VeroSkills, an AI-driven hiring platform dedicated to solving America’s $1 trillion blue-collar labor shortage, announced the closing of a $5.3 million funding round led by Yonder Ventures, with additional participation from Circadian Ventures, Motivate Ventures, Colchuck, and Tony Summerville, founder of Fleetio.
The Birmingham-based company aims to accelerate its rapid growth and further scale its AI staffing engine, which enables employers to fill positions within 48 hours and achieve retention rates two to three times higher than traditional recruitment methods.
The latest funding follows a surge in demand for VeroSkills’ platform, with the company contracting $15 million in annual recurring revenue over the past six weeks. The firm’s AI-driven system matches employers with millions of pre-screened, ready-to-work candidates, particularly from immigrant, refugee, and underserved communities. All workers placed through the platform are authorized to work in the U.S., EU, or Canada from day one, simplifying compliance and onboarding processes for employers.
The labor shortage continues to present significant challenges across blue-collar industries. For every five workers retiring from these sectors, only two are entering the workforce, leaving millions of jobs unfilled. The manufacturing sector alone has hundreds of thousands of open positions, a figure expected to grow substantially by the end of the decade.
VeroSkills’ model aims to reverse these trends by combining AI technology with inclusive hiring practices that expand access to overlooked talent pools. The company’s platform automates candidate screening and matching, enabling businesses to staff positions in a fraction of the time required by traditional recruitment agencies.
The company’s investors see VeroSkills as a transformative force in the staffing industry. Yonder Ventures’ Founding Partner Colin Gardiner said that AI-first labor marketplaces like VeroSkills are unlocking opportunities for millions of workers and employers previously disconnected from one another. Motivate Ventures’ Founding and Managing Partner Lauren Deluca added that the platform has achieved what traditional staffing firms have long struggled to deliver—speed, scalability, and sustained retention. Circadian Ventures’ Founding Partner Mike Dowdle also highlighted the team’s consistent innovation and focus on sustainable employment solutions in constrained labor markets.
VeroSkills’ recent momentum positions it to scale its operations further and continue addressing one of the most pressing economic challenges in the U.S. labor market. With a combination of AI technology, mission-driven leadership, and venture backing, the company is set to play a central role in redefining how employers find and retain blue-collar talent in the years ahead.
KEY QUOTES:
“What staffing and recruitment agencies do in weeks and months, we do in days and hours, thanks to our AI-driven platform. Given the severity of the labor crisis, there’s no time to waste. There are millions of excellent workers being overlooked by traditional recruiting methods, and VeroSkills has created an effective, first-of-its-kind platform that allows companies to confidently employ them. We’re built to infinitely scale, and I’m proud to work with our investors to reach our potential.”
Daniel Walsh, CEO and Founder of VeroSkills
“VeroSkills represents the next generation of AI-first labor marketplaces capable of serving the long tail of small and medium-sized businesses that account for 46% of hiring in the United States. What wasn’t economically viable before, efficiently staffing these businesses at scale while interviewing candidates in 52 languages, is now possible with AI, unlocking millions of workers and employers who were previously invisible to each other.”
Colin Gardiner, Founding Partner at Yonder Ventures
“Under Daniel’s leadership, the team is consistently achieving standout results through innovation in an industry historically slow to evolve. Their commitment to building sustainable employment solutions in labor-limited markets continues to resonate with all stakeholders.”
Mike Dowdle, Founding Partner at Circadian Ventures
“VeroSkills has cracked the code on what traditional staffing agencies have struggled with for decades: speed, scale, and retention. Their AI-powered approach delivers measurable results in an industry ripe for disruption, and we’re excited to support their rapid growth trajectory.”
Lauren Deluca, Founding and Managing Partner at Motivate Ventures
