Mimecast founder Peter Bauer spearheads a substantial £1.8m funding round for Willo, a Scottish video interviewing startup.
- The investment highlights the growing importance of digital hiring solutions in today’s competitive job market.
- Willo enables organisations to efficiently screen candidates through video interviews, eliminating the need for scheduled calls or meetings.
- The company has garnered the trust of major clients, including the NHS, Prada, Samsung, and Hitachi.
- This funding round, complemented by contributions from 1818 Venture Capital and industry figure Mark Danby, increases Willo’s total funding to £4.2m.
Founded in Glasgow in 2018, Willo offers a groundbreaking video interview platform. It allows organisations to vet job candidates without the constraints of scheduling calls or conducting in-person meetings. Through this platform, applicants respond to specific prompts via video, granting hiring managers the flexibility to review these submissions at their convenience. Additionally, the platform integrates digital identity and background checks to streamline the recruitment process.
Highlighted by notable clients such as the NHS, Prada, Samsung, and Hitachi, Willo’s innovative approach to recruitment is gaining significant traction in the corporate world. This endorsement from leading organisations underscores the platform’s utility in facilitating efficient and comprehensive candidate evaluations.
The investment round, led by Mimecast’s co-founder Peter Bauer, injects £1.5m into the company, reflecting confidence in Willo’s potential to revolutionise recruitment practices. Bauer remarked on the platform’s ability to simplify hiring, stating that it enhances the candidate experience while improving accessibility and offering companies a deeper insight into candidate suitability.
Co-founder and CEO of Willo, Euan Cameron, expressed enthusiasm about the funding, emphasising the tough market conditions in the SaaS industry and how this investment propels Willo forward. He stated, “We are at the cutting edge of a movement in replacing the CV and can’t wait for the next stage.”
The additional backing from 1818 Venture Capital and Mark Danby, founder of Freeserve, brought the total funding for Willo to £4.2m. This financial boost follows an earlier seed round in 2020, where the company raised £250,000.
This strategic investment signifies a pivotal moment for Willo, positioning it as a leader in digital hiring solutions.