POPP

What is it?

It all started in 2023 when Sam, James and Ilyès recognized the inefficiencies plaguing the recruitment industry. After first-hand experience with high-volume hiring and overwhelmed recruitment teams, they decided to create a solution. Popp was born to revolutionise recruitment by automating repetitive tasks using AI, reducing bias, and enhancing both recruiter efficiency and candidate experiences.

Why we invested

The founders

Sam began his career as a surgeon but transitioned to tech after building a viral app during the Covid-19 pandemic. After experiencing hiring challenges in government pandemic response teams, he moved into product roles and met his co-founders.

James started in military intelligence, became a strategy consultant, and also experienced high-volume hiring during the Covid-19 crisis. With an MBA from LBS, he ventured into tech startups.

Ilyès, from Algeria, has a background in electronic engineering and IoT, worked in London startups, and always dreamed of building products and owning a business.

The problem

Recruitment professionals spend 75% of their time on repetitive manual tasks. The ease of applying for jobs has led to an overwhelming number of applications, leaving recruiters swamped. Recruitment teams are often understaffed, which means top candidates fall through the cracks and candidates receive poor communication, resulting in missed opportunities and inefficiencies.

The solution

Popp uses AI to deeply analyse, score and shortlist thousands of applications, just like a human would. But Popp also auto-generates detailed reports and personalised feedback for every candidate, going beyond traditional keyword matching. For recruiters, Popp automates conversations, screening, scheduling interviews and document collection via WhatsApp, email and SMS, 24/7. Smart notifications alert recruiters when they need to step in.

By integrating into existing ATS systems, Popp streamlines recruitment, allowing recruiters to focus on what matters most.

The opportunity

The recruitment industry, especially in high-volume RPO processes, is ripe for innovation. With an increasing number of applications and understaffed teams, there’s a significant need for automation. Popp’s AI-powered platform addresses this by reducing manual workload, improving efficiency and enhancing candidate experiences. As companies continue to seek ways to streamline operations and leverage AI, Popp is poised to capture a significant share of the market.