initiafy, a job training platform specifically designed for contractors and short-term workers, has rebranded and raised $1.5 million of seed funding from investors including Delta Partners Group, ACT Venture Capital and private investor Leslie Buckley.
initiafy is an online software tool that since 2012 has given companies of any size the ability to train new contractors and temporary workers before they start work. The company helps partners in construction, mining, oil and gas, retail and hospitality industries to initiate new hires online, without the hassle of paperwork or classroom time.
Since its founding in April 2012, initiafy has grown from a locally-known Irish startup to an internationally recognised company with offices in Dublin and New York, and servicing companies in over 25 countries, including Sodexo, Pfizer, Gilt, Gilbane, Balfour Beatty, Amey, Domino’s Pizza and five of the top 20 construction companies in the UK.
Now, the company has rebranded from Induction Manager (EMEA) and Orientation Manager (US) to initiafy, in order to unify its online software into one brand. It plans to increase its US presence over the next few months, and expects to grow by over 300% in 2015.
initiafy turns employee initiations from a logistical nightmare to a self-automated online system. Its training platform reduces costs for companies who hire contractors or hourly workers by training them online before their first day, and also cuts down on the resources required to recreate training materials as staff changes over time.
Julie Currid, initiafy’s co-founder, said: “Before launching initiafy, we spoke with dozens of HR and health and safety managers to understand what challenges companies were facing with employee training. We found that companies had many options for onboarding permanent staff, but had more difficulty finding a cohesive tool for contractors, seasonal workers, or a contingency workforce. initiafy builds from our success as Induction Manager and Orientation Manager to help workers complete and retain training at their own pace before their first days on the job.”
Shane Molloy, EHS, Bord na Mona, added: “We’ve used Induction Manager because it is by far the most user-friendly system we have seen in terms of user interface and course building. It has saved us time, money and it has allowed us to deliver a consistent induction presentation in multiple languages.”
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