High5
High5 operates a global digital marketplace connecting enterprise companies, private equity firms, and consulting firms with 70,000+ independent business and consulting talent across 190 countries, monetizing via commission on project engagements and using AI-driven matching and its Talent Passport system to enable project-based, interim, and SOW hires.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersRemote, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What High5 does
High5 (legal entity: High5 Global Corporation, DBA High5Hire) operates a two-sided digital marketplace that connects enterprise companies, private equity firms, and consulting firms with independent business and consulting talent for project-based, interim, and SOW engagements. Founded in 2016, the platform serves clients and talent across 190 countries, with 1,600 client companies and 70,000+ registered consultants distributed regionally across Europe (~27,000), North America (~21,000), APAC (~9,000), and MEA (~7,000). Named enterprise customers include Kraft Heinz, Mastercard, Visa, Coca-Cola, Hologic, and Corning; PE and consulting customers include KKR, Bain Capital, Apax, Alvarez & Marsal, and Kearney.
The platform is built around the Talent Passport — a dynamic, multi-source digital profile that replaces traditional CVs and updates automatically as projects are completed — and the High5 Match algorithm, which uses a proprietary taxonomy of 29 SOW skills domains combined with AI-powered matching, a granular tagging system (launched June 2025), and human curation to connect talent to projects. Supporting infrastructure includes a Compliance Engine (background checks, insurance validation, NDAs) and a Global Payroll service that processes invoices in GBP, USD, and EUR. In November 2024, High5 acquired Talmix to consolidate marketplace scale.
High5 monetizes via a transaction-fee model: it acts as payment processor for client projects and charges a commission embedded in the total project cost. Talent access is free, creating a freemium supply-side funnel. The company employs 251-500 staff, is privately held (likely founder/self-funded given no disclosed funding rounds), is led by CEO Sandeep Dhillon, and operates globally with a registered U.S. headquarters in New Jersey and operations hubs in London and Somerset.
High5 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- High5
- Legal name
- High5 Global Corporation
- Website
- https://high5hire.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- High5 operates a global digital marketplace connecting enterprise companies, private equity firms, and consulting firms with 70,000+ independent business and consulting talent across 190 countries, monetizing via commission on project engagements and using AI-driven matching and its Talent Passport system to enable project-based, interim, and SOW hires.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
High5 industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Staffing and Talent Marketplace
- NAICS
- Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131), Executive Search Services (561312), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Professional & Business Services Marketplaces (Freelancers, SMB Services) (BPAMAHAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Talent Acquisition (Recruiting) & Applicant Tracking (ATS) (BPACAPAD)
Keywords
Where High5 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Remote
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
High5 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Commission from Client Projects: High5 acts as payment processor for all projects on the platform. The company charges a commission fee that is included in the total project cost. At project completion, High5 invoices the client covering the cost of talent's services, the High5 commission fee, and any agreed additional expenses. Talent is paid in the currency the client is billed (GBP, USD, or EUR) within 60 days of invoice submission.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free platform access for talent |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
High5 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
High5 operates a two-sided digital talent marketplace connecting enterprise companies, private equity firms, and consulting firms with independent business and consulting talent for project-based, interim, and permanent engagements across 190 countries. The platform uses AI-driven matching combined with human curation to connect clients with pre-vetted consultants, and High5 acts as the payment processor charging a commission on every project completed.
Product overview
High5 is a business and consulting talent marketplace platform that connects enterprise companies, private equity firms, and consulting firms with independent business and consulting talent. The platform consists of the core High5 Talent Marketplace, which uses the proprietary High5 Match algorithm to match talent with projects based on skills, experience, and criteria. Central to the offering is the Talent Passport, a dynamic digital profile that replaces traditional CVs and automatically updates based on applications and project completions. The platform also includes sector-specific solutions for Enterprise Companies, Private Equity and Consulting Firms, and Ecosystem Partners, along with supporting products including Global Payroll for international payment processing and a Compliance Engine providing vetted talent with background checks and insurance validation. The platform powers Statement of Work (SOW) engagements, interim assignments, and project-based work across 190 countries with over 75,000 users.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Talent Passport: A profile system that combines information from multiple sources to create a complete view for matching skills to opportunities on the High5 platform.
Products and services
- High5 Talent Marketplace A digital talent marketplace platform that connects enterprise companies, private equity firms, and consulting firms with independent business and consulting talent for project-based (SOW), interim, and permanent engagements. Combines AI-driven matching with human curation and acts as payment processor for completed projects.
- Recruiter Marketplace A recruiter network integrated with the High5 talent marketplace that enables third-party recruiters to access flexible talent solutions and support scale and demand. Recruiters can register and engage with the High5 platform to extend sourcing capabilities.
Quantifiable outcome
- First suitable applicants delivered within 24 hours of project posting
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use High5
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
High5 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability4 records
Feature4 records
High5 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered regional - core and global - core.
- Khibratyregional - coreStrategic partnership providing clients in the MENA region with a comprehensive solution for accessing business and consulting talent on demand. Extends High5's geographic reach in Middle East and North Africa.
- N2S.Globalglobal - coreStrategic partnership with leading workforce solutions company to provide clients globally with on-demand talent solutions and compliance capabilities. Combines High5's marketplace with N2S.Global's workforce solutions expertise.
- Talent Solutions TAPFINglobal - coreStrategic partnership to integrate talent marketplaces into contingent workforce management programs. Enables TAPFIN clients to access High5's talent pool through their existing CWM programs.
- eTeamglobal - coreInnovative partnership combining traditional staffing and digital talent platform solutions. Brings together eTeam's staffing expertise with High5's digital marketplace capabilities.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
High5 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Catalant Technologies (now Russell Reynolds Associates): Catalant operates a marketplace connecting enterprises with independent consultants and subject-matter experts for project-based work. It is the most direct competitor to High5 in the business and consulting talent marketplace category, serving similar enterprise and consulting firm buyers.
- Toptal: Toptal runs a curated freelance marketplace connecting companies with top independent talent across consulting, technology, finance, and design. It competes with High5 for enterprise on-demand talent spend, with a similar emphasis on pre-vetted quality.
- GLG (Gerson Lehrman Group): GLG is the largest expert network serving consulting firms, PE, and corporates with on-demand expertise for project work. It overlaps with High5 on the enterprise and PE buyer side and on short-term consulting engagements.
- Comatch: Comatch is a European-headquartered marketplace matching independent management consultants with corporate clients. It directly overlaps with High5's core value proposition of marketplace-driven consulting talent placement.
- Braintrust: Braintrust is a decentralized talent marketplace that connects enterprises with freelance professionals. It competes for enterprise on-demand talent budgets with a different economic model but overlapping buyer and use cases.
- Atheneum Partners: Atheneum operates a global expert network connecting clients with industry professionals for research and consulting projects. It overlaps with High5 on PE and consulting firm buyers seeking on-demand expertise.
- Eden McCallum: Eden McCallum is a consulting platform that curates a network of independent consultants for project work with corporates. It is a direct comparable in the business consulting talent marketplace segment.
Broad incumbents
- Upwork: Upwork is the largest public online freelancer marketplace, serving enterprises and SMBs with broad freelance talent categories. While more technology-skewed and lower-priced, it competes with High5 in enterprise on-demand talent sourcing.
- Hays Talent Solutions: Hays is a global staffing and workforce solutions provider serving enterprises across contingent and project-based hiring. Its Talent Solutions arm competes with High5 for large enterprise SOW and consulting talent spend.
Emerging players
- Worksome: Worksome is a platform enabling enterprises to source, contract, and manage independent consultants and freelancers. It overlaps with High5 on compliance, global payroll, and enterprise project-talent workflows.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
High5 social profiles
Digital presenceHigh5 compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
High5 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
High5 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
High5 subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
High5 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
High5 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 High5
What does High5 do?
High5 operates a two-sided digital talent marketplace connecting enterprise companies, private equity firms, and consulting firms with independent business and consulting talent for project-based, interim, and permanent engagements across 190 countries. The platform uses AI-driven matching combined with human curation to connect clients with pre-vetted consultants, and High5 acts as the payment processor charging a commission on every project completed.
Is High5 a public or private company?
High5 is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was High5 founded?
High5 was founded in 2016. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is High5 based?
High5 is headquartered in Remote, United States, in the North America region.
How does High5 make money?
One revenue line is on record: commission from Client Projects.
Who are High5's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Catalant Technologies (now Russell Reynolds Associates), Toptal, GLG (Gerson Lehrman Group), Comatch, Braintrust, Atheneum Partners and Eden McCallum. Broad incumbents are Upwork and Hays Talent Solutions. Worksome is listed as an emerging player.
Does High5 have an API?
No public API is recorded for High5.
What industry is High5 in?
High5's product category is Online Staffing and Talent Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAHAG, Professional & Business Services Marketplaces (Freelancers, SMB Services), with a secondary code of BPACAPAD, Talent Acquisition (Recruiting) & Applicant Tracking (ATS). Its NAICS code is 561311 and its SIC code is 7361.