Earlybird AI, a startup aiming to revolutionize employment support with voice-first artificial intelligence (AI), has raised £625,000 ($800,000) in funding from a diverse group of investors, including Google. The funding will support the growth of its innovative platform designed to assist job seekers in overcoming barriers to employment.
The company’s founders, Claudine Adeyemi-Adams FIEP and Boris Bambo, drew inspiration from their personal experiences with unemployment and underemployment to develop the AI-powered solution. They believe Earlybird AI can address the pressing issue of high unemployment rates in the UK, which currently affect nearly 11 million people aged 16 to 64.
Earlybird AI’s platform utilizes a voice-based AI assistant to engage with job seekers. Individuals seeking employment can interact with the assistant, sharing details about their personal and professional lives. The AI analyzes these responses, identifying key challenges and needs that may hinder their job search or employment retention.
The identified challenges can range from digital skill gaps to housing instability and mental health concerns. This information is then transmitted to Earlybird AI’s partner organizations, where employment advisors utilize the insights to provide tailored support and guidance.
According to Adeyemi-Adams, the tool not only enhances the efficiency of employment advisors but also expands their capacity to assist a larger number of individuals. Successfully placed candidates are often found in frontline sectors like retail and hospitality, but Earlybird AI’s commitment to support extends beyond job placement. The company collaborates with employment advisors to offer ongoing in-work support, ensuring job retention and long-term success.
Adeyemi-Adams’ motivation for establishing the platform stems from her personal journey, having experienced homelessness and participated in various employment support programs.
“I was a participant in a range of employment support programmes and worked in low-paid frontline roles before navigating my way to a successful career in law. I experienced the support on offer first-hand, and it was mostly a poor experience,” she said. “I then designed and delivered employment support programmes and saw some of the challenges of successfully running these programmes. When I combine my lived experiences with my domain expertise, it made sense to find a solution to the problems that I was encountering and create a solution that helps organisations be more successful whilst enabling individuals in need of support to have a better experience accessing and receiving that support.”
The recent funding round for Earlybird AI involved contributions from Google, Resolution Ventures, Ada Ventures, Syndicate Room’s Access Lightbulb Trust, and notable women angel investors. This investment will be allocated towards enhancing the platform’s technology, expanding the technical team, and broadening its customer base.
Furthermore, Earlybird AI’s selection for the Mayor of London’s Innovation Challenge underscores the potential of its solution to address the critical issue of unemployment and economic inactivity in the city.