Can AI make professional networking more efficient and perhaps even less … clumsy?
Power players and startups are underway to implement AI features which, according to them, will pass your network to the next level.
This month, LinkedIn has unveiled a new job search tool fueled by AI where users describe their dream role, as well as a IA coaching tool to pay users. These joined other AI tools than the platform belonging to Microsoft introduced last year to find new people with whom to connect and write the first direct message to someone.
But while LinkedIn is betting that AI can improve its domination, some investors see an opportunity to disrupt the market leader.
“How can we use a breakthrough technology to help people find and do their best?” James Joaquin de Venture obvious said. “It seems simple, but there are actually a lot of layers on this layer cake – there is a job search, a job search, a job correspondence.”
Here are three opportunities in the professional networking space that investors told Business Insider that they are watching:
1. Metter Matchmaking
AI can change the way people are looking for professional relationships, anne Lee investor skates told Bi. While generative AI improves research experience, the AI agent will also start to automate this process, she added.
Skates conducted a pre-series funding series of $ 3.1 million for series announced in April. The startup connects users (mainly students) to text messages with professional peers such as potential co -founders, mentors or investors.
Another example is Boardy, a vocal propulsion AI service that introduces users by e-mail, which has raised a total of $ 11 million since its launch in October.
The CEO Andrew of Souza describes backy – Character users AI speak by phone – as “AI Super connector”.
AI voice tools, like Boardy, also interest investors like Andrew Yeung, who participated in the Boardy seed tour this year.
“I believe that the voice first as a contribution is the next major social platform,” said Yeung.
2. Niche, vertical work markets
“It is possible to find these vertical slices which do not correspond well to a LinkedIn or indeed where a startup could really build a network or a labor market and better correspond to employers and employees,” said Joaquin to Bi.
His company is an investor in Incredible Health, a market for health employment powered by AI.
“Health care is different,” said Joaquin. “It is so specialized that it requires another type of professional network to combine employers and employees.”
3. More career growth tools beyond networking
Joaquin also sees a potential role for AI to help people develop professional skills that can have an impact on their careers.
“How do people develop their career through coaching, mentoring and update to go up this scale,” he said.
The progress of AI, in particular generative AI and large languages, provide startups with a “much richer set of data on user behavior, motivation, the objectives that we did not have before,” said Skates.
Beyond professional networking, AI has largely revived interest in consumer technology startups, especially in the way it can be used to better match people in meetings or even friendship.
businessinsider