About the awards
HRtech Unfolded believes technology is a driving force in a rapidly changing world of work. It will be instrumental in designing more efficient processes, creating engaging employees, enhancing the learning experience, and enable better decision making. Did your team conclude a strong HRtech Project, are you an AI-proof company or an HRtech startup? Then one of these 3 awards could soon be shining bright on your desk. The winners will also get an article in HRmagazine and lots of visibility through video content on the gala evening and on social media.
HRtech
Startup of the year
This award recognizes young, innovative companies that challenge and reshape the HR landscape.
And the nominees are…
Driven is a Belgian HRtech startup transforming sales performance with an AI-powered commission agent. Instead of simply reporting results, Driven connects directly to a company’s CRM to automate commission management, provide real-time earnings insights and help sales teams, managers and finance work more efficiently.
By replacing manual spreadsheets with intelligent automation, Driven makes sales compensation transparent, fair and performance-driven. A bold example of how AI can improve employee engagement, productivity and business growth at the same time.
Finn HR is a Belgian AI-native recruitment platform built specifically for blue-collar hiring. From writing and promoting vacancies to screening candidates via WhatsApp and phone, Finn automates the recruitment process so employers can focus on selecting the right people instead of managing administration.
By rethinking recruitment for workers who apply on their phone rather than with a CV, Finn HR makes hiring faster, more accessible and more human. A fresh approach that helps employers connect with skilled blue-collar talent more efficiently through the power of AI.
Goodshift is a Belgian talent marketplace connecting ambitious professionals with companies that create a positive impact on society. Using its proprietary matching methodology, Goodshift looks beyond skills to align candidates and employers based on values, culture and long-term fit.
By combining technology with purpose-driven recruitment, Goodshift helps people find meaningful careers while supporting organizations that are building a better future. A fresh and impactful approach to talent matching.
myCareerCompanion is a Belgian HRtech platform that helps organizations unlock the full potential of their people through AI-powered career intelligence. By combining talent insights, internal mobility and personalized development guidance, it supports employees in shaping their careers while giving HR better data for strategic workforce decisions.
A smart solution that turns career development into a data-driven engine for growth, engagement and internal mobility.
myIKKI is a Belgian HRtech platform using AI and career intelligence to help people and organizations make better career and workforce decisions. The platform combines talent diagnostics, skills mapping and personalized action plans to support career development and future workforce planning.
By turning complex career information into clear, actionable insights, myIKKI helps build more sustainable careers and stronger organizations.
P&P Consultancy is a Belgian HRtech startup developing P&P Nexuss, an AI-powered HR co-worker for SMEs. The platform supports the entire employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding to performance management and offboarding, while automating repetitive HR tasks and providing continuous workforce insights.
With AI handling administration and analysis, P&P Nexuss gives HR professionals more time to focus on people, talent development and strategic decision-making.
Peepel is a Belgian HRtech startup building an AI-native HR platform for growing organizations. Covering everything from onboarding and payroll to performance management and analytics, the platform uses autonomous AI agents to automate HR processes and support smarter decision-making.
By reimagining HR software around AI from the ground up, Peepel helps organizations reduce administration and focus on creating better employee experiences.
Ringtime is a Belgian AI recruitment platform helping staffing agencies hire blue-collar talent faster. Its AI screening agent contacts, interviews and qualifies candidates in multiple languages, working seamlessly with existing applicant tracking systems.
By automating candidate screening and follow-up, Ringtime enables recruiters to reach more talent, reduce time-to-hire and focus on building meaningful candidate relationships.
Serena is a recruitment website platform built specifically for recruitment agencies and HR teams. With AI-powered content creation, built-in recruitment best practices and seamless ATS integrations, Serena enables organizations to launch high-performing career sites quickly and efficiently.
By simplifying recruitment website management, Serena helps employers attract more candidates while delivering a better candidate experience from the very first click.
Skoop is a Belgian HRtech company helping SMEs build a culture of continuous performance and development. By bringing performance reviews, feedback, OKRs, 1:1s and pulse surveys together in one intuitive platform, Skoop makes people development simpler and more engaging.
Designed around ease of use, Skoop enables managers and employees to focus less on administration and more on meaningful conversations that drive growth and engagement.
Warren is a Belgian fintech company bringing wealth building into the workplace. Through a regulated pension and savings solution offered as an employee benefit, Warren helps organizations support their people with a modern and accessible way to build long-term financial wellbeing.
By combining financial technology with employee benefits, Warren gives employers a meaningful way to strengthen retention while helping employees invest in their future.
Wintro is a Belgian HRtech startup helping organizations hire through the power of employee networks. Its AI-powered platform connects with existing recruitment systems to identify potential candidates, making it easy for employees to introduce trusted contacts for open positions.
By turning employee referrals into a proactive sourcing strategy, Wintro helps companies recruit faster, reduce hiring costs and build stronger teams through trusted connections.
AI-Proof
company of the year
This award recognizes organizations that already adopt AI in HR in a conscious, strategic, and human-centric way.
And the nominees are…
Exalate is a Belgian enterprise software company helping organizations securely connect teams, systems and workflows across the globe. With customers in over 85 countries, the company has also embraced AI internally through a people-first HR strategy focused on responsible adoption, practical training and measurable impact.
From faster global recruitment to smarter HR processes and clear AI governance, Exalate shows how AI can empower people and drive real business results. A great example of innovation, responsibility and future-ready HR in action.
Studaro is a Belgian AI-powered skills intelligence platform that helps organizations make smarter workforce decisions based on skills rather than CVs or job titles. By combining AI with validated skills data, Studaro supports hiring, internal mobility, upskilling and workforce planning in one integrated approach.
With its innovative skills passport and explainable AI, Studaro enables organizations to identify talent, close skills gaps and prepare their workforce for the future. A powerful example of how AI can make HR more inclusive, data-driven and future-ready.
HRtech
Project of the year
This award recognizes an outstanding HRtech project, regardless of team structure or size.
And the nominees are…
Bold HR @ Haven Oostende showcases how HR technology can support better strategic decision-making. Using the Bold Insights HR Decision Intelligence methodology, Haven Oostende transformed fragmented HR discussions into an evidence-based roadmap for future HR priorities and organizational development.
By combining HR maturity diagnostics, benchmarking and AI-supported decision intelligence, the project helps leadership make smarter, more transparent decisions. A strong example of how HRtech can drive long-term organizational transformation.
Crosspoint Solutions, in collaboration with The Compass Group, developed an AI-powered talent platform that streamlines performance reviews, learning plans and CV management in one integrated HR workflow. Designed around Crosspoint’s HR needs and brought to life by The Compass Group, the solution combines HR, project and certification data to reduce administrative work while providing accurate, up-to-date insights into employee skills and development.
This collaboration demonstrates how HR and technology can come together to create practical innovation. By combining AI, automation and talent development, the project simplifies HR processes, supports employee growth and builds a more efficient, future-ready organization.
Ready to vote?
Important: You can only vote once. Voting ends on August 31 at 23h59 CET.
The selection process
1. Pre-selection phase
Apply spontaneously by sending an email to margot.vannamen@nieuwemediagroep.be and submit the following information:
- Who are you? (including full contact details)
- What do you do?
- For which award are you applying?
- What is your motivation?
Deadline pre-selection phase: May 25, 2026 – CLOSED
2. The candidates that match the criteria will be selected by the jury and will be contacted by us.
Candidates confirm whether they wish to participate in the selection process and prepare a one-pager.
Deadline application phase: June 10, 2026
3. The jury meets up to discuss all confirmed candidates
Based on the evaluations, the official nominees for each category will be selected. These candidates will be published on the website.
4. Public voting will be possible from June 29 till August 31, 2026.
5. Public voting ends August 31, 2026, 23h59.
6. Two laureates in each category will be selected through public voting & jury expert opinions (40%-60%).
7. Final jury meeting September 11, 2026.
The two laureates get the chance to convince the jury for one last time.
8. The winners will be announced during the HRtech Unfolded Gala on October 7, 2026.
The jury
Nicholas De Poorter
Nicholas De Poorter is an investor at Strada Partners, a Belgian private equity firm focused on Software, Business Services, and Healthcare. Within the firm, he is responsible for Invincible Software Holdings (ISH), a platform of founder-led B2B SaaS companies built in partnership with two experienced software entrepreneurs who lead day-to-day operations across the group.
Nicholas also serves as Head of M&A at ISH, where he is responsible for sourcing, evaluating, and executing acquisitions from end to end. His focus lies in building a strong and coherent portfolio of independent software businesses with long-term growth potential.
To date, he has led five acquisitions in the HRtech space, specifically in recruitment and people management software. This experience has provided him with deep insight into the technologies and business models that are redefining the future of work.
Before joining Strada in 2023, Nicholas held M&A roles at PwC, Cargill (Food & AgTech), and Kraken (Crypto). He holds a Master’s degree in Business Engineering from KU Leuven.
Nicholas De Poorter
Investment Manager Strada Partners + Jury President
Ann Guinée
Ann Guinée
Ann has a strong connection with the world of digitisation, in all layers of the organisation. At Beltug, Ann is responsible for the communication with the members and facilitates many of the member-events on various topics.
This allows her to be in direct conversation with the Belgian ICT business users and gain insights on their drive and on the challenges they face.
Her energy boosts when she can talk to Belgian companies, listen to their stories and hear about their priorities.
Ann Guinée
Communication Manager Beltug
Kristof Van der Stadt
Kristof Van der Stadt
Kristof Van der Stadt is an experienced journalist with a strong technical background in computers and consumer electronics. His passion for information and communication technology has driven him to become a respected figure in the industry. With a focus on telecoms, enterprise computing, and the impact of social media on business, Kristof’s expertise allows him to analyze and report on complex subjects with clarity and depth. He has contributed to both business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) magazines, sharpening his skills in print and online journalism. Known for his comprehensive understanding of the tech landscape, Kristof combines his technical knowledge with a talent for explaining intricate concepts to a wide audience.
Kristof Van der Stadt
Editor in Chief DataNews
Emma Braeye
Emma Braeye
Emma Braeye is an HR Executive with over 15 years of experience in fast-paced tech and scale-up environments. She specializes in building high-performing teams, leading people strategy during periods of growth and transformation, and shaping cultures that enable sustainable success across European organizations.
Known as a trusted partner to leadership, Emma blends empathy with execution, bringing structure to rapid growth and clarity to organizational complexity while keeping people at the heart of business strategy. She has held senior people leadership roles in technology-driven companies including In The Pocket, EPI Company, and Corilus, where she works closely with executive teams to align people strategy with business growth and innovation.
Emma is also co-founder of HR Challengers, a curated community of forward-thinking HR leaders who challenge traditional approaches and share practical insights on the future of work. She is passionate about inclusive leadership, organizational design, and building people-first cultures that scale.
Emma Braeye
Chief People Officer
Corilus
Kathleen Vangronsvelt
Kathleen Vangronsvelt
Kathleen combines a broad business experience as HR Professional (DHL Aviation, AB Inbev, H.Essers, Belfius) with academic skills (PhD in Business Economics “Values at work” – KU Leuven). Her work was published in both top-ranked academic and practitioners’ journals and presented at national and international conferences. She taught at Rotterdam School of Management, IESEG Paris and – up until today – Antwerp Management School.
The combination of business and academia enables her to translate a wealth of scientific knowledge into hands-on insights and workable solutions. Her domain of expertise focuses on realizing individuals’ potential in a work context and spans topics such as values and authenticity at work, leadership, resilience and well-being, enabling diversity in teams and strategic HRM.
Her background in psychology (Master – KU Leuven) and mediation (Post Graduate – KU Leuven) empowers her to optimize the learning experience for a group, and to understand the deeper motivations and processes behind some questions and events.
Kathleen Vangronsvelt
Professor Organizational Behavior & HRM Antwerp Management School
Congratulations to our winners of 2025
Team of the year
Pfizer
Startup of the year
Maurice & Nora
L&D Project of the year
Sweco