Cologne-based startup peopleIX has raised €2.3 million in pre-seed funding to reshape HR analytics with its AI-powered people intelligence platform. The funding round was led by Earlybird-X, alongside neoteq ventures, TS Ventures, and experienced HR tech business angels. This fresh capital reflects growing confidence in peopleIX’s mission to simplify workforce data and help companies make smarter HR decisions.
Today’s HR leaders face a common challenge—data scattered across countless systems like HR Information Systems (HRIS), Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), and payroll platforms. This fragmented setup leaves businesses struggling to answer vital questions like: How can we scale hiring without sacrificing candidate quality? Or What steps can we take to reduce employee turnover proactively?
peopleIX tackles this head-on. Its platform pulls data from multiple HR sources, creating a unified, real-time view—without requiring any data science background. By integrating data into a single source of truth, peopleIX transforms traditional HR analytics into accessible, actionable insights.
Meet the Visionary Founders Driving peopleIX’s Mission
The idea behind peopleIX stems from the diverse backgrounds of its co-founders, Nick Stodt and Dr. Georg Schaal.
Nick Stodt, formerly VP of Finance at a fast-growing scale-up, witnessed firsthand how deeply business performance relies on people strategies. He saw a gap—HR data often lived in silos, making it hard to understand workforce dynamics and impact.
On the tech side, Dr. Georg Schaal brought his expertise as a software engineer and consultant. With a strong background in informatics, he spent years guiding organizations through complex digital transformations.
Together, they combined their finance and tech experience to launch peopleIX—an AI-powered people intelligence platform designed to solve HR’s biggest data problems.
Empowering Mid-Sized Companies with AI-Driven People Insights
Many mid-sized businesses struggle with two key hurdles when it comes to people analytics: fragmented data and a lack of in-house expertise. Traditional tools often require dedicated analytics teams or data scientists—something many organizations can’t afford.
peopleIX changes that narrative. The platform uses AI to bridge these gaps, offering intuitive, no-code solutions that deliver powerful insights without the need for specialized skills. It helps companies assess how recruitment, retention, and performance impact their bottom line—all in one place.
Fueling Growth and Expanding into New Markets
With this new funding, peopleIX is set to expand its capabilities and strengthen its market presence—starting with the DACH region and then moving into wider European markets.
The team plans to enhance their data modelling features, making it easier to link HR metrics directly with business outcomes. They’re also building advanced machine learning models to track and predict key trends in hiring, performance, and employee retention.
Another exciting development is the launch of agentic user interfaces designed specifically for CHROs and business leaders. These tools will enable decision-makers to interact with data effortlessly and make strategic workforce decisions in real-time.
Standing Out in the Crowded People Analytics Space
While established players like Visier, OneModel, and Crunchr dominate the enterprise market, peopleIX is carving a niche by targeting mid-sized companies with a user-friendly, no-code platform.
Unlike traditional HR analytics tools that require heavy lifting from data teams, peopleIX empowers HR departments to unlock workforce intelligence instantly. From recruitment insights to retention strategies, every metric is presented in a clear, actionable format.
Shaping the Future of Workforce Intelligence
With its latest investment and bold roadmap, peopleIX is positioning itself as a driving force in the next generation of people analytics. By turning fragmented data into meaningful insights, the platform helps HR leaders boost productivity, reduce turnover, and optimize hiring—without the need for technical expertise.
Co-founder Nick Stodt captures the mission perfectly: “HR is no longer just a support function—they’re strategic business enablers driving human capital optimization.”
Dr. Georg Schaal adds, “We’re building the intelligence layer for people data, giving CHROs and executives the tools they need to unlock workforce potential and create real business impact.”
As peopleIX scales across Europe, it’s set to redefine how companies measure, analyze, and act on their most valuable asset—their people.
