Hanns Aderhold, Founder and CEO of Cobrainer: $21 Million Raised to Build the Future of Skills Data Platforms

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Hanns Aderhold, Founder and CEO of Cobrainer, a people's first skills AI platform that has raised $21 Million in funding.

Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:

• Origins and Shifts: Cobrainer started as a university project in 2013, aiming to facilitate project team formations based on skills. The initial vision expanded into the corporate world when companies expressed interest in adopting a similar skills-based approach for internal staffing.
• Early Challenges and Encouragements: Hanns faced discouragement when sharing his startup idea, with many advising him to gain experience in large companies first. However, this skepticism fueled his determination to proceed with Cobrainer.
• From Consultancy to SaaS: Cobrainer's journey began as a consultancy, providing custom skills-based staffing solutions for enterprises. In 2020, the company pivoted to a single-product SaaS model, focusing on internal career transparency and personalized career recommendations for employees based on their unique skill profiles.
• Navigating COVID-19: The pandemic initially seemed like a setback for Cobrainer, especially after moving away from consultancy. However, the shift towards internal talent management during hiring freezes proved to be an accelerant for the company's SaaS product.
• Building Partnerships: Hanns emphasizes the importance of forming strategic partnerships with consultancies and HR tech vendors. These collaborations have been crucial for Cobrainer, allowing them to refine their product and achieve significant growth by leveraging partners' networks and platforms.
• Vision for the Future: Looking ahead, Hanns envisions a world where individuals can easily navigate their careers based on their skills, contributing to their personal fulfillment and the development of meaningful work. Cobrainer aims to be the navigation platform that enables this future, helping people to follow their true calling by providing clear, skills-based career pathways.