Wedge is bringing new solutions to job recruiting
As a serial entrepreneur who started his first business at 15 years old, Matt Baxter, now 28, continues to think beyond immediate solutions to everyday problems. These days, he is tackling one of the most ongoing and stressful tasks businesses face every day: job recruiting.
In his junior year at Hope College in Holland, Mich. Baxter noticed how traditional human resources departments were physically calling candidates to screen them during in-person interviews. Not only does this process consume unnecessary time and money, it also limits the number of qualified candidates under consideration. Baxter realized there could be an easier, more productive process for companies tasked with filtering job candidates.
The result was Wedge, the company Baxter founded that connects candidates and recruiters through pre-recorded video submissions, allowing applicants to show who they are in a more authentic and engaging way. Wedge replaces the initial phone screening while giving recruiters the ability to review more candidates to find the right fit up to 75% faster. The platform, which can be accessed online or via a mobile app, ultimately increases the chances of hiring the best-fitting talent by allowing hiring manager to hear real stories directly from the candidate, instead of reading words on a resume.
Wedge launched in 2015 in Grand Rapids and has since raised over $4 million in pre-seed funding from investors across the state, including Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund III, a subsidiary of the Michigan State University Foundation. Michigan Rise invests in technology startups to help commercialize innovative technologies and support entrepreneurs across Michigan through capital support, coaching, assistance with grant funding and more. In fact, Wedge was Michigan Rise’s 50th investment in May 2022 .
“Wedge’s technology has always set it apart from other human resources platforms and its rapid growth demonstrates the need for a service like this,” said Michigan Rise Executive Director Jeff Wesley. “What we really admire is the company’s dedication to helping business leaders find the right talent by introducing authentic stories, removing bias and championing diversity, equity and inclusion.”
Wedge is part of the Grand Rapids startup ecosystem, and has been supported by StartGarden and Spartan Innovations, another subsidiary of the Michigan State University Foundation. Together these organizations impact exciting new startups and innovations in Grand Rapids in partnership with the Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA) Grand Rapids Smartzone.
Baxter is a born and raised Michigander, and among his pride points is having his company grow in Grand Rapids with the majority of his team based in the state. During his time at Hope College, he studied management, minoring in leadership, which further informed his interest in and enthusiasm for entrepreneurship.
“For Wedge, Michigan Rise is the perfect combination of a sophisticated venture capital firm that understands the founder’s perspective,” said Baxter. “They’re remarkable to work with and support both the company and my vision for it. We’re excited to be a part of what they’re doing in Michigan and look forward to continuing our work together.”
What’s next for Wedge? Baxter’s goal is to continue expansion and stay in tune with ongoing job market fluctuations. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s May Jobs Report, U.S. employers added 390,000 jobs in May 2022 and demand for workers continues to rise faster than supply. This is top of mind for many businesses as they work to recover from the pandemic’s significant impact. The May report also found that job openings hit a record high in March, reporting 1.9 vacant jobs for every unemployed worker. It’s evident to hiring managers today that finding the right talent within a wide pool of candidates has been more challenging than ever.
There’s no slowing down for the Wedge team. The company recently announced its 24/7 support and mobile app. The integration of these two new tools puts candidates and customers first through the application and recruitment process, making it easier to apply from anywhere at any time. This streamlined process improves the overall experience with Wedge. It is also rolling out an expanded product from the initial Wedge Interview platform to include Wedge Attract and Wedge Apply. Wedge Attract helps source the right candidates, while Wedge Apply is a complete video job application.
Since its founding, Wedge’s growth has been remarkable. In 2021 alone, the company reported a 700% year-over-year growth, which is a testament to its continued success and resilience in helping businesses across the country understand the power of personalized hiring.
To learn more, visit Wedge’s website at www.wedgehr.com or download the mobile app.
To learn more about Michigan Rise, Spartan Innovations and the Michigan State University Foundation visit the Michigan State University Foundation at msufoundation.org