HR Technology Conference & Exposition® Announces Pitchfest Winners
Randstad Innovation Fund Awards Prizes for Overall Winner and Diversity Solution
HORSHAM, Pa. (September 26, 2018) – The HR Technology Conference & Exposition® today announced the winners of the first annual Pitchfest competition. Held for the first time at the world’s largest event dedicated to HR technology, Pitchfest gave 30 startups the on-stage opportunity to pitch expert judges and potentially advance to the final round of presentations. The overall winner was selected to present at the Conference’s “The Next Great HR Tech Company” session, won booth space at the 2019 event and received a $25,000 prize generously donated by the Randstad Innovation Fund. A $5,000 prize was also awarded by the Fund to the best diversity solution winner.
Blendoor, a company that uses augmented intelligence and people analytics to reduce unconscious bias in hiring, was the overall winner. TalVista, providing job description optimization and redacted resume reviewing with scripted and structured interviews, won the diversity prize. Both organizations presented as a finalist among an impressive roster of companies that included ComplianceHR, Jane.ai, RelishCareers and SwarmVision.
Rebecca McKenna, Vice President of Global Events and Publisher at Human Resource Executive® magazine, commented, “The world of work is truly transforming and the entrepreneurs who presented their HR technology solutions to our community are amazing. We admire their courage and innovation.” She continued, “We also appreciate the commitment from the Randstad Innovation Fund for investing in these companies to help them succeed.”
“Randstad is investing heavily in new technologies, making a giant leap forward into the world of HR tech through its Randstad Innovation Fund (RIF) and its portfolio of early-stage HR startup companies. This venture has allowed us to connect with an incredible roster of talented leaders in the tech world, as well as to shape our new role in an industry becoming predominantly data driven. Our goal is to combine Randstad's industry expertise and global reach with entrepreneurial spirit and innovation, so we are exceptionally proud to be the inaugural sponsor of the HR Tech Pitchfest. As a company committed to diversity and inclusion, we are particularly inspired by the two winners who are making an impact to build a more diverse and inclusive workplace,” said Linda Galipeau, Randstad North American CEO & Board Member.
The 2019 HR Technology Conference & Exposition® returns to The Venetian on October 1 – 4, 2019. The 2019 call for presentations has officially opened and can be accessed at www.HRTechConference.com
About the HR Technology Conference & Exposition®
Founded in 1997, the HR Technology Conference is the world’s leading event on HR technology covering all the latest trends — Talent Acquisition, Employee Engagement, Diversity & Inclusion, Big Data and more! From strategy and selection to post-implementation, HR Tech is a pivotal stop for all organizations on their HR journey. Featuring more than 75 presentations delivered by senior executives from leading organizations, HR Tech never sells speaking slots, resulting in a high-caliber learning experience with real-world lessons and practical takeaways. HR Tech annually attracts industry experts, thought leaders, software vendors, senior HR executives, HR generalists, HR systems leaders, IT innovators and more. The show is also home to the annual Women in HR Technology Summit, which empowers women within HR and HR technology to grow personally and professionally. Additionally, HR Tech Conference hosts the world’s largest Expo of HR technology products and services — a number of vendors even choose to announce their latest products for the first time at the conference. There is no better place to touch, compare and contrast the latest solutions from leading vendors in every category, as well as start-ups. For more information, visit www.HRTechConference.com.