Personally when applying for a start-up I would never go through recruiters. I don't want to go through that process. I rather meet with the company in person over coffee and show them the work I've done and discuss things like that. If it is an early stage start-up then I want to work there because I like what the company is doing and want to be part of it. If it can't happen on a personal level without going through millions of hoops then its already a very bad sign.