Higher
Higher (Next u Systems AB) is a Stockholm-based mobile-first SaaS recruitment platform that automates competency-based candidate screening via video, skills tests, and AI ranking, eliminating CVs for SMB and enterprise customers in grocery, hospitality, logistics, healthcare, and construction across the Nordics, Germany, and England.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersStockholm, Sweden
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Higher does
Higher (legally Next u Systems AB) is a Stockholm-based, mobile-first SaaS recruitment platform founded in 2019 by Stefan Lidén. The platform replaces traditional CVs and cover letters with skills and knowledge tests, psychological assessments, and recorded video responses, then applies automated candidate ranking to produce competency-matched shortlists. Core technology centers on a mobile-optimized application flow, competency-based screening modules, video interview capture, and an AI-assisted ranking layer over candidate responses. The company raised approximately 22 million SEK in 2024 specifically to develop an AI-powered recruitment service.
The product portfolio is anchored by the Recruitment Tool (ATS) priced from 995 SEK per month, with add-on modules spanning job advertising (usage-based), employer branding films (from 35,000 SEK), full-service recruitment support (outcome-based at 1x monthly salary), screening, career pages, and reference checks. Go-to-market combines self-serve PLG (free trial, mobile signup), inside sales demos for enterprise, content marketing and SEO, plus webinar and event participation including the Dagligvarugalan industry gala and Recruitment Awards.
The customer base spans roughly 300 active customers across Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, and England, with named logos including Mornington Hotels, Vapiano, Ohlssons, ICA Maxi Partille, ICA Sverige, Burger King, KFC, Scandic, Synsam, Apotea, Trafikverket, Järfälla Kommun, and God Assistans. Primary verticals are grocery and daily goods retail, hotels and restaurants, warehouse and logistics, and healthcare and personal assistance, with construction and trades as a secondary vertical. The company employed 1-10 people at the time of reporting and reported 200% revenue growth in 2024.
Higher firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Higher
- Legal name
- Next u Systems AB
- Website
- https://higher.nu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Higher (Next u Systems AB) is a Stockholm-based mobile-first SaaS recruitment platform that automates competency-based candidate screening via video, skills tests, and AI ranking, eliminating CVs for SMB and enterprise customers in grocery, hospitality, logistics, healthcare, and construction across the Nordics, Germany, and England.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Higher industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Recruitment Software
- NAICS
- Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Talent Acquisition (Recruiting) & Applicant Tracking (ATS) (BPACAPAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- General Permanent Placement (Multi-Industry) (BPACAFAA)
Keywords
Where Higher is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stockholm
- HQ country
- Sweden
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Higher business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Recruitment Tool Subscription: Monthly subscription fee for access to the ATS and screening platform. Includes candidate management, video interviews, and automated ranking.
- Job Advertising: Job posting and advertising services to optimize candidate inflow. Priced per need (100% efter behov - pay as needed).
- Employer Branding Film: Production of employer branding videos or filmed job advertisements. One-time production fees starting from 35,000 SEK.
- Recruitment Support Services: Full-service recruitment assistance from start to finish. Priced at 1x monthly salary for the recruited position.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Recruitment Tool (ATS) - From 995 kr/month |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Job Advertising - 100% efter behov |
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | Employer Branding Film - From 35,000 kr |
| Outcome Based/ Performance | Multi-year contract | Recruitment Support - From 1x monthly salary |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Higher product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Higher is a mobile-first SaaS recruitment platform that automates candidate screening and shortlisting, eliminating the need for traditional CVs and cover letters. Its core product is an applicant tracking system (ATS) that combines competency-based questions, skills and psychological tests, video interviews, and AI-powered candidate ranking to deliver ranked shortlists to employers. Adjacent paid offerings include pay-as-you-need job advertising, full-service recruitment support priced at one month's salary, and employer branding films produced from 35,000 SEK.
Product overview
Higher is a SaaS recruitment platform that offers a modular product portfolio centered on its core ATS (Rekryteringsverktyg). The platform is designed for mobile-first, CV-free recruitment and includes complementary modules for job advertising, screening, staffing support, and employer branding. Key features include automated candidate ranking, video-based assessments, competency testing, and a career page builder. The product is specifically optimized for industries including hospitality, retail, healthcare, logistics, construction, and grocery retail.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Rekryteringsverktyg (Recruitment Tool / ATS) User-friendly mobile-first applicant tracking system that automates candidate screening through competency-based questions, video presentations, and filtering questions, producing an automatically ranked shortlist of top candidates. Priced from 995 SEK per month.
- Jobbannonsering (Job Advertising)
Quantifiable outcome
- 76% reduction in administrative time per recruitment
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Higher
Customer profileNamed customers17 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Higher technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature5 records
Higher partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- DagligvarugalanminorPartnership with Dagligvarugalan (Grocery Gala) organized by Fri Köpenskap. Higher collaborates with HR managers from FMCG sector to select Employee of the Year.
- HR Managers in DagligvaruhandelncoreCollaboration with HR leaders from major FMCG companies to co-host the FMCG Employee of the Year Awards at Dagligvarugalan. Represents a strategic alliance with industry HR leadership.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Higher competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Teamtailor: Swedish-headquartered ATS and recruitment marketing platform serving SMB and mid-market employers, predominantly in the Nordics and increasingly across Europe. Direct overlap with Higher on ATS functionality, target customer size, and Nordic/Swedish market roots.
- Jobylon: Nordic ATS focused on streamlining hiring via structured job postings, candidate scoring, and integrations. Direct competitor in the Swedish/Norwegian recruitment-tech market and a comparable SaaS ATS alternative for employers.
- Recruitee: European-headquartered ATS serving SMBs and enterprises with collaborative hiring, branded careers pages, and automation — directly comparable ATS functionality and go-to-market vs. Higher's recruitment platform.
- Greenhouse: Leading structured-hiring ATS for mid-market and enterprise, with strong focus on interview kits and candidate scorecards. Comparable in targeting scalable hiring workflows and increasingly relevant to Higher as it moves up-market.
- Lever: ATS + CRM platform for mid-market and enterprise with ATS, nurture, and analytics modules. Comparable in addressing automation of candidate screening and pipeline management — the same workflow Higher targets.
- SmartRecruiters: Enterprise ATS and Talent Acquisition Suite with global footprint. Comparable as a scalable ATS with structured workflows and high-volume hiring features, particularly relevant to Higher's enterprise push across grocery, QSR, and hospitality.
- Workable: Cloud ATS and sourcing platform used by thousands of SMBs and mid-market employers globally. Comparable in offering a SaaS ATS with applicant tracking, job posting, and basic screening automation — competitive for Higher's SMB tier.
Broad incumbents
- Workday Recruiting: Workday's enterprise HCM suite, including a recruiting module integrated with the broader HRIS. Represents the large incumbent risk Higher must compete against when selling into enterprises and government customers like Trafikverket.
Emerging players
- Ashby: Modern all-in-one talent platform with ATS, sourcing, analytics, and AI-assisted workflows for tech and tech-adjacent employers. Comparable as a newer-generation ATS innovating on analytics and AI — adjacent to Higher's mobile/AI direction.
Others
- VONQ: European job advertising distribution and recruitment marketing analytics provider. Adjacent, since Higher also sells usage-based job advertising as a module — VONQ is the kind of channel partner or substitute solution that overlaps with Higher's non-ATS modules.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Higher social profiles
Digital presenceHigher compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Higher financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Higher leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Higher funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Higher M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Higher
What does Higher do?
Higher is a mobile-first SaaS recruitment platform that automates candidate screening and shortlisting, eliminating the need for traditional CVs and cover letters. Its core product is an applicant tracking system (ATS) that combines competency-based questions, skills and psychological tests, video interviews, and AI-powered candidate ranking to deliver ranked shortlists to employers. Adjacent paid offerings include pay-as-you-need job advertising, full-service recruitment support priced at one month's salary, and employer branding films produced from 35,000 SEK.
Is Higher a public or private company?
Higher is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Higher founded?
Higher was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Higher based?
Higher is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, in the Europe region.
How does Higher make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Recruitment Tool Subscription is the primary driver. The others are job Advertising, employer Branding Film and recruitment Support Services.
Who are Higher's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Teamtailor, Jobylon, Recruitee, Greenhouse, Lever, SmartRecruiters and Workable. Workday Recruiting is listed as a broad incumbent. Ashby is listed as an emerging player. VONQ is listed as an others.
Does Higher have an API?
No public API is recorded for Higher.
What industry is Higher in?
Higher's product category is Recruitment Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAPAD, Talent Acquisition (Recruiting) & Applicant Tracking (ATS), with a secondary code of BPACAFAA, General Permanent Placement (Multi-Industry). Its NAICS code is 561311 and its SIC code is 7361.