The hot AI trend of 2025 is undoubtedly Agents. Paris-based startup Maki is hoping to prove the potential is more than just hype by developing conversational AI agents that transform how companies handle talent acquisition and management.
The company just raised its $28.6 million Series A round on the heels of rapid traction since its founding two years ago. The company now has its sights set on the U.S. market, where it hopes to demonstrate its ability to solve a practical challenge for HR departments.
"Everything related to talent is the most important piece of any organization because people are the organization," said CEO and co-founder Maxime Legardez. "But 99% of the data about people is lost as soon as it's created."
Before Maki, Legardez built internet companies across multiple continents, working with Rocket Internet in Germany, Southeast Asia, Russia, Australia, the Middle East, and Brazil. In 2016, he returned to France to launch Everoad, a company that used algorithms and machine learning to optimize truck capacity.
After selling Everroad to a German logistics provider in 2021, Legardez began exploring how emerging AI technologies could transform enterprise operations. His entrepreneurial experience had included plenty of challenges managing HR tasks. With the rise of agents, he saw an opportunity to provide a more robust solution, an observation that led him to launch Making with co-founders Paul-Louis Caylar, who was managing director at Everoad, and Benjamin Chino, who was VP of product at Everoad.
Under The Hood
Maki's approach differs from traditional HR software companies by focusing on AI agents that actually perform work rather than just providing tools. These agents handle tasks across the entire recruitment journey, from sourcing and screening to interviewing and selection, operating autonomously and at scale, according to Legardez.
The system can conduct interactions through voice, video, or text, adapting to each candidate's profile while maintaining consistency in the hiring process. What sets Maki apart is its AI-native architecture, which dynamically processes real-time data to enable data-driven decision-making.
"We are not selling software, but we are selling work," Legardez said. "We are trying to understand and replicate in a better way some repetitive tasks that HR people process every day so they can save time and do better things."
Market Traction
In 2024, Maki experienced over 300% growth, securing contracts with major Fortune 500 companies including H&M, BNP Paribas, PwC, Deloitte, FIFA, Abercrombie, and Capgemini. The platform has been deployed in more than 50 markets globally, achieving notable results:
- 80% automation of screening and interviewing processes
- 3x reduction in time-to-hire
- 20% reduction in employee turnover
Investors
The recent $28.6 million Series A round was led by Blossom Capital with participation from DST Global and existing investors Frst, GFC, and Picus Capital.
The funding will be used to accelerate product development to enhance screening, interviewing, scheduling, and sourcing capabilities. The company will also hire 50-60 employees across engineering, product, commercial, and customer success roles.
But the biggest next step is expanding commercial operations in the United States.
The U.S. market already accounts for 30% of Maki's business. Legardez will relocate to New York City to establish the company's U.S. hub, reflecting the company's commitment to the American market.
"We have never had the intention to build a French company," Legardez said. "We never seen ourselves as a French company since day one."
Challenges and Future Direction
Despite its rapid growth, Maki faces several challenges as it scales. One key consideration is developing an effective pricing model for AI agent services. Legardez acknowledged that the industry is still figuring out how to price AI capabilities, suggesting a potential shift from traditional per-seat software pricing to performance-based models.
"If we say we don't sell software and we sell agents, it means basically you are not buying software, but you're almost buying an employee with augmented powers," Legardez said. "If you are hiring that new type of employee, then he needs to perform, so you pay that employee performance base."
Looking Ahead
Maki's vision extends beyond simple task automation. The company aims to become what it calls the "AI tier of talent intelligence," transforming HR from a reactive function into a proactive, strategic force within organizations. This involves centralizing workflows, adapting dynamically to changing needs, and delivering real-time insights that enable better decision-making.
The challenge now lies in scaling the technology while maintaining its effectiveness across different markets and organizational contexts. As the company expands its presence in the U.S. and continues to develop its AI capabilities, it will need to balance rapid growth with the consistent delivery of measurable results for its enterprise clients.
For now, the company is working to refine its AI agents' capabilities. He suggests that just as future generations might find human-driven cars unthinkable, organizations might view AI-assisted HR processes as the new normal.
"I think what is fascinating with agents is that we are at the beginning," he said. "So I'm sure another two or three years will be needed to crack things so we can have a system of agents working together that can replicate different human interactions in a way that keeps improving. But I think this will be a complete revolution."
