Dex is a brand new kind of recruitment platform, co-founded by CTO Harry Uglow and CEO Paddy Lambros. It’s since gone on to raise $3.1 million in a pre-seed funding round, led by a16z’s Speedrun fund and Concept Ventures. This investment further strengthens Dex’s capabilities as an “AI voice talent agent.” Beyond that, it makes the hiring experience more friendly and efficient for both candidates and employers.
Their latest product expects to address bias in recruitment by creating an environment that encourages real communication between hiring managers and candidates. Through these interactions, Dex hopes to find the best fit for both parties and get a quality idea of what will be considered the “gold standard” fit. Uglow emphasizes the importance of this approach, stating, “Dex speaks with hiring managers and candidates to deeply understand what a great fit looks like.“
Dex’s launch was informed by conversations with more than 50 of the UK’s commercial sector recruitment leaders. In the process, they gleaned priceless information about each leaders’ approach and process. This research informs the technology’s progression, making sure it meets industry standards, while still providing a cutting-edge solution.
Dex uses massive public data sets in combination with thousands of stakeholder interviews and constituent call transcripts. The portal uses all of this substantial data to create a detailed map of the job market. It highlights the best-fit opportunities for candidates. By taking the hassle out of the application process—doing away with lengthy CVs and cover letters altogether—Dex makes it easy for job seekers. Once a match is found, the platform brings candidates in front of hiring managers, directly.
The AI-powered platform speaks with candidates over the phone, collecting in-depth intelligence about their experience, skills, and career goals. Lambros highlights the platform’s personalized approach, saying, “Dex talks through what you want — your preferences and needs — and asks questions to deeply understand your experience and skills.” This personal touch equips candidates to make informed decisions about their next career step. It trains them to interview and helps them negotiate offers.
Additionally, Dex continues to monitor open listings posted on the web, sending notifications when new, pertinent opportunities are posted. The platform interfaces with recruitment teams to understand the detailed preferences of candidates of interest. This method internally ensures that all the matches it recommends are relevant and even more so, hyper-targeted.
Dex is now in closed beta. The small collaborative team is continuously tweaking features and functionality, and is indeed gearing up for a larger, public launch sometime in 2023. Uglow notes that they are “constantly evaluating and changing providers to ensure that we are able to benefit from the latest advancements,” which indicates a commitment to continuous improvement.
The tech industry has been all in, with a positive response. Almost two dozen UK tech firms have signed on, including two of that country’s more visible unicorns. Lambros expresses confidence in their mission: “With this funding, we’ll help companies retain top talent and empower employees to find work they love.”
As Dex gears up for its full launch, industry observers can’t help but closely watch how it goes. AI technology paired with hyper-personalized recruitment AI will completely change the way companies connect with and recruit the right talent. Implementing this kind of approach will increase efficiency and candidate satisfaction throughout the hiring process.