Cleveland startup Beacon launches to pay you for referrals

A new Cleveland-based startup wants to change how people find jobs—and how they get rewarded for helping others do the same. Beacon, founded by entrepreneur Rob Reznick, officially launched this week with a simple promise: get paid for helping your network get 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, friends, 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 get recognized and rewarded for the value they provide.

Early customers

Beacon is already being put to the test by industry leaders including Direct Recruiters, Inc. (DRI) and NinjaJobs. Both firms say 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,” said 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 change how people think about networking and hiring.”

“As someone who has spent more than a decade helping startups hire exceptional talent, I see Beacon as a welcomed change 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 helped his former startup exit to private equity, said 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 fix it,” he said.

In a LinkedIn post, Reznick explained his bigger motivation: “The job search is built on outdated infrastructure that doesn’t enable people to effectively use their networks to find the right opportunity. Finding a job can be a team sport, and often the best outcomes come from people helping 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 bigger 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 said. “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 get paid for it.”