Best HR software for heads of people at growing startups

Give company leaders visibility into people data and trends
Build HR systems that grow with the business
Strengthen engagement and belonging from day one

1811 reviews on G2 | 4.5/5

1811 reviews on Capterra | 4.5/5

Modern, fast-growing, global businesses love Bob

What makes heads of people at growing startups choose HiBob?

Give leadership visibility into people data and trends

ecosio achieved a 7.7% increase in retention by using Bob analytics to unify workforce and cost data.

Build HR foundations that scale as the company grows

Xref automated HR reporting and payroll, achieving 100% digital HR reporting and saving several hours monthly while improving data accuracy across five countries.

Build a culture of performance and belonging from day one

Zappi increased engagement by 15 points in one year using Bob’s culture and feedback features.

HiBob is recognized as one of the best HR platforms

HiBob’s best features for heads of people

AI-driven analytics for headcount and attrition

Track headcount, turnover, and labour costs through interactive dashboards.
Forecast attrition and hiring needs using AI-powered predictive analytics.
Build and share custom reports to align people metrics with leadership and financial goals.

Automated workflows, approvals, and checklists

Automate onboarding, offboarding, and job change processes to eliminate manual admin.
Connect HR data with payroll and time tracking to keep records accurate and up to date.
Use pre-built approval flows and notifications to ensure consistency and compliance across all processes.

Pulse and eNPS surveys, recognition, and social feed

Measure engagement, wellbeing, and DEI through flexible surveys.
Encourage transparency and recognition with Shoutouts, Kudos, and milestone celebrations.
Track participation and sentiment trends over time to identify hotspots and act early.

Why heads of people in startups love HiBob

$54K

Annual savings when using HR automation for time management

+18%

More productivity when employee engagement improves

+23%

Higher profitability when employees are more engaged with the company

How Brunno Ribeiro from Defined.ai scaled their people operations

The Challenge

With a small team managing HR manually, Defined.ai operated across the US, Portugal, and the Far East. Onboarding was inconsistent, reviews lacked structure, and there was no centralized data system—making it hard to scale or gain strategic people insights.

The Solution

Defined.ai implemented Bob to centralize employee data, automate onboarding, and introduce structured performance reviews. They established self-assessments, tracked turnover, and took advantage of analytics to support retention and DEI strategies.

The Results

Bob helped Defined.ai scale its people processes across global offices, replacing manual systems with automation and reliable visibility. HR gained strategic insights, employees had a better onboarding experience, and performance reviews became more meaningful.

In 2020, we doubled the size of our company. We couldn’t have hired as many people as we did without Bob. We can now automate all our processes, which saves us a lot of time and resources.

Brunno Ribeiro, Director of Talent Acquisition and Compensation, Defined.ai

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FAQs about HiBob for heads of people at growing startups

What HR processes can a startup automate?

Startups can automate onboarding, offboarding, and reviews with HiBob, along with time tracking, approvals, and payroll updates. It removes repetitive admin work, keeps data consistent, and helps HR teams focus on people instead of paperwork—all while giving leadership better visibility into every stage of the employee lifecycle.

Why are feedback and recognition important in startups?

Feedback and recognition build trust and motivation, especially in smaller or fast-changing teams. HiBob’s tools make recognition part of everyday culture through features like Kudos and Shoutouts. By celebrating wins and encouraging open communication, startups can strengthen engagement and improve retention from the very beginning.

How can HiBob improve a startup’s hiring processes?

HiBob connects people data, analytics, and workflows so hiring managers and leaders see real-time headcount and budget information. With clear insights into team needs and future plans, startups can make faster hiring decisions, stay on budget, and create a more consistent experience for every ne