Core Insights - The traditional job recruitment model is inefficient due to a lack of understanding of the true needs of both job seekers and employers, leading to a mismatch in the market [1] - AI has shown increasing value in enhancing recruitment efficiency and precision, with companies like Mercor achieving an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of over $500 million [1] - Handshake, a traditional recruitment platform, has transitioned to an AI-driven model, achieving $100 million in ARR within eight months after the shift [2][4] Company Overview - Handshake initially operated as a three-party marketplace connecting students, alumni, and employers, with a user base of 18 million students and over 1 million employer clients, including 75% of Fortune 500 companies [2] - The company’s ARR exceeded $100 million, and its valuation reached $3.5 billion after a $200 million Series F funding round in 2022 [2] - Following the rise of AI recruitment methods, Handshake refocused on AI training services, leveraging its pool of 500,000 master's degree holders and 300,000 PhD graduates for data annotation [2][4] AI Recruitment Trends - The shift from a traditional marketplace to a data/agent infrastructure business has led to rapid growth, with the new AI-driven business model expected to surpass traditional revenue by the end of the year [4] - New AI recruitment products have emerged, achieving significant revenue growth, such as a product backed by Sequoia that reached over $10 million in ARR within a year [4] - The AI recruitment model emphasizes direct communication with AI agents to enhance efficiency and accuracy in job matching, attracting hundreds of companies and job seekers [5]