At a time when many companies are freezing or slowing down hiring, one recruiting startup is seeing record-breaking growth.
Seattle-based Humanly is defying the broader slowdown in tech hiring. Despite economic uncertainty, the company just wrapped up its strongest two quarters since it launched in 2018. In fact, its annual revenue has tripled year-over-year. To keep up the pace, Humanly recently secured $7 million in fresh funding — a clear vote of confidence from investors.
Humanly helps companies streamline the recruiting process using smart automation. Its software handles everything from screening candidates and scheduling interviews to reference checks and early communication. As hiring teams shrink, Humanly steps in to do more with less.
According to CEO and co-founder Prem Kumar, this trend isn’t new. During the pandemic, he saw a similar pattern: companies still needed to hire, but with leaner teams. Now, with job openings attracting even more candidates, recruiters are once again turning to Humanly for help managing the flood.
What gives Humanly an edge is its ability to engage at scale. It screens around 250,000 candidates every month, and its data models get smarter with every interaction. That means better matches and faster hiring — especially critical when the market rebounds.
One major shift has been Humanly’s expanded focus on job seekers, not just employers. Following its acquisition of Teamable last year, the company has built new tools that support candidates directly. From mock interviews to personalized career tips, Humanly is working to ease the often painful job search process.
This move comes at a time when “candidate resentment” — the frustration job seekers feel about poor hiring experiences — is surging. By helping people feel more prepared and respected, Humanly hopes to improve outcomes for both sides. Happy candidates, after all, tend to move faster through hiring pipelines and stick around longer.
Kumar sees this as a win-win. Better candidate experiences reduce time-to-hire and cut recruitment costs. And it positions Humanly as more than just a tech solution — it’s becoming a trusted partner in hiring.
Most of Humanly’s clients aren’t tech companies. They’re large firms in industries like healthcare, retail, and logistics that hire in bulk. These employers need to move quickly, but can’t afford bad hires. That’s where Humanly shines.
The company sources candidates from multiple channels — online listings, applicant tracking system partners, and opt-ins from customers. This broad reach allows Humanly to build a diverse and dynamic candidate pool.
Despite its recent funding, Kumar says Humanly wasn’t in urgent need of cash. He calls this a “momentum round” — designed to accelerate the company’s growth rather than keep it afloat. Still, it’s a sign that backers see long-term potential. The startup’s valuation has doubled since its last raise in 2023, bringing total funding to $24 million.
The new round included investors like Drive Capital, Y Combinator, Zeal Capital Partners, and Alumni Ventures, along with other notable VC firms and angel backers.
Kumar, a former Microsoft and Tinypulse exec, co-founded Humanly with Andrew Gardner and Bryan Leptich. The startup went through Y Combinator in 2019, and it’s been climbing ever since.
While many recruiting tools focus on volume, Humanly is betting on empathy, speed, and AI-powered support to win the long game.
