Grade Group

Grade (formerly HR friend) is an HR tech group offering solutions for talent acquisition, onboarding, and talent management. The company was formed by Viking Ventures in July 2021 under the name HR-Friend through the acquisition of Swedish HR software companies Workbuster and Grade. As of May 2023, the Grade group consists of the platforms Grade, Workbuster, Varbi, Realcruit, Refensa, and Jobbnorge.

Grade platform offers talent management solutions that cover the recruitment, development, and retention of employees. DegreeRecruit facilitates candidate selection through recruitment tools and digital reference taking. DegreeTalent provides onboarding, learning management, performance optimization, competence tracking, and employee survey solutions. Additionally, Grade offers e-learning content and customized e-learning production services. Workbuster is a prominent HR solution provider that focuses on enhancing employer branding, attracting top-notch candidates, and optimizing the selection process.

The following companies acquired by Grade contribute to the company’s goal of providing an end-to-end solution for the entire employee journey. Varbi (August 2021) offers an applicant tracking system (ATS) focusing on talent acquisition, onboarding, and talent management. Realcruit (June 2021) provides user-friendly and comprehensive software for automated measuring of candidate experience, with the goal of enhancing the recruitment process and strengthening the employer brand. Refensa (March 2022) offers a cloud-based solution for digital reference taking in recruitment, while Jobbnorge ( May 2023 ) provides recruitment services and solutions.

Key customers and partnerships

Grade Groups’ key customers include Jollyroom, MAX, VASTRA GOTALANDSREGIONEN, ΡΕΑΒ, Liseberg, and Praktikertjänst served by Grade; Nordic Choice Hotels, Fazer, and Manpower Group served by Workbuster; Bae systems, Capio, Stockholms stad, and OSLOMET served by Varbi; and Stockholms stad, Attendos, and Securitas served by Refensa.

Funding and financials

Grade reported a total turnover of SEK 250 million (USD 24.1 million) in FY2022, with annual recurring revenue (ARR) of SEK 200 million (USD 19.3 million).