This week, two founder stories that challenge how the industry thinks about AI. Plus, two live events coming up — and something big arriving in your inbox very soon.

INNOVATION

How Archetype Won Belgium’s Recruitment Innovation Award

Archetype is a 32-year-old family-run Brussels agency with just six staff. Yet they built "Marchetype" — a custom GPT model with an ethical charter baked in. While most agencies are still debating whether to use AI, the Diamant family — Marc, Steve, and Davy — decided to set the rules first.

Their three-step framework — define your ethics first, build critical thinking skills, then create the tools — won them the Talent Business Innovation of the Year 2025 award. A masterclass in how small agencies can lead on responsible AI.

RECRUITMENT TECHNOLOGY

How Wiggli Built an AI-Native Recruitment Platform

Farid El Machaoud built Wiggli from frustration with fragmented recruitment tools. The result? An AI-native platform that combines sourcing, ATS, VMS, a freelance marketplace, and labour market intelligence in one system. No bolt-on AI — it is the system.

Farid argues that by 2027, AI-native agencies will have an unbeatable edge. He points to agencies like Jack & Jill already disrupting the market with 10% fees. His advice: stop patching old systems and start building for the AI-first era.

Still running five tools that don't talk to each other? Farid has a strong opinion on that.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Recruitment Tech Talks

Your recruiters are using 11 to 15 tools daily. New AI-powered software launches every month. So what actually belongs in your tech stack — and how do you get your team to use it?

Join a live panel discussion and Q&A on technology adoption in recruitment agencies. What does the ideal tech stack look like? What role does AI play? And how do you make the investment worth it?

Speakers: Marc Boomsma (Bullhorn), Florian Sturm (Daidalo), Frederic Ledent (Inguz), and Karel Vergauwen (Digital Staffing Experts). Language: Dutch.

A 45-minute peer discussion for agency leaders who want to cut through the tech noise. No sales pitches. Just real talk about building a tech stack that actually drives performance — in-house versus third-party, and everything in between.

Speakers: Guillaume Lepercq (FreelanceRepublik) and Alexandre Scheck (Bureau des Talents). Moderated by Vincent Baron (StudioDino). Language: French.

Talent Business Awards: Submissions Opening Next Week

Talent Business Awards submissions are opening next week! If your agency has delivered results worth recognising, start thinking about what you'll submit. Keep an eye on your inbox for all the details.

Thanks for reading Talent Business Insights. Hit reply and tell us — what topics should we cover next? What's keeping you up at night? Your answers shape future editions.

Jeroen Van Ermen
Founder, Talent Business Partners