The hiring process has long been criticized for its inefficiency and opacity. Candidates spend hours crafting applications and cover letters, only to have them disappear into what often feels like a black box. Generative AI has only added to the complexity, as employers increasingly rely on AI-powered screening systems to manage an overwhelming volume of submissions.
Stockholm-based startup Fika Jobs believes there’s a better way. The company is building a video-first hiring platform that combines AI interview agents with short-form video profiles—creating something that feels like a cross between LinkedIn and TikTok. Instead of relying solely on resumes, candidates complete AI-driven interviews designed to showcase their personality and communication skills.
On Tuesday, Fika Jobs announced a $4 million pre-seed round. The funds will be used to continue developing the platform, grow the team, and prepare for a broader launch later this year.
For job seekers, the process begins by connecting a LinkedIn profile. Fika's AI reviews the candidate’s background and generates personalized interview questions. Candidates then complete a roughly 10-minute video interview with the AI agent, currently powered by Google’s Gemini models.
After the interview, Fika automatically converts responses into short video clips and organizes them into a profile. Rather than applying to each new role individually, candidates maintain a live profile that employers can discover and revisit as new opportunities arise.
The idea originated from co-founders and brothers Jakob Dubois (CEO) and Alexander Dubois (CTO) while they were building their previous startup.
“When we were building [social app] Gaff, we spent a lot of time recruiting and almost passed on a candidate because his resume didn’t stand out,” Jakob Dubois told TechCrunch. “We ended up speaking with him anyway, and within minutes, his grit, drive, and ambition became obvious. Exactly the kind of person we wanted to hire.”
That experience convinced the founders that some of the traits employers value most are difficult to capture on paper.
Unlike most competitors, Fika Jobs differentiates itself by shifting from text-heavy resumes to video-based assessments. In a 2026 hiring landscape where companies are searching for ways to reduce time-to-hire and improve candidate fit, Fika’s model aims to surface soft skills and cultural alignment that traditional applications often miss. The company plans to expand its AI capabilities to include more nuanced behavioral analysis and real-time feedback for candidates, further refining the match between job seekers and employers.
As Fika Jobs moves toward its wider launch, it joins a growing wave of startups rethinking recruitment through video and AI, challenging the decades-old dominance of the static resume.
via TechCrunch AI