Skillfully, a pioneer in simulation-driven hiring solutions, has secured $2.5 million in seed funding led by Better Ventures. This funding will enhance Skillfully's platform, which uses advanced AI tools and a modern skill taxonomy to revolutionize hiring practices. The platform's experiential hiring approach employs virtual simulations to evaluate applicants based on their actual skills, offering a fairer and more precise hiring process. This marks a significant step towards skills-first employment, aiming to replace outdated resume-driven methods and improve hiring efficiency and inclusivity.



Skillfully, a leader in simulation-driven hiring solutions, has announced the successful completion of a $2.5 million seed funding round. The funding was led by Better Ventures, with participation from Silicon Valley Quad, American Student Assistance, Strada Education Foundation, FN Fund, and Inventus Capital Partners.

Skillfully's innovative hiring platform integrates advanced AI tools with a modern skill taxonomy tailored for today’s workforce. This fresh capital will allow Skillfully to extend its solutions to more top employers worldwide, setting a new gold standard for skills-first employment in professional services, sales, and staffing sectors.

The traditional resume-driven approach to hiring is becoming increasingly inadequate in an industry transformed by AI. Skillfully's platform addresses this challenge by utilizing virtual simulations to assess candidates' actual skills rather than relying on embellished resumes. With 90% of application materials now enhanced by generative AI tools like ChatGPT, employers are inundated with resumes that often do not accurately reflect candidates' true capabilities.

Skillfully's experiential hiring method uses virtual workplace challenges to provide verifiable demonstrations of skills. Their flagship product, HiredNow, offers fully customizable simulations that allow employers to see applicants' skills in action. This approach results in a 10-20x increase in hiring precision and significant HR cost savings, ensuring that job-seekers are evaluated based on their real abilities and potential.

Lyndsey Boucherle, Partner at Better Ventures, highlighted the impact of Skillfully's approach: "Skillfully helps employers discover larger pools of talent, reduce hiring costs, and make better hiring decisions while leveling the playing field for underrepresented talent. We are excited to back them as they drive the transition to skills-based hiring."

This funding marks a transformative phase of growth for Skillfully. The company is eager to further commercialize its pre-hire simulation platform and develop additional innovative products to help customers thrive in the evolving landscape of experiential, skills-first hiring.