In an era defined by talent shortages, rising burnout, and outdated recruitment practices, SEARCH4 introduces a disruptive HR innovation: a holistic, tech-enabled recruitment model that blends AI-driven tools, sports events, and a wellness-first philosophy. Based in Germany and already active across 18+ countries, the company positions itself as the first Human-Impact Recruiter focused on fast, healthy, and scalable workforce solutions — and is now raising to scale operations and launch its proprietary tech platform.
Addressing the €49 Billion Productivity Drain
Germany’s labor market is facing a critical challenge: an average of 138 days to fill vacancies, costing companies over €49,500 per open position. A large part of this productivity loss stems from inefficient recruiting, a lack of international reach, and rising long-term sick leave due to stress and overload.
SEARCH4 tackles this head-on by combining AI-matching, video interviewing, and international talent pools with a clear wellbeing focus — redefining how companies attract, evaluate, and integrate talent.
A Multi-Layered Recruitment Solution
SEARCH4 operates four service pillars:
- SEARCH4 Direct: Classic and high-volume placements
- SEARCH4 Global: Recruiting and relocation services in over 18 countries
- SEARCH4 Balance: Wellbeing-centered hiring, integrating health and work-life fit
- SEARCH4 Academy: Digital upskilling, language, and soft-skill training
Each arm is powered by the proprietary MHD Suite (Match–Hire–Deploy) and will soon be integrated into a unified SaaS platform and mobile app offering soft-skill scoring, job-event ticketing, and onboarding support.
At the core of the user experience: Sports-Recruitment Events, where soft skills like teamwork and leadership are assessed in real time. These interactive events allow live matching between employers and candidates — often resulting in same-day hiring decisions.
Technology-Driven, But Human at Heart
SEARCH4’s tech backbone includes:
- MatchDay App for live job matching at sports events
- AI-assisted soft skill assessments and SnapMatch interviews
- Recruiting analytics and post-event candidate follow-ups
- GDPR and EU AI Act-compliant architecture hosted on European servers
- 100% code ownership for platform independence and scalability
This platform is not only engineered for growth but also designed to protect user data, meet compliance standards, and operate globally.
Market Opportunity and Early Traction
The market potential is immense:
- The HR services industry in Germany alone is valued in the billions
- Over 520,000 skilled roles will be needed by 2028 in sectors like engineering, energy, tech, and life sciences
- Only 13.9% of recruiting firms currently offer international placements
SEARCH4 is tapping into these gaps with a clear internationalization strategy and a differentiated product. The startup has already secured:
- first committed revenue by July 2025
- Multiple letters of intent for service delivery by August
- 5,000+ LinkedIn followers and a growing co-partner network
Experienced Founders and Clear Go-to-Market Strategy
The founding team brings decades of HR and B2B sales experience:
- Sebastian Niehaus, CEO, with over 24 years in recruitment, RPO, and vendor management
- Volker Aderhold, CRO, with 30+ years in sales, CRM, and global expansion
Financial Strategy and Investment Opportunity
Funds will be used to:
- Build and launch the MVP of the SEARCH4 platform
- Hire key staff in sales, foreign affairs, and IT
- Develop sports recruitment events and expand the co-partner network
- Execute performance-based marketing and sales funnels
SEARCH4 blends purpose, performance, and platform technology to build the future of recruitment — human-first, fast-moving, and truly global.
https://www.searchfour.de
