The hiring process, often criticized for its inefficiency and lack of transparency, is being reimagined by Stockholm-based startup Fika Jobs. The company is developing a video-first hiring platform that integrates AI interview agents with short-form video profiles, offering a blend of LinkedIn and TikTok functionalities. Instead of traditional resumes, candidates engage in AI-driven interviews that highlight their personality and communication skills. Recently, Fika Jobs secured $4 million in a pre-seed funding round to enhance the platform, expand their team, and gear up for a broader launch later this year.
Candidates initiate the process by linking their LinkedIn profiles, allowing Fika’s AI to assess their backgrounds and generate tailored interview questions. These interviews, lasting about 10 minutes, are conducted with AI agents powered by Google’s Gemini models. Post-interview, Fika crafts short video clips from candidates’ responses, assembling them into a dynamic profile that employers can explore as new positions become available.
Founded by brothers Jakob and Alexander Dubois, the concept emerged from their previous startup experiences, where they recognized the limitations of traditional resumes in capturing vital candidate traits. Unlike competitors focused on streamlining employer-side processes, Fika provides a platform where candidates maintain video-centric profiles, enabling employers to evaluate communication skills and cultural fit early on.
While video profiles offer new insights, they also pose risks of bias, as visual elements like race, age, and gender become visible, potentially leading to discrimination. Despite these concerns, Fika’s approach could be particularly beneficial for early-career professionals and those from non-traditional backgrounds.
The platform is set to offer early access to candidates this week, with a full public launch anticipated in the fall, initially targeting Sweden before an international rollout. Fika, currently a small team, aims to expand to around 10 employees by year-end. Over 100 companies await access, with more than 50 having already tested the platform. Job seekers use the platform for free, while employers incur a fee of 10% of a candidate’s first-year salary upon successful hiring, a more economical option compared to traditional recruitment fees. The funding round was led by Luminar Ventures, with contributions from Alliance VC and the co-founders of Candy Crush creators King.
