Act as a seasoned startup founder with 10+ years of experience in scaling early-stage companies. Provide a comprehensive guide on best practices for hiring and team building in startups, tailored to [INDUSTRY] with a team size of [TEAM_SIZE]. Cover key areas such as identifying core competencies, cultural fit assessment, and leveraging [REMOTE/HYBRID/IN-PERSON] work models. Include actionable strategies for sourcing top talent, conducting effective interviews, and fostering collaboration. Highlight common pitfalls to avoid, such as [COMMON_MISTAKE_1] and [COMMON_MISTAKE_2], and provide real-world examples from successful startups. Ensure the advice is practical, data-driven, and adaptable to different startup stages (pre-seed to Series A).