Charlotte health-tech startup HireMe Healthcare is looking to raise $2 million in funding to bolster its mission of matching North Carolina nurses with the best available jobs.
Ryan Lee and Trey Ennis co-founded HireMe Healthcare in 2017 to connect non-physician health-care professionals to the jobs that best fit their skills and experience. The startup's web platform and mobile app also matches health-care employers with their next hire.
HireMe Healthcare is looking to close a $2 million seed round by the third quarter of this year to help invest in its sales and marketing needs and grow the platform's users across the local and state markets. It currently has more than 200 users actively utilizing the platform. HireMe Healthcare will also use the funds to add more artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to its tool.
The company has raised just over $1.2 million toward that goal, which includes the recent close of a $500,000 friends-and-family round and other capital raises, Lee told CBJ.
The $2 million goal comes after the startup launched its online job marketplace in the fourth quarter of 2022. The platform, which is free and available online or by smartphone app, gives users the opportunity to create a personal profile, reach out directly to hiring managers and search for positions that fit their career goals. Hiring managers are able to search for and communicate with prospective candidates and schedule interviews through the platform, CBJ previously reported.
"With our nursing side, what it provides is a one-stop shop with a single resume that can be used to one-click apply to jobs — which is a great benefit compared to filling out a brand-new application, especially with the difficulties in the job market," Lee said. "It often takes several applications to really find that job, especially if you're focused on finding a job you want to stay at."
HireMe Healthcare told CBJ its team worked with Charlotte software firm Kepler Team to build out the platform. A large portion of the funding round will be used to pay for that service. The platform was built in partnership with organizations focused on mental health and resiliency in the workforce, Lee said.
The startup also aims to grow its team, which currently has six members. HireMe Healthcare had three teammates in 2021. One of its most recent hires was Heather Noack, a regional sales manager who helps drive sales and marketing success for the company.
The company is now looking to bring its solution to the highest volume of jobseekers and employers, primarily in North Carolina. Additionally, HireMe Healthcare plans to launch its platform in South Carolina and Tennessee by the beginning of the third quarter of 2023, Lee said.
"We believe health care is a human right, and it is unfortunate that accessibility to health care has been impacted by business inefficiencies," Lee added. "We're just here to tackle those business inefficiencies and reestablish that trust. "
