The global skills crisis is an immense challenge that has been identified by the World Economic Forum. To address this issue, businesses are turning to a skills-based approach for workforce management. To help meet this goal, London-based startup Spotted Zebra has raised $9.3 million (€8.8 million) in its Series A funding round.
The funding round was led by pan-European venture capital firm Nauta Capital and was also supported by Act VC, Playfair Capital, and Entrepreneur First. With the money raised, Spotted Zebra plans to hire more staff, extend its product line, and scale its platform to new industries and markets in an effort to connect 10 million people with job opportunities at leading employers worldwide by 2030.
Founded in 2020 by Ian Monk and Nick Shaw, Spotted Zebra provides an innovative platform for organizations to adopt a skills-based approach. Their applications prioritize skills in hiring, development, and internal mobility, helping to ensure a comprehensive approach to talent management.
Spotted Zebra’s hiring solution has already won the Gold Award in Candidate Assessment at the In-House Recruitment Awards 2022, after being used by AWE. Assessments conducted by Spotted Zebra have highlighted that high performers are twice as likely to be rated as top performers and reach competence 20% faster.
Speaking about the company, Co-founder & CEO of Spotted Zebra, Ian Monk, said: “Our core belief is that employees are happier and more productive when their unique skills – their superpowers – are aligned with roles that use and develop these talents. Our platform is solving the skills crisis by aligning people with opportunities. We help our clients to find suitable candidates when looking externally quickly and by identifying those individuals most ideal for reskilling or succession when looking internally. And more than that, we’re ensuring that employees go home feeling motivated and energised because their superpowers are being put to good use.”
Teachers are often faced with the challenge of finding the best candidates for their classrooms. Spotted Zebra is an ideal platform for them to make data-driven decisions when it comes to hiring and development. The platform empowers teachers to make informed decisions and ensures that their students are receiving the most comprehensive education possible.
Conor Mills, Principal at Act VC, commented: “Spotted Zebra allows large organisations to highlight and validate skill sets and proficiency levels of both their workforce and candidate pools in a way not previously possible. This innovation enables executives and HR teams to make critical talent decisions quickly and confidently across various talent-related work streams, delivering exceptional value for their organisations.”
With its Series A funding round, Spotted Zebra is well-positioned to deliver a comprehensive solution to the skills crisis. By connecting people to job opportunities and providing teachers with tools to make data-driven decisions, Spotted Zebra is helping to create a more equitable and successful future for students.
