HR tech startup Spotted Zebra, which has created a platform that uses AI to identify skill gaps at organisations, has secured £7.7m in funding.

Founded in 2020, Spotted Zebra’s platform creates a profile for company roles showing the skills they require.

Using what it describes as a “blend of AI, assessment science and human expertise”, Spotted Zebra says focusing on relevant skills can reduce bias, widen the talent pool and improve hiring outcomes.

The London-headquartered firm says its HR platform is used by “a number of FTSE100 companies”.

Its platform can also be applied to reskilling existing employees and succession planning for the C-suite.

Spotted Zebra’s Series A funding was led by Nauta Capital, a pan-European VC firm.

Act VC invested for the first time, while existing investors Playfair and Entrepreneur First provided capital too. It follows a £1.4m funding round in April this year.

“Our core belief is that employees are happier and more productive when their unique skills – their superpowers – are aligned with roles that use and develop these talents,” says Ian Monk, CEO and co-founder of Spotted Zebra.

“Our platform is solving the skills crisis by aligning people with opportunities.”

Spotted Zebra cited data from the World Economic Forum that shows 77% of businesses report skills shortages.

Carles Ferrer Roqueta, a London-based General Partner at Nauta Capital, said: “Spotted Zebra has spent the last three years proving that it has a compelling solution to one of the world’s biggest challenges.

“A skills-based approach not only ensures more positive hiring and reskilling outcomes, but it also improves fairness, diversity and social equity.”