Épisodes

  • Shadow AI, Bold Bets, and Digital Twins: What’s Really Happening in Work Tech

    Shadow AI, Bold Bets, and Digital Twins: What’s Really Happening in Work Tech
    Oct 28 2025
    This episode of Up Next at WorkTech dives into the latest HR Tech funding rounds, bold M&A strategies, and the rise of AI governance. George LaRocque and Kate Achille explore digital twins, shadow AI, and the growing tension between innovation, compliance, and workforce equity in 2025. From Findem’s $51M Series C to Humanly’s three-way acquisition and FairNow’s surprise exit, the conversation blends strategic insight with editorial edge. Key Takeaways: 1. Findem’s $51M Series C signals a shift toward AI-powered talent intelligence and potential acquisition strategy. 2. Jack and Jill’s $20M seed round raises questions about agentic AI, job marketplaces, and LinkedIn disruption. 3. Humanly’s triple acquisition of Qualifi, Sprockets, and OurWork marks a bold move in high-volume hiring tech. 4. FairNow’s acquisition by AuditBoard highlights the growing demand for AI governance and compliance in HR Tech. 5. Shadow AI and mobile GenAI usage expose major gaps in enterprise risk management and IT oversight. 6. 450,000 women have exited the workforce due to childcare costs—underscoring the urgent need for flexible work policies. Connect with Kate at https://www.devonpr.com/ Connet with George at https://1worktech.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 min
  • PitchFest Prize Winner, Market Standout: Spirence’s Scalable Approach to Mental Wellness

    PitchFest Prize Winner, Market Standout: Spirence’s Scalable Approach to Mental Wellness
    Oct 15 2025
    In this episode of WorkTech, George LaRocque sits down with Laura Kunz, co-founder and Chief Growth Officer of Spirence, the runner-up at this year’s HR Tech PitchFest. Spirence is tackling a critical gap in workplace mental health: the 75% of employees who don’t need clinical care but still want support. Laura shares how her background in behavioral health shaped the platform’s preventive approach, why Spirence is designed for daily use rather than crisis moments, and how their model is driving unexpected engagement with traditional EAPs. They also unpack the PitchFest experience, the credibility boost it delivered, and Spirence’s momentum with partners like Aon and PEOs. If you’re thinking about mental health benefits, distribution strategy, or what it takes to stand out in a crowded HR Tech market, this one’s for you. Key Topics in the Episode: Why most workplace mental health solutions serve only 25% of employees Spirence’s behavioral health roots and preventative care model How Spirence drives EAP utilization by building trust and accessibility The PitchFest experience: refining the message, building credibility, and accelerating partnerships Spirence’s go-to-market strategy through PEOs, resellers, and Aon What’s next: product evolution, growth targets, and Series A planning Learn more about Spirence at spirencewellness.com Get more HR and Work Tech market intelligence and tech insights at 1worktech.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 min
  • Humanly's Bold Roll-Up to Become A Comprehensive AI Hiring Platform

    Humanly's Bold Roll-Up to Become A Comprehensive AI Hiring Platform
    Oct 14 2025
    In this Breaking News episode of WorkTech, George LaRocque sits down with Prem Kumar, CEO of Humanly, alongside AJ Richichi (Sprockets) and Darrian Mikell (Qualifi) to unpack Humanly’s acquisition of three high-impact platforms: Sprockets, Qualifi, and HourWork. This move marks a major milestone in the evolution of high-volume hiring tech, consolidating capabilities across screening, scheduling, interviewing, and post-hire retention. Prem shares how customer demand for tool consolidation and deeper conversational AI drove the deal, while AJ and Darrian reflect on their differentiated approaches to candidate engagement, from SMS-based retention insights to automated phone interviews. Together, the trio outlines a shared vision for a unified platform that reduces time-to-hire, combats fraud, and delivers a more empathetic candidate experience across voice, video, and text. The episode also explores the strategic timing behind the acquisition, the ethical foundations of each brand, and Humanly’s roadmap—including Series B fundraising and expanded candidate-facing services. If you’re tracking the future of AI in recruiting, this is a must-listen. Takeaways Humanly has acquired three companies to enhance its recruitment technology offerings. The focus is on reducing time-to-hire and improving candidate engagement. AI is being leveraged to automate screening, scheduling, and interviewing processes. Consolidation of tools is essential to provide a seamless experience for customers. The acquisition aims to address the challenges of high applicant volume and fraud detection. Each company involved brings unique strengths to the table, enhancing the overall product. Customer feedback has driven the strategic direction of the acquisition. The future of recruitment technology lies in ethical AI development and compliance. Building relationships with candidates is crucial for effective recruitment. The integration of various communication channels will improve candidate experiences. Learn more about the deal and follow Humanly at humanly.io Learn more about the Work Tech category and the deals and capital driving it at 1worktech.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 min
  • Up Next at WorkTech: The Resume Isn’t Dead, the Jobs Report Is, and Other HR Tech Headlines

    Up Next at WorkTech: The Resume Isn’t Dead, the Jobs Report Is, and Other HR Tech Headlines
    Oct 13 2025
    In the premiere of our new bi-weekly crossover series, George LaRocque of the WorkTech and the WorkTech Podcast and Kate Achille of the Devon Group and the Up Next at Work Podcast, team up to bring a sharp, strategic lens to the headlines shaping HR and Work Tech. From the quiet but consequential developments in the Workday Mobley case to the missing BLS jobs report and the viral return of resume “cheating,” they unpack what’s real, what’s hype, and what it all means for practitioners, vendors, and investors. They also touch on the latest M&A moves, including SAP’s plans for SmartRecruiters, and the investor sentiment shift that’s making Q4 feel a lot like 2021. Plus: Sora, AI avatars, and a John Candy documentary to end on a high note. Topics Covered: Workday Mobley case update and implications for employers The missing BLS jobs report and what HR pros should do instead Resume gaming with AI: new tricks, old playbook SAP’s SmartRecruiters acquisition and roadmap Investor sentiment shift post-HR Tech Conference Sora, AI avatars, and the future of creative labor John Candy, Nor’easters, and finding levity in the chaos Conversational, strategic, and slightly irreverent. George and Kate bring complementary perspectives—rooted in HR tech, communications, and market analysis—with a shared commitment to clarity, context, and candor. Subscribe to catch new episodes of Up Next at WorkTech every other week, where George and Kate cut through the noise and surface what matters most in HR and Work Tech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    30 min
  • Greenhouse CEO Daniel Chait at HR Tech 2025: Is AI Saving or Sinking Recruiting?

    Greenhouse CEO Daniel Chait at HR Tech 2025: Is AI Saving or Sinking Recruiting?
    Sep 22 2025
    George LaRocque of WorkTech joins Daniel Chait, CEO of Greenhouse, live from HR Tech to explore AI-powered recruiting, advanced analytics, and the evolving ATS market. The conversation highlights product innovation, regulatory risk, and the urgent need to restore human connection in talent acquisition. In this episode we look at AI in HR, recruiting analytics, talent acquisition technology, HR Tech trends, candidate experience, compliance risk, and future of work. Key Takeaways: AI in HR is reshaping recruiting workflows, but adoption lags due to compliance risk and regulatory uncertainty. Greenhouse’s new analytics platform offers flexible data access, visualizations, and collaboration tools for talent teams. ATS market consolidation is raising questions for customers about vendor stability and long-term strategy. Real Talent combats fraud and spam, restoring transparency and fairness in candidate pipelines. Embedded AI tools in Greenhouse simplify scorecard creation and interview question generation with high user acceptance. Human experience in hiring is becoming more valuable as AI saturation increases across recruiting platforms. Learn more about Greenhouse at greenhouse.com Get the latest market insights from WorkTech at 1worktech.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    13 min
  • SmartRecruiters CEO Rebecca Carr on the SAP Acquisition, AI, and the Future of Talent Platforms

    SmartRecruiters CEO Rebecca Carr on the SAP Acquisition, AI, and the Future of Talent Platforms
    Aug 6 2025
    Rebecca Carr joins WorkTech's George LaRocque to unpack SmartRecruiters' SAP acquisition, the rise of AI-native recruiting, and what it means to stay product-first and HCM-agnostic. Rebecca Carr, CEO of SmartRecruiters, days after announcing their acquisition by SAP. We talked about what the deal means for the market, how AI is changing recruiting, why product CEOs matter now more than ever, and the bold future of talent platforms. In this episode, we look at HR Tech, talent acquisition, AI in recruiting, enterprise software, recruiting platforms, product-led growth, and the future of work. Rebecca Carr shares what made SAP the right partner, how SmartRecruiters is staying agile, and why recruiting is now front and center. Key Takeaways -SmartRecruiters’ acquisition by SAP marks a pivotal moment in HR tech and underscores recruiting’s shift from a bolt-on module to a core enterprise platform. -Rebecca Carr’s product-first leadership is reshaping how talent platforms are built, prioritizing AI-native workflows and agile innovation. -Despite the acquisition, SmartRecruiters will remain HCM-agnostic, preserving its flexibility and customer-centric approach across enterprise ecosystems. -AI is no longer a future concept; 58% of candidates are using it, and SmartRecruiters’ Winston product is built to meet them where they are. -SAP’s global reach and data infrastructure unlock new opportunities for SmartRecruiters to deliver insight across the entire employee lifecycle. -This move signals more consolidation ahead in talent acquisition tech, especially in high-volume hiring and frontline work, as enterprises seek end-to-end solutions. Learn more about SmartRecruiters at https://smartrecruiters.com Learn more about the HR and Work Tech markets, and the deals shaping the industry at https://1worktech.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    25 min
  • The Truth about VC with Allison Baum Gates, Semper Virens' General Partner

    The Truth about VC with Allison Baum Gates, Semper Virens' General Partner
    Jul 28 2025
    I sat down with Allison Baum Gates to talk about what it really takes to win in today’s venture-backed WorkTech market. From launching Semper Virens' accelerator to raising $177 million across two funds, Allison shares candid lessons, real market dynamics, and founder truths VCs rarely admit. In this episode we look at venture capital, WorkTech, AI startups, HR Tech, startup funding, founder market fit, and the future of work. These are the forces shaping how emerging companies raise capital, go to market, and build competitive advantage in the most complex B2B environments today. Key Takeaways Founder market fit and self-awareness are crucial differentiators for success in early-stage WorkTech, HR Tech, and AI ventures. The Semper Virens accelerator focuses on go-to-market readiness and real-world partnerships—not pitch decks. Distribution strategy through ecosystems like health plans, payroll providers, and HR platforms is now critical for startup scale. The $177 million in new funding from Semper Virens is backing startups solving real problems in health, wealth, and work. Raising venture capital is not merit-based—it’s a structured game that requires narrative, strategy, and process mastery. AI-native positioning and a well-run fundraising process are now separating the haves from the have-nots in venture outcomes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 min
  • Gigged.AI Raises $1.34 M for AI, Agents, and On-Demand Talent. CEO Rich Wilson on The Future of Work

    Gigged.AI Raises $1.34 M for AI, Agents, and On-Demand Talent. CEO Rich Wilson on The Future of Work
    Jul 16 2025
    George LaRocque and Rich Wilson dig into Gigged.AI’s latest $1.34M funding round, the power of skills-based platforms, and what’s next for the future of work and agentic AI. With $1.34 million in fresh funding, George talked with Gigged.AI CEO Rich Wilson about doubling down on the rise of skills intelligence and on-demand talent. They unpack how Gigged.AI is helping enterprise tech teams navigate hybrid work, digital transformation, and AI-powered resourcing with unmatched speed and flexibility. In this episode we look at skills-based hiring, talent marketplaces, contingent workforce platforms, enterprise AI, internal talent mobility, agentic AI, and digital transformation. These keywords frame a high-growth narrative that’s reshaping how work gets done in modern enterprises. Key Takeaways Gigged.AI’s on-demand talent platform enables rapid, skills-based hiring for enterprise tech teams. SIA, their new Skills Intelligence Agent, delivers actionable workforce insights from internal and external data. Rich Wilson shares how agentic AI is key to managing internal talent, freelancers, and digital agents. Gigged.AI's dual-platform model supports both immediate talent needs and long-term strategic workforce planning. Their recent $1.34M raise signals growing investor confidence in platforms solving enterprise talent access. The company’s focus on enterprise expansion and U.S. growth sets the stage for global scale. Learn more about the product at https://giggedai.com Get more Work Tech market intelligence at https://1worktech.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 min