Tom Rochford

Founder

A Biochemistry major turned career recruiter, Tom has spent over fourteen years helping build early-stage teams tackling complex scientific and engineering challenges. His work has placed him at the intersection of innovation across two major industries, advanced energy and next-generation aerospace, giving him a front-row seat to the process of scaling breakthrough technologies.

Grounded in a lifelong passion for chemistry, applied physics, and engineering, Tom has supported companies developing next-generation energy systems, advanced manufacturing platforms, and cutting-edge materials. Over the past decade, he has focused on ventures operating at the edge of industrial and scientific innovation, from fusion and advanced nuclear, electrochemical, and thermochemical systems to novel propulsion platforms and in-space infrastructure.

As the recruitment industry at large has shifted toward volume-driven, less consultative business models, Tom recognized a gap. That realization led him to found First Principle, an agency built to break the cycle of transactional recruitment and instead deliver best-in-class, high-touch service to companies pioneering the future.

First Principle combines technical recruitment, venture capital raise, and organizational strategy to help early-stage companies accelerate the journey from lab to launch. Based in Brooklyn, we work with technical founders, investors, and leadership teams across North America to build organizations that move the world forward, with a strong emphasis on culture-first team building and lasting impact