MeritFirst
MeritFirst is an AI-powered skills-based hiring assessment platform that helps companies evaluate candidates on actual job-relevant capabilities through auditable, high-fidelity assessments — including audio/video recording tools, AI-scoring, and management flows — rather than relying on traditional resume proxies. Founded in 2025 and headquartered in Austin, TX, it is backed by 8VC and Slow Ventures and targets roles at finance firms and venture capital-backed startups.
“Applications are free to send. Volume explodes. Recruiters can't distinguish candidates. Resume screening stops working.”
Source→“MeritFirst — Hiring/recruiting tech — Same thesis as Phoebe — rebuilding the hiring funnel”
Source→AI-extracted from podcast / newsletter / paper summaries. May contain errors.