Bullhorn, a Boston-based company specializing in recruitment software, has acquired Textkernel, an Amsterdam-based AI-powered recruitment and talent management solutions provider. This strategic move is underpinned by a shared vision between Textkernel and Bullhorn, both trusted and lasting partners in the staffing and recruiting sector. The company’s joint mission is to enable recruiters to transform their businesses for the future digitally and maximize the application of artificial intelligence in the sector. This acquisition will significantly enhance Bullhorn’s AI capabilities, particularly in talent parsing and matching technology.
Founded in 2001 by Gerard Mulder and Jakub Zavrel, Textkernel solutions automate matching demand and supply in the job market for thousands of recruitment agencies, employers, and job boards. Its offerings include CV parsing, matching, labour market analytics, semantic search, sourcing tools, and a mid-office application for the staffing industry, enhancing efficiency in HR and recruitment processes. The Dutch company serves over 2,000 customers globally, including eight of the top ten staffing agencies and Fortune 500 companies.
Bullhorn plans to leverage the acquisition to develop new AI solutions to serve its customers and the broader staffing industry. The deal aims to improve its AI offerings, enabling it to help organizations facing talent and job shortages. This move is part of Bullhorn’s broader strategy to allow recruitment agencies to use AI for digital transformation and operational optimization.
Speaking on the acquisition, Matthew Fischer, President & COO of Bullhorn, expressed his gratitude towards Textkernel, saying:
As we shared with customers in Vision for Innovation at Engage Boston 2024, Sourcing AI is a huge investment area for Bullhorn, and we are truly excited to embark on this journey with Textkernel. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to CEO Gerard Mulder, COO Guus Meijer, and the entire leadership team at Textkernel and warmly welcome the Textkernel team to the Bullhorn family. This acquisition is a significant step forward for us, and we are committed to maximizing its potential to benefit our customers.
Fischer added:
As we set our sights on the future, I’m optimistic about the impactful solutions that will stem from merging our teams and our shared dedication to advancing AI in the talent-sourcing landscape.
With over two decades of innovation in the recruitment industry, Bullhorn offers cloud-based software that supports the entire recruitment life cycle. From startups to large enterprises, staffing companies use Bullhorn to find talent, manage payroll, and provide “incredible” candidate and client experiences. Through partnerships with 10,000 customers globally, the platform has built a vast knowledge base of recruitment best practices and deep domain expertise to help firms scale their businesses. Headquartered in Boston, Bullhorn employs 1,400 people across 14 countries focused on delivering an incredible customer experience.
With over $600 billion in revenue, the global staffing market is expected to increase faster in 2024. In light of this, the acquisition demonstrates a “significant” advancement for Bullhorn in fully utilizing AI to benefit customers and the industry.
