HTGF backs Emerge Tech: AI Agents empower SMEs facing skilled worker shortage

• HTGF invests in Emerge Tech, which uses AI agents to make employers more visible, improve the quality of applicants and reduce recruitment costs significantly.
• Proof of impact: 40% better applicant matching, 87% cheaper than agencies and 54% less HR effort.
• Seed round in preparation: Emerge is developing the leading AI platform for employer branding and people experience in medium-sized businesses.
• Signal-sending founding team: combining tech innovation, HR vision and growth expertise, a Babbel co-founder, the founder of DEBA and an international scale-up architect are set to achieve new heights.

High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and the Heimatboost investment community are investing in Emerge Tech GmbH, a Berlin-based HR tech start-up that uses AI-powered employer branding to put SMEs on an equal footing with large corporations by making the process more accessible, automated and effective. The investment will fund the development of the platform and prepare the seed round.

“To solve the skills shortage, we must start with employers. Our AI agents will create game-changing opportunities, finally enabling smaller teams to stand out as employers and reshape HR.”

Daniel Braun, Co-Founder & CEO, Emerge

AI against the skills shortage: highly efficient and genuinely authentic.

Although the shortage is not expected to peak until 2035, companies are already struggling to establish a presence in the labour market. Rather than relying on agencies, Emerge uses AI: Creative Carla defines your identity and message, while Channel Charly delivers them to the right channels based on data — precisely, measurably and scalably. What was once only available to large corporations with big budgets is now accessible to medium-sized companies too, with measurable success: a 40% better fit between people and organisation, 87% lower costs compared to agencies and 54% less effort in everyday recruitment. Thanks to AI, employer branding is no longer a one-off campaign, but an ongoing dialogue between companies and potential employees.

“Employer branding has long been a privilege reserved for big brands. However, talent doesn’t make decisions based on budget; authenticity wins. That’s exactly where our AI comes in.”

Reiner Kriegler, Co-Founder & CPO, Emerge

Strategy & Outlook

Until the end of 2025, Emerge’s focus will be on improving product quality and increasing user numbers with Carla and Charly, with the aim of creating a scalable, robust AI agent model. A seed round is planned for late 2025, after which the focus will shift towards internationalisation. At the same time, a new line of agents is being developed to support the entire people experience, from onboarding to performance management.

“The complementary and experienced founding team at Emerge immediately impressed us. Their blend of HR expertise and technological know-how is precisely what is required to facilitate the long-term digital transformation of medium-sized businesses. We are delighted to support Emerge on this journey as an investor.”

Christian Arndt, Principal at HTGF

Founding team

• Daniel Braun scaled the HR tech start-up WorkGenius to £150 million in revenue in the US and is now CEO of Emerge.
• Wolf Reiner Kriegler: Employer branding pioneer and founder of the German Employer Branding Academy. Now CPO of Emerge.
• Thomas Holl is the co-founder of the language learning app Babbel and is now the CTO of Emerge.

With Emerge Tech, they are bringing technology to employers in need of real change.

About Emerge Tech
Founded in Berlin in 2024, Emerge Tech GmbH develops specialised AI agents that digitise and enhance the employer attractiveness of small and medium-sized businesses faster, more efficiently and more affordably than any agency service. In 2025, the focus will be on user growth and product maturity, followed by international expansion in 2026 with new agents covering the entire people experience. Find out more about AI agents at emerge-tech.io.

Media contact
Emerge Tech GmbH
Reiner Kriegler
Co-Founder & CPO
E-Mail: reiner@emerge-tech.io

About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing startups in the fields of Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Climate Tech, Digital Tech, Life Sciences and Chemistry. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports startups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in pre-seed and seed phases and can participate significantly in later-stage financing rounds. Across its funds, HTGF has over 2 billion euros under management. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed more than 770 startups and achieved almost 200 successful exits.  
Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.  
For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.   

Media contact
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Tobias Jacob, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 121
t.jacob@htgf.de