Phenom Acquires HR Startup Included to Boost AI People Analytics

Seattle-area HR technology startup Included has been acquired by Pennsylvania-based human resources software company Phenom, marking a new chapter for the five-year-old startup. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Founded in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder and the nationwide push for stronger workplace diversity initiatives, Included initially built its platform around data analytics designed to help organizations improve diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Over time, the company broadened its offering to include employee engagement, retention strategies, hiring efficiency, and performance management tools.

The acquisition will bring Included’s technology into Phenom’s growing Applied AI platform, with a focus on expanding artificial intelligence capabilities for workforce analytics.

AI-Powered Workforce Insights

Included co-founder and CEO Raghu Gollamudi described the acquisition as a significant step toward advancing the company’s long-term vision.

In a LinkedIn post, Gollamudi said integrating Included into Phenom’s Applied AI platform would introduce more Native AI and Agentic AI capabilities to people analytics. The goal, he explained, is to help organizations move beyond traditional dashboards by delivering real-time, actionable insights that become part of everyday workplace operations.

The combination is expected to strengthen AI-powered decision-making for HR teams while improving how companies analyze workforce data.

Most Employees Join Phenom

According to LinkedIn, Included employed fewer than 15 people before the acquisition.

Jennifer Lyons, a spokesperson for Phenom, confirmed that the majority of Included’s employees have transitioned to roles within Phenom as part of the deal.

She also noted that Included will no longer operate as an independent brand.

Instead, Phenom plans to fully integrate the startup’s technology into its broader Applied AI platform, following the company’s established strategy of incorporating acquisitions directly into its product ecosystem. According to Lyons, this approach is designed to benefit customers of both organizations while streamlining future product development.

Startup Built by Experienced Tech Founders

Included was founded by three experienced technology and business leaders.

CEO Raghu Gollamudi previously co-founded privacy software company Integris Software, which was acquired by OneTrust in 2020. Earlier in his career, he spent nine years at Microsoft as a principal development lead. Gollamudi was also recognized as Startup CEO of the Year during the 2022 GeekWire Awards.

Chief Product and Customer Officer Chandan Golla also came from Integris Software, where he served as vice president of products. Before that, he spent more than a decade at eBay.

The third co-founder, Laura Close, served as Included’s chief business development officer after working in career consulting and supporting labor organizations. She now leads Close Cohen, an executive coaching and job search firm, as CEO.

Backed by Leading Venture Investors

Throughout its growth, Included secured $7.3 million in funding from a group of venture capital firms that includes FlyingFish, SignalFire, Ascend, Trilogy Equity Partners, and Alumni Ventures.

Although Phenom declined to reveal the financial details of the acquisition, Jennifer Lyons said the startup’s investors are satisfied with the outcome.

The acquisition reflects the growing demand for AI-driven HR technology as businesses increasingly seek smarter ways to improve hiring, employee retention, performance management, and workforce planning. By combining Included’s people analytics expertise with Phenom’s Applied AI platform, the companies aim to deliver more intelligent and automated HR solutions that help organizations make faster, data-driven decisions.

Also read : Melinda Gates-Backed Magnify Ventures Raises $46.6M AI Fund