The WorkTech Podcast explores the critical trends shaping the future of work and HR tech. George LaRocque of WorkTech, drawing from years of advising top innovators, investors, and enterprises, guides you through market deals, issues, opportunities, and trends—all through a strategic, actionable lens.
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In this episode of WorkTech, George LaRocque sits down with Laura Kunz, co-founder and Chief Growth Officer of Spirence, the runner-up at this year’s HR Tech PitchFest. Spirence is tackling a critical gap in workplace mental health: the 75% of employees who don’t need clinical care but still want support. Laura shares how her background in behavioral health shaped the platform’s preventive approach, why Spirence is designed for daily use rather than crisis moments, and how their model is driving unexpected engagement with traditional EAPs. They also unpack the PitchFest experience, the credibility boost it delivered, and Spirence’s momentum with partners like Aon and PEOs. If you’re thinking about mental health benefits, distribution strategy, or what it takes to stand out in a crowded HR Tech market, this one’s for you.
Key Topics in the Episode:
Why most workplace mental health solutions serve only 25% of employees
Spirence’s behavioral health roots and preventative care model
How Spirence drives EAP utilization by building trust and accessibility
The PitchFest experience: refining the message, building credibility, and accelerating partnerships
Spirence’s go-to-market strategy through PEOs, resellers, and Aon
What’s next: product evolution, growth targets, and Series A planning
Learn more about Spirence at spirencewellness.com
Get more HR and Work Tech market intelligence and tech insights at 1worktech.com
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Humanly's Bold Roll-Up to Become A Comprehensive AI Hiring Platform
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 • Duration 32:48
In this Breaking News episode of WorkTech, George LaRocque sits down with Prem Kumar, CEO of Humanly, alongside AJ Richichi (Sprockets) and Darrian Mikell (Qualifi) to unpack Humanly’s acquisition of three high-impact platforms: Sprockets, Qualifi, and HourWork. This move marks a major milestone in the evolution of high-volume hiring tech, consolidating capabilities across screening, scheduling, interviewing, and post-hire retention.
Prem shares how customer demand for tool consolidation and deeper conversational AI drove the deal, while AJ and Darrian reflect on their differentiated approaches to candidate engagement, from SMS-based retention insights to automated phone interviews. Together, the trio outlines a shared vision for a unified platform that reduces time-to-hire, combats fraud, and delivers a more empathetic candidate experience across voice, video, and text.
The episode also explores the strategic timing behind the acquisition, the ethical foundations of each brand, and Humanly’s roadmap—including Series B fundraising and expanded candidate-facing services. If you’re tracking the future of AI in recruiting, this is a must-listen.
Takeaways
Humanly has acquired three companies to enhance its recruitment technology offerings.
The focus is on reducing time-to-hire and improving candidate engagement.
AI is being leveraged to automate screening, scheduling, and interviewing processes.
Consolidation of tools is essential to provide a seamless experience for customers.
The acquisition aims to address the challenges of high applicant volume and fraud detection.
Each company involved brings unique strengths to the table, enhancing the overall product.
Customer feedback has driven the strategic direction of the acquisition.
The future of recruitment technology lies in ethical AI development and compliance.
Building relationships with candidates is crucial for effective recruitment.
The integration of various communication channels will improve candidate experiences.
Learn more about the deal and follow Humanly at humanly.io
Learn more about the Work Tech category and the deals and capital driving it at 1worktech.com
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Up Next at WorkTech: The Resume Isn’t Dead, the Jobs Report Is, and Other HR Tech Headlines
Monday, October 13, 2025 • Duration 29:59
In the premiere of our new bi-weekly crossover series, George LaRocque of the WorkTech and the WorkTech Podcast and Kate Achille of the Devon Group and the Up Next at Work Podcast, team up to bring a sharp, strategic lens to the headlines shaping HR and Work Tech. From the quiet but consequential developments in the Workday Mobley case to the missing BLS jobs report and the viral return of resume “cheating,” they unpack what’s real, what’s hype, and what it all means for practitioners, vendors, and investors. They also touch on the latest M&A moves, including SAP’s plans for SmartRecruiters, and the investor sentiment shift that’s making Q4 feel a lot like 2021. Plus: Sora, AI avatars, and a John Candy documentary to end on a high note.
Topics Covered:
Workday Mobley case update and implications for employers
The missing BLS jobs report and what HR pros should do instead
Resume gaming with AI: new tricks, old playbook
SAP’s SmartRecruiters acquisition and roadmap
Investor sentiment shift post-HR Tech Conference
Sora, AI avatars, and the future of creative labor
John Candy, Nor’easters, and finding levity in the chaos
Conversational, strategic, and slightly irreverent. George and Kate bring complementary perspectives—rooted in HR tech, communications, and market analysis—with a shared commitment to clarity, context, and candor.
Subscribe to catch new episodes of Up Next at WorkTech every other week, where George and Kate cut through the noise and surface what matters most in HR and Work Tech.
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Greenhouse CEO Daniel Chait at HR Tech 2025: Is AI Saving or Sinking Recruiting?
Monday, September 22, 2025 • Duration 13:14
George LaRocque of WorkTech joins Daniel Chait, CEO of Greenhouse, live from HR Tech to explore AI-powered recruiting, advanced analytics, and the evolving ATS market. The conversation highlights product innovation, regulatory risk, and the urgent need to restore human connection in talent acquisition.
In this episode we look at AI in HR, recruiting analytics, talent acquisition technology, HR Tech trends, candidate experience, compliance risk, and future of work.
Key Takeaways:
AI in HR is reshaping recruiting workflows, but adoption lags due to compliance risk and regulatory uncertainty.
Greenhouse’s new analytics platform offers flexible data access, visualizations, and collaboration tools for talent teams.
ATS market consolidation is raising questions for customers about vendor stability and long-term strategy.
Real Talent combats fraud and spam, restoring transparency and fairness in candidate pipelines.
Embedded AI tools in Greenhouse simplify scorecard creation and interview question generation with high user acceptance.
Human experience in hiring is becoming more valuable as AI saturation increases across recruiting platforms.
Learn more about Greenhouse at greenhouse.com
Get the latest market insights from WorkTech at 1worktech.com
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SmartRecruiters CEO Rebecca Carr on the SAP Acquisition, AI, and the Future of Talent Platforms
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 • Duration 24:59
Rebecca Carr joins WorkTech's George LaRocque to unpack SmartRecruiters' SAP acquisition, the rise of AI-native recruiting, and what it means to stay product-first and HCM-agnostic.
Rebecca Carr, CEO of SmartRecruiters, days after announcing their acquisition by SAP. We talked about what the deal means for the market, how AI is changing recruiting, why product CEOs matter now more than ever, and the bold future of talent platforms.
In this episode, we look at HR Tech, talent acquisition, AI in recruiting, enterprise software, recruiting platforms, product-led growth, and the future of work. Rebecca Carr shares what made SAP the right partner, how SmartRecruiters is staying agile, and why recruiting is now front and center.
Key Takeaways
-SmartRecruiters’ acquisition by SAP marks a pivotal moment in HR tech and underscores recruiting’s shift from a bolt-on module to a core enterprise platform.
-Rebecca Carr’s product-first leadership is reshaping how talent platforms are built, prioritizing AI-native workflows and agile innovation.
-Despite the acquisition, SmartRecruiters will remain HCM-agnostic, preserving its flexibility and customer-centric approach across enterprise ecosystems.
-AI is no longer a future concept; 58% of candidates are using it, and SmartRecruiters’ Winston product is built to meet them where they are.
-SAP’s global reach and data infrastructure unlock new opportunities for SmartRecruiters to deliver insight across the entire employee lifecycle.
-This move signals more consolidation ahead in talent acquisition tech, especially in high-volume hiring and frontline work, as enterprises seek end-to-end solutions.
Learn more about SmartRecruiters at https://smartrecruiters.com
Learn more about the HR and Work Tech markets, and the deals shaping the industry at https://1worktech.com
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The Truth about VC with Allison Baum Gates, Semper Virens' General Partner
Monday, July 28, 2025 • Duration 37:28
I sat down with Allison Baum Gates to talk about what it really takes to win in today’s venture-backed WorkTech market. From launching Semper Virens' accelerator to raising $177 million across two funds, Allison shares candid lessons, real market dynamics, and founder truths VCs rarely admit.
In this episode we look at venture capital, WorkTech, AI startups, HR Tech, startup funding, founder market fit, and the future of work. These are the forces shaping how emerging companies raise capital, go to market, and build competitive advantage in the most complex B2B environments today.
Key Takeaways
Founder market fit and self-awareness are crucial differentiators for success in early-stage WorkTech, HR Tech, and AI ventures.
The Semper Virens accelerator focuses on go-to-market readiness and real-world partnerships—not pitch decks.
Distribution strategy through ecosystems like health plans, payroll providers, and HR platforms is now critical for startup scale.
The $177 million in new funding from Semper Virens is backing startups solving real problems in health, wealth, and work.
Raising venture capital is not merit-based—it’s a structured game that requires narrative, strategy, and process mastery.
AI-native positioning and a well-run fundraising process are now separating the haves from the have-nots in venture outcomes.
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Gigged.AI Raises $1.34 M for AI, Agents, and On-Demand Talent. CEO Rich Wilson on The Future of Work
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 • Duration 36:54
George LaRocque and Rich Wilson dig into Gigged.AI’s latest $1.34M funding round, the power of skills-based platforms, and what’s next for the future of work and agentic AI.
With $1.34 million in fresh funding, George talked with Gigged.AI CEO Rich Wilson about doubling down on the rise of skills intelligence and on-demand talent. They unpack how Gigged.AI is helping enterprise tech teams navigate hybrid work, digital transformation, and AI-powered resourcing with unmatched speed and flexibility.
In this episode we look at skills-based hiring, talent marketplaces, contingent workforce platforms, enterprise AI, internal talent mobility, agentic AI, and digital transformation. These keywords frame a high-growth narrative that’s reshaping how work gets done in modern enterprises.
Key Takeaways
Gigged.AI’s on-demand talent platform enables rapid, skills-based hiring for enterprise tech teams.
SIA, their new Skills Intelligence Agent, delivers actionable workforce insights from internal and external data.
Rich Wilson shares how agentic AI is key to managing internal talent, freelancers, and digital agents.
Gigged.AI's dual-platform model supports both immediate talent needs and long-term strategic workforce planning.
Their recent $1.34M raise signals growing investor confidence in platforms solving enterprise talent access.
The company’s focus on enterprise expansion and U.S. growth sets the stage for global scale.
Learn more about the product at https://giggedai.com
Get more Work Tech market intelligence at https://1worktech.com
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How Agentic AI is Transforming the Employee Experience: MeBeBot's Secure, Scalable AI for Work
Monday, July 14, 2025 • Duration 31:15
George LaRocque and MeBeBot CEO Beth White unpack how Mebebot One is unlocking the next level of AI-powered support, automation, and compliance across the workplace.
AI is moving fast. Beth White talks about how Mebebot One brings agentic AI to the enterprise with secure, compliant, and scalable support. From HR to IT, we explore how hybrid AI models reduce friction in the employee experience and deliver measurable ROI through workflow automation, smart content ingestion, and prescriptive knowledge delivery.
In this episode we look at agentic AI, HR automation, employee experience, hybrid AI platforms, compliance in AI, AI chatbots, and workflow automation. These keywords highlight how modern enterprises are leveraging AI to scale support and enhance internal operations securely.
Key Takeaways
Agentic AI enables HR and IT teams to automate support and reduce friction in employee workflows.
Mebebot One blends prescriptive and generative AI for accurate, compliant content delivery.
Hybrid AI platforms allow organizations to control sensitive content while enabling open responses for general knowledge.
Integration with collaboration tools like Teams, Slack, and SMS ensures AI is in the flow of work.
Scalable AI platforms like Mebebot unify siloed departments with a single support experience across functions.
Companies are prioritizing AI solutions that balance security, accuracy, and ROI in highly regulated environments.
Learn more about MeBeBot One at https://www.mebebot.com/
Get market insights and learn moare about tech trends for the future of work at https://www.1worktech.com
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From Clicks to Quality: How VONQ is Transforming Job Advertising and Candidate Screening with New AI Agents
Monday, July 7, 2025 • Duration 38:50
I sat down with Vonq’s Ritu Mohanka and Bill Fischer to unpack CPA+, their latest AI-powered innovation. We explore how embedded agentic AI is streamlining candidate screening, optimizing recruiter workflows, and poised to make CPA models more effective by delivering quality, prescreened candidates directly inside 50+ ATSs.
In this episode, we look at recruitment automation, cost-per-application, AI in hiring, ATS integration, recruiter efficiency, agentic AI, and candidate screening. With hiring pressure rising, VONQ’s embedded AI-driven tools help talent teams speed up hiring and improve outcomes, without disrupting existing HR tech stacks.
Key Takeaways:
CPA+ brings prequalified candidates directly into ATS workflows, reducing recruiter workload and speeding up hiring cycles.
Agentic AI conducts dynamic screening interviews and generates candidate dossiers, enabling faster, data-driven decisions.
VONQ’s platform is embedded in 50+ ATSs, removing friction and driving instant adoption.
Recruiters save time and boost ROI by automating screening and scoring with transparent, explainable AI.
Compliance with the EU AI Act ensures fairness and transparency in every candidate evaluation.
VONQ’s LinkedIn integration powers high-quality CPA+ campaigns, with additional publishing partners launching soon.
Links Mentioned in the Podcast:
🌐 VONQ CPA+: http://bit.ly/3I5vQtX
🔗 Bill Fischer on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/billfischer
🔗 Ritu Mohanka on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ritu-mohanka
Get more Work Tech market insights at https://1worktech.com
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2025 Outlook: Economic Uncertainty & Workforce Dynamics with Andrew Flowers, Appcast Chief Economist
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 • Duration 36:59
Hiring is slowing, the job market is increasingly less dynamic, and economic uncertainty looms. Andrew Flowers, Chief Economist at Appcast, joins me to analyze the latest job market data, including hiring trends, workforce churn, wage growth, and how factors like AI, government policy, and inflation are shaping the future of work.
In this episode, we look at hiring trends, workforce turnover, wage growth, economic uncertainty, government layoffs, inflation impact, and talent acquisition strategies. With shifting market dynamics, HR leaders and employers need data-driven insights to navigate hiring, workforce planning, and talent retention in 2025.
See the charts Andrew references at 1worktech.com/podcast
Key Takeaways:
Hiring is slowing, but layoffs actually remain low, creating a stagnant job market with reduced churn.
Economic uncertainty is impacting employer decisions, leading to cautious hiring and lower job openings.
Healthcare is driving job growth, while leisure and hospitality are showing signs of weakness.
Wage growth is outpacing inflation, improving worker purchasing power but creating cost pressures for employers.
Federal workforce reductions could impact local economies, but broader economic effects remain uncertain.
HR leaders should monitor hiring rates, consumer spending, and government policies, as these will shape workforce trends in 2025.
Resources Mentioned:
Appcast Website: appcast.io
Recruitonomics by Appcast: recruitonomics.com
WorkTech Market Intelligence: 1worktech.com
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Market Insights
02:16 Current Economic Landscape
07:11 Job Market Dynamics and Trends
11:24 Sector-Specific Employment Trends
16:04 Impact of Federal Government Changes
25:52 Wage Growth and Economic Predictions
29:22 Key Metrics to Watch for in 2025
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