Why Startups Are Hiring DevRel Engineers

Is your B2B SaaS startup struggling to connect with developers? You're not alone. In 2025, the most successful startups are discovering a secret weapon: Developer Relations engineers. Let's explore why DevRel has become the growth engine for developer-first companies.

Picture this: Your team builds an amazing product that solves real problems. But developers struggle to get started, complain about documentation, or worse - they leave before seeing any value. Sound familiar? This gap between what you built and what developers need is exactly why DevRel has become critical.

A DevRel engineer is your developer's best friend. They translate your product's value into code samples, create tutorials that actually work, speak at conferences, build communities, and most importantly - they listen. They combine technical skills with empathy to make your product irresistible to developers.

Here's the reality check: Hiring a DevRel engineer in 2025 costs between 120 to 180 thousand dollars per year, plus benefits. The hiring process takes 3 to 6 months. And finding someone with coding skills, community expertise, AND technical empathy? That's like hunting for a unicorn. For startups still finding product-market fit, this is a massive risk.

What if you could get all the benefits of DevRel without the risk? Smart startups are choosing team-based approaches - fractional hires, agencies, or hybrid models. For less than the cost of one full-time hire, you get immediate impact: weekly content, video tutorials, community engagement, and real developer feedback. No long hiring cycles, no budget drain, just results.

The perfect time to invest in DevRel? When you have a working product, some early users, and recurring feedback about onboarding struggles. Start with content and documentation in the early stage, scale with videos and SEO during growth, then build community and advocacy as you mature. Each phase needs different DevRel focus.

Developer Relations isn't just a nice-to-have anymore - it's your competitive advantage. Whether you hire full-time or partner with a DevRel team, the key is to start now. Your developers are waiting for better experiences, clearer documentation, and a company that truly understands them. Don't let your competitors build those relationships first. Take action today and watch your developer adoption soar.