HeadFirst
HeadFirst is a Dutch HR-tech company founded in 1995 that connects independent professionals with enterprise and government clients via its Striive platform and end-to-end external workforce management services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersHoofddorp, Netherlands
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What HeadFirst does
HeadFirst is a Dutch HR-tech company founded in 1995 and headquartered in Hoofddorp, Netherlands, operating as a managed service provider that connects independent professionals (zelfstandig professionals) with Dutch enterprises and government organizations requiring external workforce ("inhuur") support. The company runs a dual-sided business: a B2B service organization serving corporate clients through direct enterprise sales, and a self-serve platform (Striive) where freelancers search and apply for assignments. HeadFirst's stated differentiator is end-to-end coverage of the external hiring lifecycle — from recruitment and matchmaking through onboarding, contract management, time registration, invoicing, and reporting — underpinned by deep specialization in Dutch labor law and regulatory compliance.
The technology core is the Striive platform, positioned as a marketplace where freelancers discover assignments with average yields of €90 per hour and typical durations of 16 months. The broader product portfolio is organized into client-facing offerings (Total Talent Management, Managed Service Provider, Recruitment Process Outsourcing, Intermediair Management) and supporting service modules (Matchmaking, Contractmanagement, Talent Marketing, Urenregistratie & facturatie, Rapportage). HeadFirst also serves a supplier tier (leveranciers), onboarding staffing agencies and intermediaries into its workflow, indicating a three-sided ecosystem. No public AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or third-party platform integrations are disclosed; differentiation is described in terms of integration, ease of use, and compliance expertise.
HeadFirst's revenue model is usage-based managed services, capturing spread/fee on intermediated freelancer placements plus service fees for contract administration, time tracking, invoicing, and reporting. Pricing is quote-based for enterprise clients and not publicly disclosed. Named enterprise and government customers include Achmea, Aon, Vattenfall, NS, Rabobank, the Dutch Ministry of Justice & Security, and the Ministry of VWS, with named testimonial quotes from senior procurement and External Workforce managers. In July 2022, HeadFirst expanded into Belgium via the acquisition of Brussels-based HR-tech firm ProUnity, signaling intent to scale beyond the Dutch market. Leadership is headed by CEO Marion Van Happen. The company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds or investors.
HeadFirst firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HeadFirst
- Legal name
- HeadFirst Group
- Website
- https://headfirst.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- HeadFirst is a Dutch HR-tech company founded in 1995 that connects independent professionals with enterprise and government clients via its Striive platform and end-to-end external workforce management services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HeadFirst industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Workforce Management Services
- NAICS
- Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Employment Services (5613), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Employee Onboarding & Offboarding Administration (BPAAAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Contractor / Freelancer Payments (FSAMAKAC), HRIS/HCM Implementation & EOR Platform Services (BPACAHAJ)
Keywords
Where HeadFirst is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hoofddorp
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
HeadFirst business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Professional Placement Services: HeadFirst earns revenue by matching freelancers with companies and providing comprehensive HR services including contract management, time tracking, and invoicing. The company acts as an intermediary facilitating external hiring for organizations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Professional placement services with contract management |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
HeadFirst product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HeadFirst is a Dutch HR-tech platform that connects self-employed professionals (freelancers) with organizations seeking external workforce. The company provides end-to-end external hiring services covering recruitment, matchmaking, contract management, time registration, invoicing, and compliance with Dutch labor laws. Its Striive platform enables freelancers to find assignments, while its enterprise services include Total Talent Management, Managed Service Provider, Recruitment Process Outsourcing, and Intermediair Management.
Product overview
HeadFirst is a Dutch HR-tech platform specializing in external workforce management. The platform operates as a unified offering combining multiple service modules including Total Talent Management, Managed Service Provider, Recruitment Process Outsourcing, Intermediair Management, Matchmaking, Contractmanagement, Talent Marketing, Urenregistratie & facturatie, and Rapportage. The core platform is complemented by the Striive job assignment marketplace where professionals can find assignments. HeadFirst positions itself as a leader in HR-tech innovation, helping organizations optimize their external hiring from recruitment to onboarding and contract management.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Striive: Platform through which HeadFirst offers assignments to professionals, featuring job listings with average hourly rates and assignment durations.
Products and services
- Total Talent Management
Quantifiable outcome
- Average assignment yields €90 per hour and lasts 16 months
Companies that use HeadFirst
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
HeadFirst technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
HeadFirst partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- ProUnityminorHeadFirst Group acquired Belgian HR-tech company ProUnity in July 2022. The acquisition was designed to expand HeadFirst's presence in Belgium and enhance its platform strategy. The acquisition increases HeadFirst's Belgian business and its capacity to serve international clients through its expanded HR-tech portfolio.
- ProUnityminorHeadFirst Group acquired Belgian company ProUnity, based in Brussels, to expand its IT staffing business in Belgium. The acquisition allows HeadFirst Group to compete with larger service providers and strengthens its European growth strategy.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
HeadFirst competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- USG People (Recruit Holdings): Major Dutch staffing group operating multiple specialist brands. Provides competitive overlap on professional staffing, MSP, and HR outsourcing in the Netherlands.
- Randstad: Dutch-founded global staffing and HR services giant. While much broader than HeadFirst, Randstad competes in Dutch professional placement, MSP, and RPO, making it a direct overlap on enterprise workforce solutions in the same home market.
- Robert Half: Global professional staffing firm with a Benelux presence through Accountemps and OfficeTeam. Overlaps with HeadFirst on finance, technology, and administrative freelance placement.
Direct peers
- Hays: UK-listed specialist in professional recruitment and workforce solutions, with deep Netherlands/Benelux operations. Hays is the closest international analog to HeadFirst's focus on highly educated freelance and permanent placement.
- Brunel International: Dutch-based specialist in engineering, technical, and professional staffing. Like HeadFirst, Brunel focuses on highly educated professionals in regulated, complex industries across Benelux.
- Michael Page: Global professional recruitment firm with significant Benelux operations. Directly comparable on placement of senior professionals and contract/freelance roles in finance, legal, technology, and government.
- Yacht (Randstad subsidiary): Dutch specialist brand of Randstad focused on highly educated professionals and interim/freelance assignments. Yacht is the most direct domestic head-to-head competitor for HeadFirst's core matchmaking offering.
Emerging players
- Toptal: Global freelance marketplace for top-tier technology and business professionals. Overlaps with HeadFirst's Striive platform in connecting enterprise clients with senior freelance talent, particularly in IT and consulting.
- Headhunter (Capterra-style job platforms): Online professional recruitment platforms and marketplaces. Partial overlap with HeadFirst's matchmaking and Striive platform as alternative channels for enterprise external hiring.
Regional players
- Young Capital: Dutch staffing and young-professional placement firm owned by USG People/Recruit. Adjacent on the Dutch staffing market but skews to entry-level and temporary rather than HeadFirst's senior freelance focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
HeadFirst social profiles
Digital presenceHeadFirst financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HeadFirst leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
HeadFirst subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
HeadFirst funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HeadFirst M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HeadFirst
What does HeadFirst do?
HeadFirst is a Dutch HR-tech platform that connects self-employed professionals (freelancers) with organizations seeking external workforce. The company provides end-to-end external hiring services covering recruitment, matchmaking, contract management, time registration, invoicing, and compliance with Dutch labor laws. Its Striive platform enables freelancers to find assignments, while its enterprise services include Total Talent Management, Managed Service Provider, Recruitment Process Outsourcing, and Intermediair Management.
Is HeadFirst a public or private company?
HeadFirst is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was HeadFirst founded?
HeadFirst was founded in 1995. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is HeadFirst based?
HeadFirst is headquartered in Hoofddorp, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does HeadFirst make money?
One revenue line is on record: professional Placement Services.
Who are HeadFirst's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are USG People (Recruit Holdings), Randstad and Robert Half. Direct peers are Hays, Brunel International, Michael Page and Yacht (Randstad subsidiary). Emerging players are Toptal and Headhunter (Capterra-style job platforms). Young Capital is listed as a regional player.
Does HeadFirst have an API?
No public API is recorded for HeadFirst.
What industry is HeadFirst in?
HeadFirst's product category is Workforce Management Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAAAIAA, Employee Onboarding & Offboarding Administration, with a secondary code of FSAMAKAC, Contractor / Freelancer Payments. Its NAICS code is 561311 and its SIC code is 7361.