosystem and serve its global community of creators.

Mountain View, Ca, Us

At X, the Moonshot Factory, John was hired to lead talent for Sandbox@Alphabet, a technology initiative backed by Sergey Brin. Sandbox focused on quantum computing, AI, and high-performance computing. John oversaw the hiring of specialists who tackled complex, sometimes entirely new problems. Working closely with executive leadership, he developed a hiring strategy that built the early Sandbox team from the ground up, paving the way for its spin-off as SandboxAQ.He also co-developed X’s University Programs, recruiting interns and PhD candidates for cutting-edge projects. Throughout his time at X, John played a key role in turning ambitious concepts into tangible innovations.

San Francisco, Ca, Us

After honing his craft at The Ferneborg Group, John made the leap to Vungle, a rapidly scaling ad-tech company. This move was a shift into a fast-paced environment where growth was constant, and every hire mattered.At Vungle, John worked as a principal recruiter, conducting search assignments across both the US and UK for a variety of roles. He recruited for technical and G&A positions, ranging from individual contributors to Senior Directors, and supported teams across Engineering, AI/ML, Product, Legal, Finance, Marketing, Sales, and HR. The focus was on finding talent that could thrive in a high-growth, dynamic setting.John’s contributions helped Vungle build the foundational teams necessary to support their growth. His recruiting efforts played a part in scaling the company during an important period, ultimately positioning Vungle for its acquisition by Blackstone.

San Mateo, Ca, Us

John's journey into executive search began at The Ferneborg Group—one of the top-25 executive search firms in the United States for over 30 years. Originally known as Smith, Goerss & Ferneborg, the firm was a leader in recruiting executive leadership across the technology, energy, and consumer product sectors. This wasn't just a company; it was a legacy.Growing up immersed in the world of executive search, John learned the craft from his father, who helped shape industries by connecting companies with the leaders they needed to thrive. The Ferneborg Group wasn't just about filling roles; it was about making the right connections—the kind that would fuel growth and drive innovation across some of the fastest-moving industries.Working alongside seasoned professionals, John developed a deep understanding of what it takes to find leaders who are not only talented but transformative. His early experiences there shaped his ability to see beyond a resume—to identify the potential for impact, the cultural fit, and the visionary spark that makes a great leader.At The Ferneborg Group, John learned the foundational principles that would guide his career: that recruiting is about more than matching skill sets; it's about finding the people who can build futures, lead teams, and transform businesses. It set the stage for everything that came next, from moonshots at Google X to building engineering teams for emerging technologies at Silicon Partners.