HTGF Backs Emerge Tech's AI Solution for SME Recruitment
Founding team of Emerge Tech - © Emerge Tech
Berlin-based HR tech startup Emerge Tech has secured investment from High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and Heimatboost investment community, according to a recent HTGF press release. The company is developing AI agents that help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) compete with larger corporations in employer branding and recruitment.
Emerge Tech's innovative approach addresses the growing skilled worker shortage by using AI to make employers more visible, improve applicant quality, and significantly reduce recruitment costs. Their impressive results include 40% better applicant matching, 87% cost savings compared to traditional agencies, and 54% reduction in HR effort.
"To solve the skills shortage, we must start with employers. Our AI agents will create game-changing opportunities, finally enabling smaller teams to stand out as employers and reshape HR," said Daniel Braun, Co-Founder and CEO of Emerge.
The company's AI agents, "Creative Carla" and "Channel Charly," work together to define an employer's identity and message, then deliver it through appropriate channels based on data analysis. This technology makes professional employer branding accessible to SMEs that previously couldn't afford such services.
Founded in Berlin in 2024, Emerge Tech boasts an impressive founding team: Daniel Braun, who scaled WorkGenius to £150 million in US revenue; Wolf Reiner Kriegler, employer branding pioneer and founder of the German Employer Branding Academy; and Thomas Holl, co-founder of language learning app Babbel.
The current investment will fund platform development and prepare for a seed round planned for late 2025. Looking ahead, Emerge Tech plans to focus on product quality and user growth through 2025, followed by international expansion in 2026 and the development of new AI agents covering the entire employee experience.
Christian Arndt, Principal at HTGF, noted: "The complementary and experienced founding team at Emerge immediately impressed us. Their blend of HR expertise and technological know-how is precisely what is required to facilitate the long-term digital transformation of medium-sized businesses."
