WhyBrilliant Raises €1 Million in Pre-Seed Funding
WhyBrilliant, a Berlin-based startup, has announced the closure of a €1 million pre-seed funding round led by Merantix Capital. The startup aims to connect exceptional talent with ambitious companies by leveraging a voice-first AI career agent, facilitating the job matching process for technology professionals and employers.
Company Overview
Founded in 2026 by Patrick Böert and Aleksander Heimrath, WhyBrilliant is a recruitment technology startup that utilizes AI to streamline talent sourcing and hiring. The platform offers a two-sided approach: candidates undergo a voice-based interview with an AI agent, which then creates a detailed profile of their experience, skills, and career aspirations. Simultaneously, the system scans over one million job vacancies in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to find suitable matches.
On the employer side, WhyBrilliant provides an AI agent to help define hiring requirements and source appropriate candidates. Employers can request introductions to potential hires, while candidates maintain control over their data and interactions.
Funding Details and Investor Insights
The €1 million pre-seed funding round was exclusively led by Merantix Capital, a Berlin-based venture capital firm known for investing in AI startups across various sectors, including enterprise software and healthcare. Dr. Rasmus Rothe, co-founder and general partner of Merantix Capital, commented on the investment, highlighting the founders' thoughtful approach: "Patrick and Aleksander built the talent side of WhyBrilliant first, in quiet conversation with real candidates for months before any announcement. That sequencing tells you how they think."
Planned Use of Funds
The newly acquired funds are earmarked for scaling the AI-powered hiring platform, expanding the team, and increasing the company's reach across Europe. WhyBrilliant plans to enhance its platform's capabilities and broaden its market presence, addressing the growing demand for efficient recruitment solutions in the region.
Founders and Leadership
The company was co-founded by Patrick Böert, who serves as CEO, and Aleksander Heimrath, the CTO. Both founders bring a wealth of experience in technology and recruitment, driving the company's innovative approach to connecting talent with opportunities.
WhyBrilliant's infrastructure is hosted within the European Union, ensuring that candidate data remains private unless explicit consent is provided for an introduction. The platform operates on a success-based revenue model, charging employers for successful hires while offering free services to candidates.
With its fresh infusion of capital, WhyBrilliant is poised to make significant strides in the European recruitment technology landscape, offering a unique AI-driven solution to both job seekers and employers.