Fika Jobs raises $4M to build a video-first hiring platform where AI agents interview candidates
Stockholm-based startup Fika Jobs is building a video-first hiring platform that combines AI interview agents with short-form video profiles, creating something that feels like a cross between LinkedIn and TikTok.
The hiring process has long been criticized for its inefficiency and opacity. Candidates spend hours writing applications and submitting cover letters, only to disappear into what often feels like a black box. Generative AI has only made things messier, with employers increasingly relying on AI-powered screening systems to sift through an overwhelming number of submissions.
Stockholm-based startup Fika Jobs thinks there’s a better way. The company is building a video-first hiring platform that combines AI interview agents with short-form video profiles, creating something that feels like a cross between LinkedIn and TikTok. Instead of relying solely on resumes, candidates complete AI-powered interviews designed to showcase their personality and communication skills.
Fika Jobs announced on Tuesday a $4 million pre-seed round, which will be used to continue developing the platform, grow the team, and prepare for a wider launch later this year.
For job seekers, the process starts by connecting a LinkedIn profile. Fika’s AI reviews the candidate’s background and generates personalized interview questions. Candidates then complete a roughly 10-minute video interview with the AI agent, currently powered by Google’s Gemini models.
After the interview, Fika automatically turns responses into short video clips and organizes them into a profile. Instead of applying to every new role, candidates maintain a live profile that employers can discover and revisit as new opportunities arise.
The idea came from co-founders and brothers Jakob Dubois (CEO) and Alexander Dubois (CTO) while they were building their previous startup.
“When we were building [social app] Gaff, we spent a lot of time recruiting and almost passed on a candidate because his resume did not really stand out,” Jakob Dubois told TechCrunch. “We ended up speaking with him anyway, and within minutes, his grit, drive, and ambition became obvious. Exactly the kind of person we wanted to hire.”
That experience convinced the founders that some traits that employers care about most are difficult to capture on paper.
Unlike most competitors ( Alex , Maki , and Mercor , among others) that focus on helping employers source, screen, and match candidates more efficiently with AI, Fika is building a platform where candidates maintain video-first profiles and employers browse a pool of people who have already been interviewed and evaluated by AI.
If successful, Fika Jobs could help employers assess communication skills and cultural fit early in the hiring process, complementing traditional resume and application reviews. This approach may be especially valuable for early-career professionals and candidates from non-traditional backgrounds, whose potential is not always apparent from a resume alone.
Of course, video profiles introduce real bias risks that are also worth acknowledging. When employers can see a candidate’s race, age, gender, physical appearance, and accent before evaluating their qualifications, it opens the door to discrimination that a resume, for all its flaws, at least partially obscures. There’s a reason some companies have moved toward blind resume screening.
The platform plans to open early access to candidates this week, with a broader public launch expected this fall. The company will initially focus on Sweden before expanding internationally. Fika currently has a small team but expects to reach around 10 employees by the end of the year.
More than 100 companies are on the waitlist, say the founders, though they declined to disclose which ones. Separately, they said more than 50 companies have tested the platform, including Plenty Labs, SICS.ai, Kognity, and Rebtel.
The platform is free for job seekers. Employers pay nothing up front, but Fika takes 10% of a candidate’s first-year salary upon a successful hire. (The company notes that this is lower than the 20% to 30% placement fees often charged by traditional recruiters and headhunters.)
The round was led by Luminar Ventures, with participation from Alliance VC and King co-founders Sebastian Knutsson and Riccardo Zacconi, the duo best known for creating the hit mobile game Candy Crush.
When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission . This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.
Lauren covers media, streaming, apps and platforms at TechCrunch.
You can contact or verify outreach from Lauren by emailing laurenf.techcrunch@gmail.com or via encrypted message at laurenforris22.25 on Signal.
Last chance to save up to $190 on TechCrunch Founder Summit. Join 1,000+ founders and VCs at all stages for real-world scaling insights and connections that move the needle. Savings end June 26, 11:59 p.m. PT .
WhatsApp gets new chief as Meta taps India’s CRED founder Kunal Shah and invests $900M in startup Jagmeet Singh
WhatsApp gets new chief as Meta taps India’s CRED founder Kunal Shah and invests $900M in startup
WhatsApp gets new chief as Meta taps India’s CRED founder Kunal Shah and invests $900M in startup
Every new iOS 27 feature that’s worth knowing about Lauren Forristal
Every new iOS 27 feature that’s worth knowing about
Every new iOS 27 feature that’s worth knowing about
Aura’s impressive e-ink photo frame doesn’t even look digital Amanda Silberling
Aura’s impressive e-ink photo frame doesn’t even look digital
Aura’s impressive e-ink photo frame doesn’t even look digital
The CEO of Allbirds’ new AI biz has a plan. Now she needs a “brand-new team” Tim Fernholz
The CEO of Allbirds’ new AI biz has a plan. Now she needs a “brand-new team”
The CEO of Allbirds’ new AI biz has a plan. Now she needs a “brand-new team”
The US says ASML’s top chip tool may be in China, but how? Connie Loizos
The US says ASML’s top chip tool may be in China, but how?
The US says ASML’s top chip tool may be in China, but how?
The 11 standout startups from YC’s Demo Day, according to VCs Marina Temkin Dominic-Madori Davis
The 11 standout startups from YC’s Demo Day, according to VCs
The 11 standout startups from YC’s Demo Day, according to VCs
NASA picks Eric Schmidt’s rocket company for Mars mission, setting up a race with SpaceX Tim Fernholz
NASA picks Eric Schmidt’s rocket company for Mars mission, setting up a race with SpaceX
NASA picks Eric Schmidt’s rocket company for Mars mission, setting up a race with SpaceX
Key takeaways
- Fika Jobs proposes an innovative approach to recruitment, prioritizing candidates' communication and personality.
- The $4 million investment indicates strong market potential, especially in Brazil, where the search for talent is intense.
- The use of video profiles could democratize access to opportunities, benefiting candidates with communication skills.
Editorial analysis
Fika Jobs' initiative to create a video-first hiring platform powered by AI reflects the necessary changes in the hiring sector, especially in a landscape where efficiency and transparency are often questioned. In Brazil, where the job market is highly competitive and the search for talent is intense, an approach that values communication and candidates' personalities can be a significant differentiator. This could help reduce frustration for both candidates and employers, who often feel lost amid similar resumes and opaque selection processes.
Moreover, the use of video profiles could democratize access to opportunities, allowing candidates without traditional resumes to impress employers through their communication and presentation skills. This shift may be particularly relevant in a country like Brazil, where cultural diversity and effective communication are essential in many sectors. Fika Jobs' proposal could also inspire Brazilian startups to explore innovative solutions that leverage AI to enhance the recruitment experience.
The $4 million pre-seed investment indicates strong interest in the potential of this approach. Fika Jobs' ability to scale its platform and attract users will be a point to watch in the coming months, especially in a market where the adoption of emerging technologies can be slow. How the company positions itself regarding user data privacy and ethics in AI usage will also be crucial for its acceptance in Brazil, where concerns about data protection are high.
Finally, Fika Jobs may face competition not only from local startups but also from international solutions seeking to enter the Brazilian market. Thus, it will be interesting to see how the company differentiates itself and adapts to the specific needs of the Brazilian market, which has its own dynamics and challenges in talent recruitment and selection.
What this coverage includes
- Clear source attribution and link to the original publication.
- Editorial framing about relevance, impact, and likely next developments.
- Review for readability, context, and duplication before publication.
Original source:
TechCrunch AIAbout this article
This article was curated and published by AIDaily as part of our editorial coverage of artificial intelligence developments. The content is based on the original source cited below, enriched with editorial context and analysis. Automated tools may assist with translation and initial structuring, but publication decisions, factual review, and contextual framing remain editorial responsibilities.
Learn more about our editorial process