OptimHire, the first personalized AI recruiter, today announced a $5 million funding round led by Mucker Capital’s Omar Hamoui, founder of AdMob and former Sequoia investor. With a candidate database of over 16 million and a track record of filling more than 8,000 positions in 2024 alone, OptimHire is reshaping how enterprises and top-tier talent connect.

As the shortage of IT talent and skills creates a ripple effect across the tech industry, OptimHire is positioned to modernize the $184 billion recruitment market by lowering talent acquisition time from six months to an average of twelve days and cutting costs by 80%. Beyond efficiency, OptimHire sets itself apart as the first to introduce a risk-free recruitment model, giving businesses unparalleled confidence in their hiring investments. Companies can choose between a flat 6% recruitment fee—significantly lower than the industry average of 20%—and an AI recruiter task-based model, approximately $300/month for individual hiring tasks such as resume screening, candidate outreach, interview scheduling, onboarding support, and more.

“At OptimHire, we’re committed to removing the barriers that have traditionally slowed down or complicated hiring,” said Lakshmi (Larry) Kodali, CEO and co-founder of OptimHire. “We envision a world where businesses no longer face months-long hiring cycles or exorbitant costs, and where candidates are empowered to find their ideal roles quickly. This funding allows us to continue shaping that future, creating an ecosystem where AI-driven efficiency meets human opportunity, redefining what’s possible in the global talent market.”

OptimHire’s end-to-end AI hiring solution equips companies with a comprehensive suite that offers: 

• AI Recruiter: AI-powered ATS system that handles candidate sourcing, pre-screening, and scheduling. 
• Faster hiring: Facilitates hires in 12 days on average, reducing hiring costs by up to 80%. 
• Risk-free hiring: Companies pay for end results, not clicks or sponsored jobs. 

“Recruitment has traditionally been a costly process filled with uncertainty, where companies invest significant resources upfront, often without any guarantees that they will find the right candidate,” said Omar Hamoui, General Partner at Mucker Capital. “While SaaS-based models brought innovation to hiring in the past, AI has unlocked a new playing field by enabling precision, speed, and measurable outcomes. OptimHire’s approach of risk-free, outcome-based hiring represents the next evolution in recruitment, delivering exceptional value to businesses by aligning costs with results.”

This funding round also includes participation from SparkLabs, Citta Capital, Pitbull Ventures, and VSC Ventures. The capital will drive OptimHire’s expansion into new markets while advancing its platform to meet the evolving demands of a rapidly changing global workforce.