Paraform , a recruitment platform dedicated to startups, has recently secured a $3.6 million seed funding round led by A*. The platform utilizes the skills of recruiters displaced by the tech industry layoffs in 2022 and 2023, connecting startups with top-tier talent in a cost-effective manner. Despite many startups having robust in-house recruitment teams, they turn to Paraform for its broad network of independent recruiters and flexible hiring solutions. With plans to expand its services globally and enhance its offerings with AI technology, Paraform aims to streamline the recruitment process and accommodate a broader range of job roles, ensuring effective and efficient talent matching across diverse sectors.



In a recent move to innovate the startup recruitment landscape, Paraform has successfully raised $3.6 million in a seed funding round. The round was spearheaded by A*, a venture capital firm led by Kevin Hartz, a notable figure known for co-founding Eventbrite and Xoom, and as AirBnB's first investor.

Paraform is a recruitment platform specifically designed for startups, tapping into the expertise of recruiters who found themselves without jobs amid the massive layoffs in the tech industry during 2022 and 2023. According to John Kim, CEO of Paraform, this funding will enhance the company's ability to connect these independent recruiters with startups that need to scale their teams effectively and affordably.

"During the tech layoffs in 2022 and 2023, we saw an exodus of 100,000 recruiters from the industry, many of whom have started their own recruiting businesses," Kim explained in an exclusive interview with TechCrunch. "Our platform is uniquely positioned to leverage these high-quality networks and offer startups access to top talent."

Paraform charges a subscription fee to list jobs and a success fee upon successful hires, ensuring commitment on both sides of the market. Kim highlighted the platform's dual appeal: "More than half of our customers have robust in-house talent teams yet choose to use Paraform for its extensive recruiter network and flexible hiring solutions."

Since its inception, Paraform has supported over 200 companies and has thousands of recruiters active on its platform. The platform's success has been significant, with a reported tenfold increase in revenue since their pre-seed funding round in March 2023.

This seed funding will enable Paraform to expand its operations across the U.S. and explore new markets globally. "We've already seen success with clients in the EU, Korea, and Australia, and are excited about the potential to grow further internationally," Kim added.

The investors in this round include leaders from companies like DoorDash, Affirm, Hightouch, Palantir, and Ramp, with continued support from previous backer Primer Sazze Partners.

With a current team of four planning to double by year's end, Paraform is set to roll out an enterprise product that will cater to a broader range of job roles beyond software engineering and go-to-market positions, including sectors like research, science, manufacturing, and defense.

Paraform remains committed to enhancing the human-to-human process of recruitment, with plans to integrate AI technology to refine how recruiters and startups match with potential candidates. This blend of technology and personal touch is poised to set Paraform apart in the competitive landscape of startup recruitment solutions.