Tech Talent Drop - Edition 12

Welcome to week twelve of Tech Talent Drop! As tech hiring continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, staying updated on the latest trends and tools can give recruiters and hiring managers an invaluable edge. This week, we delve into the shifting landscape of AI in recruitment, new funding rounds, and more to keep you ahead in the tech talent race.

The Drop 

This week, the United Nations unveiled an AI-driven project—an AI refugee avatar designed to simulate and study the experiences of displaced individuals. This technology aims to better understand and address refugee challenges, providing insights that could influence tech strategies and humanitarian efforts globally. For recruiters and hiring managers, this development highlights AI's expanding role beyond traditional applications, potentially opening new areas for AI talent recruitment. Recruiters should watch for AI roles in humanitarian tech.

AI Tool of the Week 

Introducing Moonshot AI's Kimi K2, which has recently outperformed GPT-4 in several benchmark tests. This free tool offers advanced language processing capabilities, making it a strong candidate for companies looking to enhance their AI-driven recruitment processes without breaking the bank. Use this tool to optimize candidate communication and engagement.

Hiring/Interview Insight 

A recent study from LinkedIn reveals that companies investing in upskilling their recruitment teams see a 21% increase in hiring effectiveness. By focusing on continuous learning and development, recruiters can better match candidates to roles, improving both quality of hire and retention rates. Implement a quarterly training program for your recruitment team to stay competitive.

Funding Watch 

• Varda Space Industries — in-space pharmaceutical manufacturing — $187 M Series C, led by Natural Capital & Shrug Capital

• Circle Games — mobile puzzle gaming — $7.25 M Seed, led by Bitkraft Ventures with support from a16z Speedrun, Play Ventures & e2vc

• Ryft — cloud-native data management — $8 M Seed, co-led by Index Ventures & Bessemer Venture Partners

• Centivax — universal flu-vaccine biotech — $45 M Series A, led by Future Ventures

• Zero Hash — crypto & stablecoin infrastructure — $100 M, led by Interactive Brokers, at ~$1B valuation

Quick Bytes 

- Voice AI is evolving with transfer learning Read more.

- United Nations introduces an AI refugee avatar Read more.

- X CEO Linda Yaccarino steps down Read more.

- Marc Andreessen critiques university DEI initiatives Read more.

One to Watch: The rise of AI-driven humanitarian projects could redefine tech recruitment landscapes.

That’s all for this week’s Tech Talent Drop — stay informed, and see you next week!