Seattle tech veteran Nikesh Parekh unveils Provn to transform AI recruitment
A new Seattle-based startup, Provn, led by experienced entrepreneur Nikesh Parekh, is challenging traditional hiring methods by encouraging companies to move away from resumes and instead use portfolios showcasing actual work and performance in AI-related tasks.
Breaking from the traditional resume
The company argues that candidate tracking systems are being exploited and that recruiters are overwhelmed by AI-generated resumes. Provn’s approach replaces standard resumes with work samples and challenge-based evaluations.
How Provn works
Provn’s software organizes “AI challenges” such as designing an AI agent or tackling real-world business problems. It records candidate video walkthroughs and uses analytics to evaluate performance, providing companies with measurable insights. Candidates can reuse these profiles for multiple job opportunities.
“Every job is becoming an AI role,” Parekh said, describing the platform as a skills-first marketplace for AI talent.
A response to shifting AI job trends
Parekh told GeekWire that Provn aligns with current trends in technology and employment, including the growing conversation about AI’s impact on jobs and the increasing demand for AI expertise despite ongoing layoffs in the tech industry.
He noted the concept leverages “the buzz around AI replacing people, changing nature of work, and AI jobs being the only growth area.”
Standing apart from existing tools
While large platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed offer reach, Parekh said they often fail to help employers identify top-quality candidates amid the flood of low-quality, AI-influenced submissions. Provn also distinguishes itself from platforms like HackerRank and Codility, which Parekh considers too limited in scope.
Author’s summary: Provn aims to reshape AI hiring by replacing resumes with challenge-based portfolios that better reflect real-world skills in a rapidly evolving job market.