The 2024 UNLEASH Startup Program Award is now open for entries!

Calling all HR tech startups! UNLEASH is proud to officially launch the 2024 UNLEASH Startup Award.

And entries are now open for your submissions.

Returning for its 12th year, the award shines a spotlight on the most exciting and valuable innovations taking place in the HR technology world.

With a prize sponsorship package from UNLEASH worth $50,000 available to the winner, the award showcases the best new businesses and ideas.

The award has established itself as the emerging ground for future greatness when it comes to the next generation of HR technology providers, underlined by UNLEASH’s steadfast commitment to supporting and highlighting the best in emerging HR technologies.

Beamery, Peakon, Allyo, Textio, Harver, Ultimate Software & Peopledoc, and Clustree number among previous winners, as are now-established providers such as SmartRecruiters and Visier, highlighting just how much of an incubator for potential the award can be.

2023's Winner

At UNLEASH World in Paris last year, virtual voice-guided job applications provider Talk’n’Job took home the prize after impressing the judging panel with a strong presentation highlighting its focus on blue collar, frontline workers.

Winning the Startup Award at UNLEASH World 2023 in Paris was a great honor for us and, above all, a recognition of the work that our entire team puts into Talk'n'Job,” Karoline Bierlich, head of comms at Talk’n’Job (pictured) told UNLEASH.Winning the Startup Award at UNLEASH World 2023 in Paris was a great honor for us and, above all, a recognition of the work that our entire team puts into Talk'n'Job,” Karoline Bierlich, head of comms at Talk’n’Job (pictured) told UNLEASH.

“We were able to present on an international stage and make many promising new contacts afterwards.”

What you need to know to enter

Entrance requirements for the UNLEASH Startup Award:

• Must be a paid UNLEASH America exhibitor
• No more than Series A funding
• No more than five years old
• No more than 50 employees
• Answer our questionnaire and submit a two-minute video sharing a product demonstration
• For companies with more than 50 employees and/or founded more than five years ago, please contact the UNLEASH team to discuss your entry.

Startups must choose to enter under one of the following four categories:

• HR Tech & Transformation
• Learning & Skills
• Employee Experience & Engagement
• Talent & Recruitment

Timeline

24 January – We are now open for entries, so start submitting your questionnaires and pitches!

26 February – Our expert judging panel will be revealed.

29 March – Applications close at 11:49 PST. Put the date in your diary to make sure you don’t miss out!

8 May – The on-site finale at the International Festival of HR at UNLEASH America where the five finalists will each give a four-minute pitch, and then face a four-minute Q & A with our judges.

The Grand Prize

Entering the UNLEASH Startup Award offers the best and brightest of the HR tech landscape unrivalled access to the top HR analysts, thought leaders and investors. Past judges include Josh Bersin, Mike Ettling and Sarah White.

But the lucky winner will scoop a $50,000 sponsorship package for a future UNLEASH event – but please note, this figure does not include the price of the stand build and design.

The best of luck to all entrants and we look forward to seeing you at UNLEASH America, 7-9 May in Las Vegas.

Want more information?

UNLEASH News will be sharing more information on the judging phase, FAQs and top tips from the judges soon!

But for more information on our Startup packages, which provide marketing opportunities to showcase your achievements, please contact:

Kennedy Cook, Startup & Investor Program Lead – at Kennedy@unleash.ai

Aniko Illes, Startup Ecosystem Sales Lead – at Aniko@unleash.ai or on 00 36 20 255 87 41.