Equalture, a Rotterdam-based HRTech startup, recently announced that it has raised €2.5M (USD $2.7 million) in a new funding round led by serial entrepreneur Pieter Schoen’s Shoe Investments. Existing investors 4impact and InnovationQuarter Capital, and two angels, have also participated in the fundraise. The Dutch company plans to utilize the fresh capital to develop its neuroscientific games and platform, according to a report.
Co-founded by twin sisters Charlotte Melkert and Fleur Melkert, Equalture helps companies increase the diversity of their teams by providing all candidates with an equal opportunity to get hired, beyond what is on their CV. With a library of scientifically-validated gamified assessments, companies can put candidates’ cognitive skills to the test and get to know the cultural preferences and behaviours of both candidates and their existing team. Candidates take these assessments (they last around 25 minutes) at the beginning of the hiring process – ensuring a first impression that is “based on science instead of gut”.
Speaking about the capital raised, Co-founder of Equalture, Charlotte Melkert, said:
We raised this funding purely and solely to increase our impact.
Equalture focuses on a combination of cognitive abilities (GMA) and behaviours, combined with structured interviews, to maximise the chance of making the right hiring decision. Hundreds of companies are using its platform, and Melkerts themselves also hire people using their own software. Currently, the startup employs forty people from twenty nationalities, with 50-50 male/female distribution.
According to the founders, potential employers unfairly judge candidates based on their resume and appearance rather than their personality, passions, and talents.
Last year in February, Equalture had raised €2.75 million in a funding round led by Dutch investment company of serial entrepreneur Pieter Schoen, Shoe Investments, and joined by Dutch VC firm 4impact.
