Early stage start-ups focused on workforce solutions are invited to apply for the latest round of KPMG’s Future Technology Program, with five twelve-month Stone & Chalk residencies on offer.
Professional services firm KPMG has launched the latest round of its Future Technology Program in collaboration with Stone & Chalk, with a fresh focus on workforce technology following previous iterations covering supply chain and space tech innovation.
The call for applications comes as the winner of KPMG’s Tech Innovator competition – Sapia.ai founder Barb Hyman – prepares to compete at next month’s international final.
With submissions due in the first week of November for a February commencement date, the eligible, early stage start-ups selected for the program will receive one of five twelve-month residencies at a Stone & Chalk startup hub in either Sydney, Adelaide or Melbourne, along with mentorship and support from KPMG’s industry experts. The consulting firm will also facilitate industry introductions and demonstration days with potential investors.
Entrepreneurs working on technology-based solutions in areas such as talent acquisition and retention, career mobility, workplace safety and compliance, and employee engagement, recognition and rewards are among those invited to apply. The organisers note that as the world changes, it will become increasingly important for businesses to rethink and adapt to how they manage and get the most out of their most valuable asset – their people.
“We’re delighted to be adding some additional support to help the next generation of Aussie workplace-related startups unlock their potential,” commented KPMG Futures national managing partner Sarah Vega, who forwarded Atlassian, Canva and Employment Hero as among local success stories. “We’re not just looking at the next innovation; we’re seeking to connect the world to the next big idea, amplifying Australia’s voice in the global tech space.”
Another emerging Australian workforce success story – automated recruitment platform Sapia.ai – took out this year’s KPMG Tech Innovator competition, with the global final due to take place at the annual Web Summit in Lisbon in the middle of November.
Sapia.ai was established in 2018 by former Boston Consulting Group head of HR and marketing Barb Hyman with the aim of eliminating bias, and is now being used by some of the country’s largest companies.
Tapping into its vast pool of interview data, Sapia.ai uses natural language processing and machine learning to conduct blind interviews with candidates via chatbot, thereby avoiding the pitfalls of face-to-face assessments. KPMG stated; “Barb absolutely blew the judges away with her ambition for a more ethical future for recruitment, and we can’t wait to see her represent Australia on the global stage at the KPMG Global Tech Innovator competition in November.”
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