About...
Devspace is creating a European network of senior tech talent, embedding vetted software engineers from a talent pool across 14 EU countries directly into client teams within 2-4 weeks. Devspace matches seniority, stack, and skill to each client's specific needs across the fintech, life science, healthcare, veterinary, sports tech, industrial and maritime sectors.
per employee
not weeks
Devspace
Background check experience
Devspace is on a mission to place the best engineering talent from Europe at the world's top companies. Founded by three professionals with engineering backgrounds, they operate on one rule: build what you need, buy what you can't. And it's kept them lean enough to grow 120% year on year.
Sourcing was one of the things they bought in, partnering with HR agencies to find suitable candidates across 14 countries. "We then use our custom ATS to interview the candidates and match them to our clients' requirements," explained Alex Somby, CEO of Devspace.
But within this process, background checking was the one piece that they weren't able to fully customise. Devspace had been handling verification manually, collecting ID documents directly from candidates themselves. It worked, but it came with problems they hadn't signed up for.
"We relied on traditional methods, like sharing ID information, and it was causing issues with privacy and regulations. We had to sign documents affirming that people are comfortable sharing their ID with us, and that we can store it, and the whole process was slow and manual," said Alex.
Then Devspace found a gap in the screening process that put a placement at risk and Alex knew they needed a different solution.
What Devspace needed was the same philosophy they brought to every part of their business: a partner who could help them make background checks faster, safer, and better for their clients.
As a business, Devspace faced two pressures that their new screening partner needed to help with.
Compliance across regions and sectors
Alex found that clients across different countries and sectors don't all ask for the same thing. A Norwegian maritime client and a US life sciences company have different priorities when it comes to background screening. Devspace needed a platform that could flex to match each jurisdictions’ requirements instead of applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
Speed they could rely on
Devspace's entire placement model is built around a two to four-week turnaround, from first client conversation to signed contract. Anything that couldn't keep pace with that timeline would become the bottleneck in an otherwise fast-moving process.
Unparalleled flexibility
Because Devspace had built their own ATS rather than buying one off the shelf, they needed a provider that could sit inside their own systems rather than force them onto someone else's dashboard.
As Alex began researching background checking vendors, one name came up highly rated on all counts: Zinc.
Results
Zinc's job was to make background checks as automatic as everything else in Devspace's stack, no matter which of their 14 countries a contractor happened to be placed in. Here’s what we did offer:
Flexible functionality
Zinc’s API enables Devspace to build a custom background checking workflow that fits their specific needs. Checks now fire automatically the moment a candidate reaches the right stage in Devspace's own ATS.
Document, reference, self-certification, address, CV and education checks run as standard, with additional checks bundled in for clients in regulated sectors, all through the same open API integration.
Speed without extra headcount
Since going live in November 2025, Devspace has seen right to work (RTW), address, and education checks completed in less than one day globally.
For a business that promises clients a placement within two to four weeks, that pace means background checks are no longer the thing standing between a great match and a signed contract.
The confidence to stand behind their talent
Being able to point to consistent, credible screening verification, no matter where a contractor is based, has become a genuine sales advantage for Devspace, particularly with risk-sensitive clients in maritime, energy and finance.
"I now use it as a USP in my sales presentation, saying we work with a company in London which helps us verify people," said Alex.
Devspace can now tell clients, with full confidence, that the talent they're placing are verifiably the best fit for the role. It's a gap Devspace doesn't see their competitors closing.
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