This Startup Connects SMBs to Talent 10x Faster with AI Magic – Spacewalk Startup Review

Connecting the right talent with the right opportunities can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, especially for small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) juggling budgets and resources. Manual matching processes often lead to frustrating delays and high costs that stifle growth. Many SMBs rely on cumbersome spreadsheets or pricey software that simply don’t fit their dynamic needs.

What if there was a simpler way? Picture a streamlined, customised platform that matches staff, freelancers, and community members to job openings in a flash—doing away with the traditional hassle of hiring. Spacewalk is stepping in to bridge this gap, transforming the recruitment landscape for SMBs with an AI-driven, no-code talent marketplace.

Helping businesses connect their diverse talent pools through skills-based matching, effective collaboration, and intuitive applicant tracking, Spacewalk is more than just a solution; it’s a catalyst for efficiency and growth. Curious to learn how this startup turned a pandemic-inspired idea into an essential tool for talent acquisition? We did an interview to find out.

What is Spacewalk?

Spacewalk is an AI-driven talent marketplace designed for small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs). This innovative platform addresses the common challenges these businesses face when trying to connect with the right talent. Many SMBs often find themselves struggling with outdated methods like spreadsheets and expensive software, leading to slow and inefficient talent matching processes.

By leveraging its no-code technology, Spacewalk allows businesses to create and manage their own tailored talent marketplaces in just minutes. The platform simplifies the matching process through skills-based algorithms that quickly match candidates with relevant job opportunities. For instance, if you’re a business owner aiming to fill a position, Spacewalk can help you search through your existing talent pool—including staff and freelancers—to find individuals who possess the specific skills you need.

What sets Spacewalk apart is its focus on user experience and flexibility. With features like team-based applicant reviews and custom branding, businesses can tailor the recruitment process to their unique needs. This not only saves time and costs but also fosters a more dynamic and efficient approach to talent acquisition. As the landscape of work continues to evolve, Spacewalk positions itself as a practical solution for SMBs looking to optimise their hiring processes.

Spacewalk Founders

Lance Stewart leads the team behind Spacewalk, a venture that emerged from a pressing need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with his co-founders Ian and Karl, both possessing strong technical backgrounds, Lance set out to tackle the recruitment challenges faced by small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs). With experience across various sectors, this trio found common ground in their desire to create a solution that would address an increasingly complex labour market while supporting the workforce in a difficult time.

Each founder brings a unique skill set to Spacewalk. Lance Stewart’s vision and leadership have been pivotal, grounded in an understanding of the operational hurdles that small businesses encounter. Ian and Karl complement this with their robust technical expertise, ensuring that the platform is both user-friendly and technologically advanced. They collectively recognised that traditional hiring methods were not just outdated; they often hindered growth and efficiency, leaving many businesses at a disadvantage.

In the early days, Spacewalk began as a response to the pandemic’s impact on workforce dynamics. Recognising that many businesses found themselves with a pool of stood-down staff, the founding team intended to facilitate external opportunities through what they referred to as “Spacewalks.” This pilot initiative paved the way for a wider digital platform, driven by overwhelming feedback from businesses that highlighted a strong desire for a more seamless way to connect their internal talent pools to job openings.

The genesis of Spacewalk was marked by a collaborative spirit, as the founders engaged closely with early adopters. They prioritised an iterative approach to product development, releasing initial versions to select communities for testing and gathering valuable insights. This feedback loop was instrumental in refining the platform, ultimately transforming it into an AI-driven, no-code talent marketplace that empowers SMBs to tailor their recruitment processes effectively.

This background not only reflects the founders’ commitment to addressing real-world business challenges but also their ongoing dedication to evolving the platform based on user needs. The journey of Spacewalk stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and adaptability in driving innovation within the talent acquisition space.

Interview with Lance Stewart, Co-founder of Spacewalk

I recently had the opportunity to interview Lance Stewart, co-founder of Spacewalk. His insights shed light on what makes Spacewalk an exciting development in the talent marketplace industry. Here’s the detailed interview:

Q: What inspired you to venture into this particular industry?
A: We launched Spacewalk during the COVID-19 pandemic to create a marketplace for stood-down staff to go on external secondments, which we call “Spacewalks,” to companies that needed their skills. Although this initiative offered a valuable solution during a tough time, we soon received feedback from businesses expressing a strong need for easy-to-use software to connect their talent pools to both internal and external opportunities. Inspired by this feedback, we worked closely with these customers to expand Spacewalk’s capabilities.

Our platform has evolved into an AI-powered, no-code talent marketplace that enables any business to start its own talent marketplace in minutes, connecting talent to opportunities within its company, community, or network. Our mission is to empower SMBs to efficiently and effectively connect their diverse talent pools to the right job opportunities, addressing the evolving needs of businesses in a rapidly changing world.

Q: Can you tell us about your company’s founding team?
A: Our team consists of three co-founders: myself, Ian, and Karl. Together, we bring a blend of vision, leadership, and technical expertise to Spacewalk. Ian and Karl both possess robust technical backgrounds, which ensure that our platform is advanced yet user-friendly. Our collective experience from different sectors has been pivotal in recognising that traditional hiring methods often hinder growth and efficiency. We all share a common goal: to create a solution that addresses the complex labour market challenges and supports the workforce.

Q: What were some challenges you faced in the early days of your startup?
A: One of our main challenges was balancing the release of early versions of our product with its readiness for the market. To address this, we adopted an iterative approach, releasing versions incrementally with selected communities to gather feedback and refine our platform effectively. This approach allowed us to stay responsive to user needs while continuing to develop and enhance Spacewalk.

Q: How do you differentiate your startup from competitors?
A: Existing solutions are typically slow, clunky, or expensive. We understand that SMBs need to be dynamic and want a simple, yet powerful solution to connect talent to opportunities. Our platform enables SMBs to address their talent acquisition challenges with ease. Unlike competitors, Spacewalk offers a no-code, self-service setup with custom branding, easy onboarding of talent, seamless role posting, talent matching, applicant reviews, and robust metrics. All these features are designed to streamline processes and eliminate back-and-forth communication.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: We are releasing a range of AI-powered features to make the process of connecting the right talent to the right roles even more efficient. Our goal is to continually improve the platform, making it smarter and more user-friendly, thus ensuring our clients can maximise their recruitment efficiency.

Q: Can you share some advice for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start their own business?
A: My advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is to stay close to your customers and be open to feedback. The most successful businesses are those that listen, learn, and adapt to the needs of their users. Start small, iterate quickly, and remain flexible. Building strong relationships with your customers and responding to their needs will help you create a product that truly solves their problems and drives your business forward.

Q: Are there any statistics you can share about your industry and startup?
A: According to the International Labour Organisation, approximately two-thirds of jobs worldwide are created by micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. This underscores the massive potential and impact that a platform like Spacewalk can have in supporting these businesses.

Lance Stewart’s insights offer a clear view of how Spacewalk is shaking up the talent marketplace industry with innovative, user-friendly solutions designed specifically for the needs of SMBs.

Feedough’s Take on Spacewalk

Spacewalk stands out as a game-changer in the talent marketplace space. By addressing the unique needs of SMBs with an AI-driven, no-code platform, Spacewalk is paving the way for more efficient and dynamic talent acquisition. The future looks promising as they continue to innovate with AI-powered features that streamline the recruitment process.

Plus points include its user-centric design, ease of use, and the ability to rapidly match talent with job opportunities. However, expanding their reach and continuously integrating user feedback will be crucial for sustained growth and disruption in this evolving market. Expect Spacewalk to lead the charge in redefining how SMBs manage talent.

Aashish Pahwa

A startup consultant, digital marketer, traveller, and philomath. Aashish has worked with over 20 startups and successfully helped them ideate, raise money, and succeed. When not working, he can be found hiking, camping, and stargazing.