What HigherMe does

HigherMe, Inc. is a privately held SaaS company, incorporated in Delaware and headquartered in Claymont, DE, that builds a cloud-based hiring and workforce management platform purpose-built for high-volume hourly recruitment in franchise and multi-location businesses. The platform is structured as a modular suite anchored by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and extended through AI Hiring (NextMatch AI, a conversational interview agent launched June 2024), Text-to-Apply (SMS/QR-code candidate sourcing), Paperless Onboarding (digital W-4s, I-9s, E-Verify, Checkr background checks, offer letters, and direct deposit), HR Software, an optional Payroll module, and a Hiring Hub for cross-location pipeline visibility. The architecture integrates with major job boards (Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Google Jobs, Snagajob, Craigslist, Facebook Jobs), payroll providers (ADP, Paychex, Netchex), and franchise operations systems (Wizardline for Domino's Pulse, Clearview for Tim Hortons/A&W/KFC/Wendy's/Popeyes).

HigherMe monetizes exclusively through recurring SaaS subscriptions priced per franchise location or per truck, with corporate-approved exclusive pricing tiers negotiated with major QSR brands — Dunkin'/Baskin-Robbins at $59/location/month, Tim Hortons at $89/location/month, Domino's at $99/location/month, Eggs Up Grill at $99/location/month, Duck Donuts at $100/location/month, Kona Ice at $300/truck/year, and Travelin' Tom's at $450/truck/year — packaged as an all-in-one bundle with no per-feature add-ons. Its go-to-market combines product-led self-serve onboarding for individual franchisees (described as go-live within a day) with enterprise field sales for large franchise groups, augmented by Indeed Platinum Partner status (three consecutive years, 2024–2026) and corporate-approved endorsements that drive organic franchisee adoption across Domino's (1,036+ locations), Dunkin'/Baskin-Robbins (1,750+ locations), Tim Hortons, Little Caesars, and other named systems.

The company has raised approximately $2.02 million across disclosed seed and early-stage rounds (2014–2017) plus non-dilutive or undisclosed rounds in 2018 and 2021, with backers including Y Combinator, 43North, Forefront Venture Partners (lead on the 2016 $1.5M round), TSVC, FundersClub, Bossa Invest, UpVentures Capital, Walnut Venture Associates, E-Merge, The Unofficial Syndicate, MassChallenge, Sidecar Angels, and Investo. The company operates with 11–50 employees and is led by CEO Elise Polezel, Chairman Rob Hunter, and CTO Ben Shackleton. Headline scale claims include "20,000+ businesses" on the platform and operational metrics such as a one-day average time-to-hire, 67% reduction in interview no-shows, 6 hours saved per hire, and $3,600 in annual savings per location.

Name

HigherMe

Legal name

HigherMe, Inc.

Website

https://higherme.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HigherMe is a cloud-based SaaS hiring platform for franchise and multi-location businesses, offering ATS, AI-driven screening, onboarding, and payroll, with corporate-approved pricing tiers across major QSR brands like Domino's, Dunkin', and Tim Hortons.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hourly Workforce Hiring Software

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131), Employment Services (5613)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Talent Acquisition (Recruiting) & Applicant Tracking (ATS) (BPACAPAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Human Capital Management (HCM) & Payroll Platforms (HDAEAEAJ), Payroll Software & Payroll-as-a-Service (SaaS) (BPACAIAB), Recruiting Administration Outsourcing (Recruitment Support, Scheduling, Onboarding Ops) (BPACAKAG)

Keywords

• Hourly hiring software
• Franchise recruitment platform
• Applicant tracking system
• Automated employee onboarding
• AI interview screening

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. SaaS Subscription - Per Location: HigherMe generates revenue primarily through recurring SaaS subscriptions billed per franchise location or truck per month or year. Pricing varies by franchise brand, with corporate-approved exclusive pricing tiers for named franchise partners (e.g., Dunkin' at $59/location/month, Tim Hortons at $89/location/month, Domino's and Eggs Up Grill at $99/location/month, Duck Donuts at $100/location/month, Kona Ice at $300/truck/year). The platform is sold as an all-in-one package covering ATS, Text-to-Apply, AI hiring, onboarding, and optional payroll/HR. The subscription model includes integrations with major job boards, payroll providers, and compliance tools as part of the base package with no per-feature add-on fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

HigherMe is a cloud-based hiring platform purpose-built for hourly workforces in franchise restaurants and multi-location operators, offering an all-in-one suite that combines an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), AI-driven conversational screening (NextMatch AI), SMS-based Text-to-Apply recruiting, paperless onboarding with E-Verify/Checkr, HR Software, integrated payroll, and a consolidated Hiring Hub. The platform centralizes job board distribution, candidate screening, interview scheduling, digital onboarding, and payroll data flow for QSR, retail, healthcare, and hospitality employers facing high-volume hourly turnover.

Product overview

HigherMe is a unified, all-in-one hiring platform purpose-built for hourly workforces in franchise restaurants and multi-location businesses. The platform is architected as a modular suite with a core Applicant Tracking System (ATS) as the central hub, integrated with AI Hiring (NextMatch AI) for autonomous conversational screening, Text-to-Apply for SMS-based candidate sourcing, Paperless Onboarding for digital new-hire paperwork, HR Software for centralized employee records and compliance, Payroll for integrated pay-cycle management, and a Hiring Hub that consolidates all active hiring activity into a single view. All modules share a common data layer, so candidate and employee information flows automatically from application through onboarding and into payroll without duplicate data entry. Pricing is all-in-one (no per-feature add-ons) and HigherMe also offers corporate-approved pricing tiers for franchise brands including Dunkin' (starting at $59/location/month), Tim Hortons ($89/location/month), Domino's ($99/location/month), Eggs Up Grill ($99/location/month), Duck Donuts ($100/location/month), and Kona Ice ($300/truck/year).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NextMatch AI: AI-powered hiring interview software that conducts structured candidate conversations and provides hiring insights.

Products and services

• Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Core hiring platform managing the full recruitment cycle: job postings distributed across major job boards (Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Google, Snagajob, Facebook, Craigslist), a centralized applications dashboard, automated interview scheduling, candidate fit scoring, and video cover letter screening. Connects directly to the onboarding and hiring hub modules.
• AI Hiring (NextMatch AI) AI-powered conversational interview tool that autonomously conducts structured candidate interviews via text-based conversations, generating role-specific questions, recording and transcribing responses, and delivering candidate summaries and insights to hiring managers for faster, fairer, and more consistent screening.
• Text-to-Apply SMS recruiting feature allowing job seekers to apply via text message using a branded keyword and phone number or QR code displayed on in-store posters. Applications are mobile-optimized and feed directly into the ATS dashboard, with automated reminders for incomplete applications.
• Paperless Onboarding Digital onboarding module enabling new hires to complete W-4s, state tax forms, I-9 employment verification, direct deposit authorization, offer letters, and employee handbook acknowledgments on their phone before their first day. Includes E-Verify integration, Checkr background check integration, and a virtual employee filing cabinet for record storage.
• HR Software HR management layer providing centralized digital employee records, smart compliance reminders for key tasks and deadlines, and mobile employee self-service access for pay stubs and tax forms. Designed to organize employee data and maintain compliance without spreadsheets or manual processes.
• Payroll Built-in payroll module offering hands-free, compliant payroll with automated tax calculations and filings each pay cycle, plus mobile employee access to pay stubs, tax forms, and self-service tools. Seamlessly connects new hires from onboarding to active payroll without leaving the platform.
• Hiring Hub Consolidation view that brings all active hiring activity into a single screen, providing a unified dashboard for tracking applications, managing candidates across multiple locations, and overseeing the entire hiring pipeline from a single login.

Quantifiable outcome

• 67% reduction in interview no-shows
• +10 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

AI capability8 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IndeedcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHigherMe is an Indeed Platinum Partner, the highest partnership tier, for 3 consecutive years. This status gives HigherMe's customers preferential placement and better performance on Indeed — the job board that drives the most hourly applicant volume. The partnership provides both candidate discovery benefits (more applicants) and employer branding (credibility signal for the platform).
• WizardlinecoreTechnology or IntegrationWizardline is a Domino's franchise-specific integration partner. HigherMe syncs new hire information (driver's license, food handler certification, car insurance, personal details, position, location) automatically into Domino's Pulse via Wizardline, enabling franchisees to eliminate manual data entry and ensure new hires are operationally ready from day one.
• ClearviewcoreTechnology or IntegrationClearview is a restaurant workforce management platform. The HigherMe-Clearview integration automatically syncs new hire profiles from HigherMe into Clearview's workforce management system, enabling immediate scheduling, labor tracking, and operational reporting without manual data entry. The integration is included free with Premium for Tim Hortons franchisees and serves A&W, KFC, Wendy's, Popeyes, and other brand franchisees.
• Domino'scoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDomino's holds corporate-approved status for HigherMe as its recommended hiring platform for franchisees. Domino's has sent activation emails to franchisees introducing HigherMe, and provides brand-approved job posting templates, a Wizardline integration for Pulse sync, and exclusive pricing at $99/location/month. Over 1,036 Domino's locations use the platform.
• Tim HortonscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTim Hortons has approved HigherMe as a corporate hiring solution for its franchisee network. The platform integrates directly with the Tim Hortons corporate career page, includes a Clearview integration for workforce management, and offers exclusive pricing at $89/location/month with Clearview included free. Tim Hortons franchisees report being trusted by 15,000+ restaurants in the franchise and QSR industry.
• Dunkin'coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDunkin' (and Baskin-Robbins) have approved HigherMe as a corporate hiring solution with exclusive pricing at $59/location/month. Over 1,750+ Dunkin' and Baskin-Robbins family locations use the platform. The platform publishes directly to Dunkin' and Baskin-Robbins corporate career pages.
• Duck DonutscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDuck Donuts has approved HigherMe as an exclusive hiring software solution for its franchisees with corporate-approved pricing at $100/location/month. Brand-specific marketing pages and setup guides are available for Duck Donuts operators.
• Kona IcecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKona Ice has approved HigherMe as an exclusive hiring software solution for its franchisees, with exclusive pricing at $300/truck/year for Kona Ice and $450/truck/year for Travelin' Tom's. Brand-approved Text-to-Apply materials, customizable job templates, and bilingual support are included.
• Eggs Up GrillcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEggs Up Grill has approved HigherMe as an exclusive hiring solution with corporate pricing at $99/location/month for the Recruiting + Onboarding package. Brand-specific setup guides and Text-to-Apply templates are available for Eggs Up Grill franchisees.
• A&W, KFC, Wendy's, Popeyes (Clearview ecosystem)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor QSR brands including A&W, KFC, Wendy's, and Popeyes are served through the Clearview workforce management integration. These brands use Clearview for operations and benefit from the HigherMe-Clearview integration for automated new hire syncing.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Workstream: Direct competitor in hourly/frontline workforce hiring. Workstream targets the same franchise and multi-location hourly employers with a mobile-first ATS, automated onboarding, and AI-driven screening — a near 1:1 comparison with HigherMe's ATS, Text-to-Apply, and AI Hiring modules.
• Paradox: Direct competitor focused on conversational AI recruiting for hourly and frontline hiring via its Olivia assistant. Paradox competes head-to-head with HigherMe's NextMatch AI in the same franchise and enterprise hourly recruiting market.
• Harri: Restaurant-industry-specific hiring and workforce management platform serving multi-unit operators in QSR and full-service. Comparable to HigherMe in target vertical (restaurant chains) and overlapping feature set across ATS, onboarding, and scheduling.
• TalentReef: Hourly workforce ATS explicitly named as a competitor on HigherMe's comparison pages. TalentReef serves franchise and multi-location employers with applicant tracking, onboarding, and compliance workflows for high-volume hiring.
• PeopleMatter: Hourly workforce hiring and HR platform also listed by HigherMe as a direct competitor. PeopleMatter targets service-industry employers with ATS, onboarding, and scheduling for hourly employees.
• SmartRecruiters: Broader ATS that has expanded into hourly and franchise hiring, named as a competitor by HigherMe. Overlaps in applicant tracking, job board distribution, and integration ecosystem for multi-location employers.

Broad incumbents

• Indeed: HigherMe's largest distribution partner (Platinum Partner) and a broad incumbent in hourly hiring. Indeed operates its own ATS, job board, and increasingly AI-driven screening — representing both the largest channel for HigherMe's customers and a competitive threat to its ATS business.
• iCIMS: Enterprise talent acquisition platform serving large employers including those with hourly workforces. iCIMS competes with HigherMe on multi-location ATS and candidate management but is a much broader, enterprise-oriented incumbent.
• Greenhouse: Established ATS broadly serving corporate and high-growth employers. While Greenhouse is more weighted to salaried hiring, it competes for the same enterprise recruiting software budget that some franchise operators consider alongside HigherMe.

Others

• Toast: Restaurant technology platform (POS, payroll, team management) that increasingly bundles hiring features for restaurant operators. Toast is an adjacent ecosystem participant that could either partner with or compete against HigherMe within the same franchise operator customer base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/highermejobs
• Facebookfacebook.com/HigherMe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/higherme

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors14 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HigherMe