In a world where 73% of hiring professionals report a lack of qualified applicants as their biggest challenge, Twill, a next-generation talent platform, is tackling this issue head-on. The NYC-based company has raised $1.4M in pre-seed funding led by Bloomberg Beta, with additional backing from Vitalize VC, Correlation Ventures, Purpose Built Ventures, and executives from Netflix, Meta, and Snap.
Transforming the Recruiting Landscape
Traditional recruiting methods have long struggled to connect hiring managers with genuinely qualified candidates. Platforms like LinkedIn flood recruiters with applications, yet only 10-15% meet role requirements. The rise of AI tools like ChatGPT has compounded the problem by enabling candidates to generate polished yet often misleading resumes.
Twill’s solution? A peer-powered recruiting platform that leverages the expertise and networks of tech professionals. Unlike generalist recruiters, Twill has built an invite-only community of seasoned engineers, product managers, and sales professionals who recommend candidates for open roles.
“The traditional recruiting model is fundamentally broken. Hiring managers have always struggled with the flood of unqualified applications, but AI has dramatically worsened this problem. Now, candidates can use ChatGPT to generate perfect-looking resumes, leading to an overwhelming volume of seemingly qualified candidates who, in reality, don’t match their listed credentials. AI will only make the recruiting market harder.” ~ Michelle Volberg, founder and CEO of Twill.
How Twill Works
At the core of Twill’s success is its innovative two-layer vetting process:
- Peer Recommendations: Candidates must first be referred by verified members of Twill’s community.
- Additional Screening: Twill’s team ensures each candidate aligns with the job’s requirements before presenting them to hiring managers.
This rigorous process ensures only the most qualified candidates make it through. The platform’s members, who average over 12 years of experience, bring invaluable industry knowledge and judgment to the hiring process—qualities that AI simply can’t replicate.
Financial Incentives for Expert Referrals
Twill’s unique approach also compensates its members generously for their expertise. Community members earn up to 50% of contingent search fees for successful placements, ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. This model not only incentivizes high-quality referrals but also rewards professionals for leveraging their networks.
“As outbound messages increase, the best candidates are often inundated and unresponsive,” Volberg explained. “By building a curated community of industry leaders, Twill connects hiring managers with talent through trusted recommendations—not cold outreach.” ~ Volberg
Faster Hiring with Better Results
Twill has already proven its ability to streamline the hiring process. The platform accelerates time-to-hire, with most positions filled within 30 days or less. By leveraging warm leads from its expert community, Twill ensures hiring managers can focus on qualified applicants rather than sifting through unqualified resumes.
Backing from Leading Investors
The $1.4M funding round highlights the confidence investors have in Twill’s disruptive approach to recruiting. Roy Bahat, head of Bloomberg Beta, emphasized the importance of Twill’s model:
“As we all get inundated by more and more communication, trusted recommendations from people we know can cut through. Twill brings this to recruiting in a powerful way.” ~ Roy Bahat, Head of Bloomberg Beta.
What’s Next for Twill?
With this funding, Twill plans to:
- Expand its community of expert members.
- Enhance platform capabilities for even better hiring experiences.
- Grow its team to serve more companies seeking top tech talent.
Twill is poised to redefine technical recruiting by prioritizing quality over quantity, leveraging human connections, and delivering better hiring outcomes.
For more information, visit Twill’s website.
Why Twill Matters
In a hiring market that’s more competitive than ever, Twill stands out as a game-changer. Its peer-powered approach ensures that companies get access to vetted, high-quality candidates while rewarding professionals for their expertise. As technical recruiting evolves, Twill is setting the standard for what hiring in the digital age should look like: efficient, trustworthy, and human-driven.
Looking to hire top tech talent or join Twill’s expert community? Learn more at Twill’s website.
