AI startup HiringBranch raises $3.5Mn for soft skills assessment
QUEBEC, CANADA — HiringBranch, a Montreal-based AI-powered soft skills assessment platform, has secured CAD 5 million (US$ 3.5 million) in Series A funding to revolutionize the hiring landscape.
The investment round, led by Crédit Mutuel Equity with participation from Export Development Canada and Anges Québec, marks a milestone for the company’s expansion plans.
Technology innovation of HiringBranch
The company’s proprietary soft skills AI technology has demonstrated remarkable accuracy, achieving 98% precision in soft skills evaluation and substantially outperforming public large language models (LLMs), which only reach 64% accuracy. Through conversational voice and chat assessments, candidates can experience job previews while AI analyzes their role-critical soft skills.
“We want to unlock the power of soft skills in the workforce by measuring what used to be immeasurable,” said HiringBranch Co-Founder and CEO Stephane Rivard.
“Our native AI technology provides unparalleled accuracy in soft skills evaluation, enabling organizations to leverage skills data for hiring, talent mobility and strategic decision-making.
Market impact and expansion
HiringBranch has witnessed impressive growth, with a 330% increase in its customer base over the past two years. The platform serves major corporations like Bell Canada, helping high-volume hiring companies reduce interview time by over 80% while achieving remarkably low mis-hire rates of just 1%.
“For companies that hire in high volume, HiringBranch revolutionizes the recruitment process by replacing the interview stage. Companies see themselves speeding up the process, dramatically reducing costs and selecting candidates who perform better and stay on the job longer,” said André Couillard, President at Procom Québec and angel investor.
The fresh capital will fuel HiringBranch’s market expansion into North and Latin America, Asia, and the United Kingdom through integration partnerships.
Founded by Patricia Macleod and Stephane Rivard, the company operates under Crédit Mutuel Equity’s portfolio, which manages €4 billion (US$ 4.2 billion) in funds and supports over 350 business leaders across France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and Canada.
