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Headstart

AcquiredYC S17

London, GB · Founded 2015 · 44 employees · 9 known investors

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Headstart applies machine learning to help employers screen and identify well-suited job candidates based on personality, behaviours, strengths and motivations rather than experience or qualifications alone. It offers recruiting software that lets job seekers apply via a reusable 15-minute form while helping companies match candidates to specific job requirements and culture.

Also known as Headstart AI Inc. · Headstart AI, Inc.

AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareHR TechSaaSMachine LearningRecruitingUnited KingdomEurope

Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (S17)

Headstart was founded in 2015 by Nicholas Shekerdemian and Jeremy Hindle.

NSNicholas Shekerdemian
Nicholas ShekerdemianCEONicholas Shekerdemian founded Headstart AI, which was acquired by Silverback United, and served as a Founding Partner at TVC.
JHJeremy Hindle
Jeremy HindleCo-Founder and CTO / CPO2015–2019Jeremy Hindle previously worked at Headstart and was selected for Forbes 30 Under 30. He participated in Y Combinator's S17 batch and has since founded multiple companies including Fundament, Custodian Club, Verse Works, and Cloudline.
AR
Alessandro Rosa
AC
Alison Cheung
LP
Luca PalmieriSenior Data Scientist

Investors · 9

Y Combinatorlisted by Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K

How we know: the Y Combinator directory · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us

Avlok CapitalreportedLynnwood

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Founders FactoryreportedLondon · $150K – $200K

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FoundersXreportedPalo Alto

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Hack VCreportedPalo Alto · $3M

How we know: funding news · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Knightsgate VenturesreportedHouston

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Plug and Play VenturesreportedSilicon Valley · $50K – $400K

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Tenaya CapitalreportedPalo Alto · $5M – $10M

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Related companies · 10

SimplifySimplify is a job search platform that helps candidates discover relevant positions, auto-fill applications, and access transparent salary and company culture data. It serves job seekers across all backgrounds and experience levels, positioning itself as a candidate-first alternative to traditional job boards.
The MuseThe Muse is a values-based careers site that helps Gen Z and millennial job seekers find career paths and roles at companies whose people, benefits, and values match their needs. For employers, it operates as a hiring marketplace aimed at better candidate matches and improved retention.
MatchaMatcha operates a hiring platform for hospitals and health systems to identify and match clinical staff candidates. The service aims to reduce hiring timelines and costs compared to traditional job boards and recruitment agencies.
SHRMSHRM, a human resources professional organization with influence over 362 million workers worldwide, provides guidance on managing workplace civility and conflict through executive thought leadership and strategic resources for organizations.
PowerUsPowerus is a job marketplace for skilled trades in Germany, connecting workers and employers in sectors including electrical installation, renewable energy, HVAC, plumbing, and building automation.
LandedLanded uses generative AI to help businesses recruit and hire frontline workers. It operates as a hiring marketplace connecting employers with frontline job candidates.
HiPeopleHiPeople is a recruiting platform for hiring teams that offers candidate assessments and automated reference checks, using AI to detect fraud, verify references, and generate a job-fit score. It provides a library of over 400 role-specific tests, a survey builder, and integrations with applicant tracking systems to help reduce bias and speed up hiring.
CSPACSPA offers a standardized proficiency exam for software engineers that tests technical knowledge and skills, then shares results with employers and schools. It also provides a SaaS product for employers to browse a database of tested candidates and connect with potential hires.
ClearCompany.comClearCo (ClearCompany) operates a remote-first workplace focused on helping leaders support their people, positioning its work around building better workplaces. The page is a careers/culture page describing company values, benefits, and hiring, with limited detail on the specific product.
OysterOyster is an employer of record (EOR) platform that lets companies hire, pay, and manage full-time employees and contractors in over 180 countries without setting up local entities, handling compliant onboarding, contracts, payroll, and benefits. It pairs an automated platform with in-house HR experts and integrates with HRIS, ATS, and accounting systems, serving globally distributed teams.

Companies working in the same space as Headstart.

Legal entities · 2

corporate structure
Headstart AI Inc.
Headstart AI, Inc.

Frequently asked questions

What does Headstart do?
Headstart applies machine learning to help employers screen and identify well-suited job candidates based on personality, behaviours, strengths and motivations rather than experience or qualifications alone. It offers recruiting software that lets job seekers apply via a reusable 15-minute form while helping companies match candidates to specific job requirements and culture.
Who founded Headstart?
Headstart was founded by Nicholas Shekerdemian, Jeremy Hindle in 2015.
Who are Headstart's investors?
Headstart's investors include Founders Factory NY, Y Combinator, Avlok Capital, Founders Factory, FoundersX, Hack VC, Knightsgate Ventures, Plug and Play Ventures and 1 more.
Where is Headstart headquartered?
Headstart is headquartered in London, GB.