HR tech startup Harver raises $8.1 million to grow globally

Dutch HR and recruitment platform Harver has announced a funding round of $8.1 million. The Series A was led by Insight Venture Partners.

The new funds will be used to grow its AI platform for HR and recruitment, TalentPitch, globally with the opening of its New York office.

Harver’s platform automates much of the hiring process and uses machine learning to determine the best applicant for a job by matching skills to requirements with applicants providing data via a series of tests. Customers include Booking.com and Netflix with the company claiming it can reduce employee turnover by up to 63%.

Traditional resumes have become “nearly obsolete” at determining what an applicant will be like on the job, Barend Raaff, CEO of Harver. “Our proprietary tests and algorithms have resulted in nearly 100% client retention to date,” he added.

“Harver represents a tectonic shift in the way that companies source, select and hire the ideal candidates – a world where both companies and candidates are no longer reliant on resumes and job descriptions.”

“Harver’s technology is a win-win for both employers and applicants by making sure there is a good fit for both sides, which naturally increases employee happiness and decreases attrition,” said Nicolas Wittenborn, vice president of Insight Venture Partners.