Humu is a software company that uses machine learning to send "nudges," small recommendations based in
nudge theory
Nudge theory is a concept in behavioral economics, decision making, behavioral policy, social psychology, consumer behavior, and related behavioral sciences that proposes adaptive designs of the decision environment (choice architecture) as wa ...
, to employees at work.
History
Humu was founded in May 2017 by former Google executives
Laszlo Bock
Laszlo Bock is a Romanian-born American businessman, who is co-founder and CEO of Humu (software), Humu. He was formerly the Senior Vice President of People Operations at Google, Inc.
Early life and career
He was born in 1972 in Romania to et ...
, Wayne Crosby, and Jessie Wisdom. Before founding Humu, Laszlo Bock served as
Google
Google LLC () is an American Multinational corporation, multinational technology company focusing on Search Engine, search engine technology, online advertising, cloud computing, software, computer software, quantum computing, e-commerce, ar ...
's original Head of People Operations.
Humu exited stealth mode in October 2018 with $40 million in funding.
Humu analyzes company data and employee feedback to identify changes likely to improve employees' happiness, performance, and retention.
The platform then delivers "nudges," short messages urging users to change their behavior.
The company holds a trademark on "Nudge Engine," based on the behavioral economics concept of
nudge theory
Nudge theory is a concept in behavioral economics, decision making, behavioral policy, social psychology, consumer behavior, and related behavioral sciences that proposes adaptive designs of the decision environment (choice architecture) as wa ...
from Nobel Prize-winning economist
Richard Thaler
Richard H. Thaler (; born September 12, 1945) is an American economist and the Charles R. Walgreen Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. In 2015, Thaler was p ...
and popularized in Thaler's 2008 book
''Nudge'', co-authored with legal scholar
Cass R. Sunstein. The book argues that small cues can help people make better choices.
Notable customers include
Fidelity Investments
Fidelity Investments, commonly referred to as Fidelity, earlier as Fidelity Management & Research or FMR, is an American multinational financial services corporation based in Boston, Massachusetts. The company was established in 1946 and is o ...
,
Silicon Valley Bank
Silicon Valley Bank is an American commercial bank. SVB is on the list of largest banks in the United States, and is the biggest bank in Silicon Valley based on local deposits. It is a subsidiary of SVB Financial Group.
History
Silicon Valley Ba ...
,
Lumen,
Farfetch
Farfetch is a British-Portuguese online luxury fashion retail platform that sells products from over 700 boutiques and brands from around the world. The company was founded in 2007 by the Portuguese entrepreneur José Neves with its headquarters ...
,
and American fast casual restaurant chain
Sweetgreen.
A 2019 trademark dispute between Humu and American video streaming service
Hulu was settled in federal court.
On June 24, 2021, Humu announced Humu Business Edition, a personal coach for mid-sized businesses.
Funding
In May 2019, Humu announced it had raised $40 million in series A and B funding led by Index Ventures and IVP.
See also
*
Captology
Captology is the study of computers as persuasive technologies. This area of inquiry explores the overlapping space between persuasion in general (influence, motivation, behavior change, etc.) and computing technology. This includes the design, ...
References
Human resource management software
Nudge theory
Behavioral economics
Government by algorithm
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