From Problem to Solution

Joeri, a former strategy consultant, wanted to understand what makes a great consultant, but found HR departments lacked clear predictors of success. Lotte, frustrated by slow progress in boosting diversity while working abroad for an NGO, joined forces with Joeri to create The Selection Lab. In 2023, the company raised €1.25M in a round led by Borski Fund.

As participants in Techleap for Scaleups’ Rise programme, the founders shared their insights on the company’s journey and future ambitions.

What has your biggest challenge been since founding The Selection Lab?

Initially, we focused intensely on leveraging data to improve the recruitment process. However, we discovered that our potential customers were more interested in straightforward, practical solutions to their immediate problems. This realisation led us to pivot our communication strategy and focus on UX instead of data.

By simplifying our message and addressing specific pain points, we boosted our sales and increased client engagement. This shift allowed us to gather valuable data insights that our customers now appreciate and understand.

What sets The Selection Lab apart from your competitors?

The Selection Lab stands out in three key areas:

We have built a system that can incorporate any assessment available globally. This flexibility, combined with our ability to tailor the system (including branding and video integration) to each client’s needs, allows us to design bespoke experiences. Our technology is designed to quickly adapt to new advancements, such as AI applications, ensuring our clients always have access to cutting-edge solutions.

Our system is integration-first, meaning our tools can seamlessly work with clients’ existing applicant tracking system (ATS) and other systems, reducing the need for multiple platforms.

We analyse hiring outcomes across different assessments, giving organisations insights into important business drivers such as the soft skills that predict employee retention and quality of hire.

What are your goals for the next few years?

Our goals for the next few years include:

• Doubling our revenue annually.
• Fully automating the recruitment process for clients who desire it.
• Expanding further into Europe and beyond.
• Continuously integrating AI into our tools to enhance candidate experience and data insights.

What motivated you to join Techleap for Scaleups’ Rise programme?

After securing a Series A round, The Selection Lab is poised for significant growth. Having been bootstrapped for years, we are now ready to scale our business and elevate our operations. We joined the Rise programme to help us navigate this next phase, addressing the challenges of growth and ensuring a smooth transition.

What’s some actionable advice you’ve received from the programme?

In the first session on ‘Talent’, we were advised to foster a stronger feedback culture and set clearer expectations for career growth. We observed that some team members advanced quickly while others did not, often due to unclear expectations.

To address this, we implemented a 24-hour feedback rule, encouraging timely and constructive feedback. Additionally, we created a comprehensive document outlining all our expectations, from fostering inclusivity to encouraging proactive problem-solving. This has helped align our team and promote consistent personal and professional growth.