As AI continues to redraw the rules of hiring and workforce planning, one talent tech company is getting recognition not just for what it builds—but for how it treats the people building it.
Findem, the AI-powered platform focused on smarter talent decisions, has been named one of Built In’s Best Places to Work in 2026, earning a spot on the San Francisco Best Midsize Places to Work list. The annual award recognizes U.S. employers that stand out for compensation, benefits, and workplace culture—criteria that are increasingly intertwined with a company’s ability to compete in an AI-first economy.
Founded in 2020, Findem has grown quickly in a crowded HR tech landscape dominated by legacy recruiting platforms, data aggregators, and a wave of generative AI startups. While much of the industry’s attention has focused on algorithmic breakthroughs and automation, Findem’s latest recognition underscores a parallel reality: talent technology companies are under growing scrutiny for how they manage their own people.
A People-First Strategy in a Product-Obsessed Market
Findem’s mission is ambitious—helping organizations make better, fairer, and more data-driven talent decisions. That mission, according to the company, starts internally.
The company has emphasized meaningful work, continuous learning, and transparency as it scales, positioning culture not as a perk but as infrastructure. Employees are encouraged to take ownership of projects and see the downstream impact of their work, a notable stance in an industry where rapid growth can often lead to burnout or cultural drift.
“Building a great company isn’t just about the product, it’s about the people behind it,” said Findem CEO Hari Kolam. His comment reflects a broader shift among venture-backed tech firms, where retention and engagement are becoming as critical as innovation—especially as skilled AI and data professionals remain in short supply.
Why This Matters Now
Built In’s Best Places to Work program, now in its eighth year, arrives at a moment when employer reputation is being reshaped by AI itself. Candidates increasingly rely on tools like ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and other AI-driven search experiences to research potential employers. In that context, third-party recognition plays a new role: it feeds the data ecosystem that influences how companies are summarized, ranked, and recommended by AI.
“Today’s candidates discover the companies they want to work for using AI tools,” said Maria Christopoulos Katris, Founder and CEO of Built In. “Earning a Best Place to Work award not only signals to candidates that you invest in your people, it’s a lever to strengthen how AI search tools understand and represent your company’s story.”
That insight is especially relevant for HR tech vendors like Findem, whose customers—recruiters, CHROs, and talent leaders—are themselves navigating employer branding challenges in a noisy, AI-saturated market. A strong internal culture bolsters credibility when selling solutions designed to improve hiring outcomes elsewhere.
The Competitive Landscape
Findem operates in a fiercely competitive segment that includes established players like LinkedIn Talent Solutions and newer AI-native platforms promising better sourcing, analytics, and workforce insights. Many of these companies talk about transforming work; fewer receive consistent recognition for how they support employees as they grow.
Built In’s methodology is data-driven, evaluating compensation packages, benefits, and culture programs that support flexibility, growth, and well-being. For midsize companies, making the list suggests a level of operational maturity that goes beyond early-stage startup experimentation.
In practical terms, recognition like this can help Findem attract senior engineering, data science, and go-to-market talent—roles that are both expensive and difficult to fill in the Bay Area. It also signals stability to enterprise buyers who increasingly look at vendor health, leadership continuity, and culture when making long-term technology bets.
Culture as a Strategic Asset
For HR technology companies, culture is no longer just an internal concern—it’s part of the product narrative. Buyers expect vendors to “practice what they preach,” especially as AI tools raise questions around bias, transparency, and trust.
Findem’s inclusion on Built In’s 2026 list suggests it is aligning its internal practices with the values it promotes externally. As the company enters what it calls its “next chapter,” that alignment may prove to be a competitive advantage, particularly as the talent tech market consolidates and buyers grow more selective.
In an era where AI can surface company reputations in seconds, being a good place to work isn’t just nice to have—it’s searchable, scorable, and increasingly decisive.
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