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5 DEI Tech Startups Looking to Disrupt the Market in 2022

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Last year, new HR tech companies made a big splash in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) tech (or DEI tech as it’s better known), and 2022 looks even bigger. A recent study published by RedThread, a human resources research group focused on DEI, found that the number of HR technology vendors focused on DEI has grown by 136% since 2019.

The HR technology industry is booming. The range of innovative services helping companies improve workplace inclusivity range from online interactive training to artificial intelligence. Below, we’ve highlighted some of the most interesting DEI tech newcomers looking to disrupt the DEI market in 2022.

1. Eskalera

DEI Programming and Analytics

Eskalera is a DEI software solution that combines employee learning with people analytics to track indicators of inclusion. Instead of tracking benchmarks such as promotions or attrition, Eskalera’s DEI tools are focused on improving the employee experience by creating (and measuring) an inclusive environment.

To track their progress, companies will look to Eskalera’s Inclusion Index, which measures the four main drivers behind DEI: trust, belonging, growth mindset, and voice.

2. Helpr

Benefits for the Whole Family

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of women in the United States, particularly women of color, resigned from their jobs to take on new care responsibilities at home. This troubling pattern exposed long-standing gender inequities. Now companies are looking for solutions to help caretakers stay at work. 

One of the most innovative solutions is Helpr, a care benefits provider that allows employees to find and pay for care directly from their phones. Through the Helpr app, employees can find in-network care, pay their friends and family, and use unique benefits like Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) funds.

Helpr’s services make accessing family care benefits easy for employees and simple for employers to manage. Although Helpr has been in business since 2015, both the pandemic and mandatory backup care legislation have created a renewed interest in Helpr’s care benefit technology.

3. Included.ai

Artificial Intelligence meets DEI… or vice versa.

Included may just be the first software solution that falls into the coveted software category of the “all-in-one” solution. And although it’s not the first software to use machine learning to bring meaning to employee data, it’s definitely the first to place it front and center.

Included is a very young DEI software start-up dedicated to using data-driven solutions to help companies build DEI goals and strategies. Included’s DEI analytics tools identify trends and provide actionable recommendations throughout the entire employee lifecycle. From recruitment and hiring until employee promotion or exit, Included tracks the employee’s journey within a DEI framework.

Included was co-founded in 2020 by Raghu Gollamudi, Chandan Golla, and Laura Close. Included recently received $1.9 million in pre-seed funding, setting them up for a big year in 2022.

4. Kanarys

“The canary in the coal mine.” 

Kanarys, co-founded by Mandy Price (CEO) and Star Carter (COO), collects anonymized data from participating companies and employees to diagnose, measure, and respond to DEI deficiencies in the company. While companies can use this data to understand the state of DEI in their companies and optimize their efforts, employees can also use data to grade their own employers and search for new jobs.

We are the only platform that fuels progress towards a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace culture.”

Kanarys

The company launched in July 2019, and since then, they’ve raised $4.6 million in funding. Last year, Kanarys closed on a $3 million seed round, signaling a great year for DEI technology ahead.

5. Mathison

End-to-End DEI Hiring

Mathison’s suite of DEI software tools advances equitable hiring at every stage of the recruitment process. Through Mathison’s platform, companies can audit their current practices using the Mathison Equal Hiring Index, uncover biased language in job descriptions using the Bias Scanner, and cast a wider recruitment net on LinkedIn. 

Most importantly, Mathison gives companies the data they need to chart a new, more equitable course for future hiring. To help get the whole team on board, Mathison has manager training and other DEI tools.

“Our mission is to bridge the gap between the most underrepresented job seekers and employers committed to diversity and inclusion.”

Mathison

Studies show that the 2021 state of DEI tech was promising. These same studies show that 2022 is set to be even bigger.

Natasha

Natasha is the founder of Law&Labor and The Brief. She loves writing about law, labor, diversity, equity and inclusion, and all things legal news. In her free time, she enjoys playing cribbage, spending time with her family, and cheering on the Green Bay Packers.

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