Czech-Slovak HR startup Sloneek, known for its innovative all-in-one HR solution, has secured €3.6 million in a late-seed funding round to accelerate its expansion into Western Europe, particularly Italy. The funding round was led by Purple Ventures II, with contributions from existing investors Venture to Future Fund and Vision Ventures, as Presto Ventures informed Vestbee.
- Founded in 2019 by Milan Rataj and Filip Lukac, Sloneek is an AI-powered HR system that streamlines recruitment, offboarding, talent development, and overall efficiency for both small and large companies through data-driven insights.
- Sloneek serves several international markets, including companies in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Europe, and the US. Its notable clients include Lindt, Volvo, Savills, Panattoni, Knight Frank, and Czech startups such as Carvago and Kosik.
- In 2022, Sloneek secured €1 million in funding from Presto Ventures and Vision Ventures, following an earlier investment of €350,000 from Vision Ventures in 2020. The startup reports that it has more than tripled its annual growth, expects revenues in the high single-digit millions of euros this year, and has doubled its client base.
Details of the deal
- The pre-seed round was led by Purple Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Brno, which recently launched its second fund with a total of €40 million. The firm plans to continue its investment strategy by focusing on startups in the CEE region with teams across the European Union.
“Sloneek allows HR professionals to focus on developing people and leave administrative tasks to technology, thanks to its AI tools. Behind the project is a well-aligned team of experienced professionals with a clear vision, which we fully support," Partner at Purple Ventures, Jan Davídek, stated in a press release.
- The investment also included participation from the Bratislava-based VC Venture to Future Fund and Slovakian Vision Ventures.
- Sloneek plans to use the investment to advance its technology by creating a cutting-edge people analytics platform and new reporting tools. The company also aims to strengthen its presence in Western Europe, starting with Italy, and to triple its current revenue.
“Italy is a very interesting market for us. On the one hand, local companies have long been struggling with a talent shortage – something the government is trying to reverse with various incentives intended to bring people back to Italy. Once we prove ourselves in Italy, we will use that experience to expand into other Western markets," CEO of Sloneek, Filip Lukac, commented in a statement.
