ApideckTape
← Embedded Finance Index 2026

Starred

“Can candidate experience analytics evolve into the full hiring intelligence layer for enterprise TA teams?”

Founded2017
HQCopenhagen, Denmark (also Amsterdam, Netherlands)
FoundersLars van Wieren, Daniel Birkholm
Total raised$6.8M
Latest roundSeed ($5M, led by SEED Capital)
IndustryHorizontal SaaS / HR & Recruitment
The story

Starred and Talenthub were two European candidate-experience analytics competitors that merged in September 2023 to form a global category leader. Post-merger, the combined company rebranded as Starred (operating both Starred and Talenthub product lines) and expanded from pure candidate experience surveys into broader 'Hiring Intelligence' — layering AI comment analysis, hiring manager surveys, and quality-of-hire measurement on top of the original CX foundation.

Last 12 months
—
Product timeline
2017
Talenthub founded in Copenhagen by Daniel Birkholm; Starred founded in Amsterdam by Lars van Wieren, both focused on candidate experience analytics.· founding
2020
Named one of Europe's Fastest Growing companies by Financial Times.· recognition
2023
Starred and Talenthub merged to create a global category leader in candidate experience analytics.· acquisition
2025
Expanded product suite to Hiring Intelligence with AI comment analysis, hiring manager satisfaction, and Quality of Hire.· pivot
Acquisitions
Talenthub2023
Merger between Starred (Amsterdam) and Talenthub (Copenhagen) to combine two leading candidate experience analytics platforms.
The stack
0 layers disclosed in Starred’s embedded-finance stack
Accounting gap: none

Starred — frequently asked

Who founded Starred?

Starred was founded by Lars van Wieren and Daniel Birkholm and is founded in 2017, headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark (also Amsterdam, Netherlands).

How much funding has Starred raised?

Starred has raised $6.8M in total (latest round: Seed ($5M, led by SEED Capital)).

What companies has Starred acquired?

Starred's acquisitions include Talenthub (2023).

Benchmark your own stack

Request an embedded finance strategy assessment

Get a read on where your own stack stands against Starred and the rest of its category — what they built versus bought, which providers they use, and where the gaps in your own strategy and competitive set actually are.

  • Your category, mappedHow your stack compares to Starred and the other companies in its category.
  • Build vs. buyWhere a provider relationship would close a gap faster than building it.
  • A named analyst, not a form replyA short call to scope what's actually worth assessing for you.

No newsletter, no sharing your address. We use this to reach out about the assessment and nothing else.