HireAra, an AI-powered candidate presentation platform for recruiters.

"We weren't actively looking to sell the business; we were still early in our journey when the conversation came out of the blue. I had to pinch myself to make sure it was real! Access triggered a process, and we did speak to other potential acquirers, but ultimately, the decision to go with Access was primarily because they viewed us as a team, not just a product feature.  

We were a small team, and Access wanted to scale us, but with achievable and realistic targets. The deal was structured more like a VC-style investment rather than a PE buyout, making it very appealing as it allowed us to keep scaling the business, but with less risk. 

Coming from the UK, I liked that Access is a real success story for UK-headquartered tech, and we wanted to be part of that. Since the acquisition, our team has doubled in size - Access backs our vision and ambitions.  

On a personal level, I'm 28 years old. I never thought I could achieve something like this so early in my career, and securing financial security for my family and for life is one of the proudest things I’ve ever done. 

From a career perspective, pre-acquisition, I felt my learning had begun to plateau, and the corporate world has given me new challenges and opportunities.   

I recommend getting a mentor for anyone going through this process. You must be prepared to step back and lean into the positives. This is a time of enormous change; a mentor will help you see the bigger picture."