Sapia.ai secures $17m in Series A funding

AI interview software company, Sapia.ai, has secured $17 million in Series A funding, including cash injections by Macquarie Capital, and W23 – Woolworths Group’s venture capital branch.

CEO and founder of Sapia.ai, Barb Hyman, is proud of her company’s achievement: “I’m excited to have Macquarie and Woolworths investing in our technology – it’s an incredible validation for my team who have been committed to our mission from the get-go and we can’t wait to open our technology to new markets.”

Sapia.ai’s software allows for an automated interview process, which can remove bias and allow for fairer hiring. Ms Hyman’s goal is “to make equity in the workplace a reality”.

“Our customers are seeing extraordinary results – and seeing them fast … We give them data and insights that let them track fairness and bias in their decisions across the employment journey,” said Ms Hyman.

Co-founder of Macquarie Capital’s venture capital branch, Dan Phillips is impressed by Sapia.ai’s capabilities: “We’ve all been talking about the value of diversity for some time, but many companies are still not equipped to bring about real change. This is primarily because we fail to acknowledge our human biases.

“Sapia’s Smart Chat Interviewer has redefined what a fair recruitment process can be. It is blind, it is efficient, and it is backed by valid, peer-reviewed science,” said Mr Phillips.

Woolworths Group has been utilising Sapia.ai’s software for a year now. According to managing director of W23, Ingrid Maes, “the program had helped reshape the group’s hiring process and improved the experience of candidates applying for roles”.

“Woolworths Group is always recruiting, and we see tens of thousands of applications processed annually in our supermarket business. This new technology positively impacts bias during the recruitment process,” said Ms Maes.

“Not only does it provide a flexible platform for our recruitment teams, we’re really pleased with the experience our applicants have in the process, ultimately delivering the hiring and equality outcomes we strive for across the group,” she said.

Barb Hyman joined The HR Leader on 31 August to discuss her company’s achievements, and her goal to transform candidate experience.

“Our tech typically is brought in as part of a transformation, we’re not just another widget. [There is an] opportunity to reimagine the hiring process, [and] the internal mobility process,” said Ms Hyman.

She added: “The way you make all of your talent decisions is fundamental … Change is really about people.”