Summary:
Humanly acquires Sprockets, Qualifi, and HourWork to expand its AI hiring platform into sourcing, screening, and post-hire engagement
The startup uses automation and AI tools to help companies manage high-volume hiring, aiming to reach 100% of candidates
Humanly’s AI Video Interviewer automatically conducts and transcribes interviews, leveraging millions of transcripts to improve candidate scoring
With 600 million candidate profiles and 250,000 monthly interviews, Humanly tripled revenue in 2025 and plans further investment
CEO Prem Kumar emphasizes efficiency and equity in recruitment, addressing increased application volumes driven by generative AI
Prem Kumar, CEO of Humanly, during an episode of the GeekWire series “Elevator Pitch.” in 2022. (GeekWire File Photo)
Seattle-based startup Humanly is acquiring three recruiting technology companies—Sprockets, Qualifi, and HourWork—to build a comprehensive hiring platform that integrates sourcing, screening, interviewing, and post-hire engagement into a single system.
Founded in 2018, Humanly uses automation software to help companies with high-volume hiring needs screen job candidates, schedule interviews, automate initial communication, run reference checks, and more.
Key Acquisitions and Their Impact
- Sprockets brings sourcing and frontline manager tools to strengthen talent pipelines.
- Qualifi adds automated phone and voice screening, complementing Humanly’s existing chat, SMS, and video systems.
- HourWork extends Humanly into post-hire engagement, helping companies onboard, train, and retain hourly workers.
Terms of the acquisitions were not disclosed.
This expansion comes shortly after Workday’s $1 billion acquisition of Paradox, one of Humanly’s main rivals, highlighting increased M&A activity in the HR software sector this year.
Humanly’s Vision and AI Integration
Humanly’s broader goal is to automate outreach and screening for every applicant, not just the small fraction that typically receives a response. CEO Prem Kumar emphasized, "Anytime there’s a two-way conversation with a job candidate, we want to make that more efficient, more equitable."
Generative AI tools have led to a surge in application volumes as candidates mass-apply, making it harder to differentiate them. Humanly addresses this with its own AI tools, including the AI Video Interviewer launched earlier this year, which automatically conducts and transcribes interviews.
Kumar clarified that the aim is not to replace recruiters but to expand access: "It’s helping you get to 100% of candidates, not 5%." He noted some pushback from candidates wary of AI interactions but stressed that for many, it’s the difference between engaging with AI or being ignored entirely.
Humanly leverages millions of transcripts from its AI chat and video systems to train models that score candidates more accurately and aid recruiter decisions.
Growth and Future Plans
The startup now manages 600 million candidate profiles and facilitates interviews for about 250,000 candidates per month. With over 100 customers, including Microsoft, Rogers Communications, MGM, and Dish Network, Humanly tripled its revenue in 2025 and plans to raise more investment next year.
Humanly is intentionally not profitable as it invests in infrastructure. The company employs just over 50 people post-acquisitions and is hiring staff from the acquired firms. It raised $7 million in May, bringing total funding to $24 million.
Kumar, who spent a decade at Microsoft integrating LinkedIn data, co-founded Humanly with Andrew Gardner and Bryan Leptich. The startup graduated from Y Combinator in 2019.
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