Frequently Asked Questions
What is fractional HR?
Fractional HR gives you experienced HR leadership part-time instead of a full-time hire. CultureKrew works with founder-led companies from Seed to Series C, either embedded in your organization and building what’s needed at your stage of growth, or on a defined project. You get the people infrastructure you need before the fires start, so you can stay focused on what you built.
When does a startup need HR?
Usually sooner than founders think. Common triggers are a new funding round, a hiring push, promoting your first managers, or growing past about 30 employees, when informal processes start to break. If your HR is held together with popsicle sticks and bubble gum, it’s time. CultureKrew helps companies with 10 to 150 employees build the foundation early.
Do I need a full-time HR person or fractional HR?
For most growing startups, fractional is the smarter first step. You get senior HR expertise for the hours you actually need, without a full-time salary. CultureKrew builds your HR systems, policies, and people strategy, then sets you up for the day you’re ready to hire a full-time Head of People.
What services does CultureKrew offer?
CultureKrew offers three ways to work together. Fractional HR Partnership is embedded HR leadership: day-to-day operations, employee relations, compliance, and strategic people support. Same dedicated team, every time. We know your business. Project-Based Support covers HR Audits (our CultureKrew Powerup), employee handbooks, training, and offsites. Strategic Advisory covers leadership coaching, org design, and culture challenges.
How much does fractional HR cost?
CultureKrew’s Fractional HR Partnership starts at $7,000 a month with MiniKrew, then scales through Growth Krew and Full Krew as you need more embedded support. Pre-funded startup? Ask about our early-stage pricing. Need something smaller? Project-Based Support, like our HR Audit (the CultureKrew Powerup), is scoped per project. Book a free discovery call for a quote.
What is an HR audit?
CultureKrew’s HR Audit, the CultureKrew Powerup, is an HR assessment that reviews your policies, practices, and records to find compliance gaps before they turn into expensive problems. We flag risks, including Massachusetts-specific requirements, and give you a clear, prioritized plan to fix what’s broken and build it right.
Do you only work with Boston companies?
No. CultureKrew is based in Boston and works with founder-led companies across the US, both virtually and on-site. We also support teams in the UK, Canada, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Mexico, and beyond. Boston-area founders get the added benefit of deep Massachusetts employment law expertise.
Who is on the CultureKrew team?
CultureKrew was founded in 2025 by Karina Bensko, SPHR, who has 13 years of HR experience at companies including Brightcove, Vistaprint, and CloudHealth. The team includes experienced HR leaders and specialists spanning all verticals of HR.