I'm a startup founder eager to hire laid-off Big Tech workers. Here's what I look for during interviews.

• Ahmed Reza is the founder and CEO of AI-powered communications app Yobi.
• He says big tech workers are in the top 1% of talent and he's excited to hire them for his startup. 
• Reza says startups have a very different culture and hiring strategy than Big Tech companies. 

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ahmed Reza, founder and CEO of AI-powered communications app Yobi, self-proclaimed AI geek and entrepreneur based in Los Gatos, CA. It has been edited for length and clarity.