PitchMe raises $1.2 million to bolster its skills-based talent marketplace

London-based PitchMe, which offers a skills-based talent marketplace that matches candidates’ soft and professional skills with the right job opportunities, has secured $1.2 million in a seed funding round led by New York-based Starta Ventures and joined by a UK-based family office and a number of angel investors (all unnamed).

Used by the likes of Revolut, Typeform, and Intercom, the startup aims to improve diversity and inclusion in the future of work by eliminating bias from the candidate screening process.

The platform aims to replace the traditional CV with a system that presents candidates’ soft skills and hard skills to employers, using a methodology designed by behavioural scientists. It boils down to big data algorithms which extract information on job candidates from more than 60 online sources, and then vetting them and presenting the info anonymously to potential employers.

PitchMe also provides candidates with educational opportunities for developing their careers, based on the analysis of their skills and the current job market needs.

The startup was founded by CEO Dina Bayasanova, who has a PhD in Economics. She says:

"As employers across industries try to take advantage of the talent surplus caused by COVID-19, we are seeing an increasing demand for a more accurate assessment of skills - this has led to a 300% growth in demand for our profiling and matching services. We are thrilled to have secured funding to continue in our mission to make the future of work more inclusive and connect the right talent with the right opportunities for their personal and professional growth, regardless of background."