News Summary

Maki, a company founded in 2022 by Maxime Legardez, Paul-Louis Caylar, and Benjamin Chino, has developed a conversational AI platform for job interviews and candidate filtering. Maki’s platform, which can automate up to 80% of the recruitment process, has seen over 300% growth in 2024 and secured contracts across 50+ markets. The company recently raised $28.6 million in Series A funding led by the UK’s Blossom Capital, with participation from DST Global and existing investors Frst, GFC, and Picus Capital. This funding will be used to accelerate the product roadmap and expand operations in the U.S. Maki’s AI-based agents, customizable to clients’ needs, interact with candidates through natural language, offering a more efficient and less biased alternative to human recruiters. The platform is designed to streamline hiring, enhance the candidate experience, and reduce employee turnover. Maki’s AI agents, such as ‘Maria’ for H&M, can conduct interviews via phone or video, assessing skills such as customer empathy and collaboration. Despite concerns about the impersonal nature of AI, Maki emphasizes providing personalized feedback to candidates to improve future applications. The platform’s reduced bias has been audited by the state of New York, suggesting potential benefits for diversity in hiring. Maki’s fundraising aligns with broader trends in AI recruitment, as companies seek innovative solutions to manage increasing job application volumes.