?The 2023 SHRMLabs Better Workplaces Challenge Cup competition highlights the most innovative HR technology startups today.
Two finalists were selected from over 450 initial submissions. They will make their last pitch to a panel of judges as well as an audience of investors, leading HR professionals, fellow innovators and the media.
The pitch fest will be held June 12 at the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo 2023 (SHRM23) in Las Vegas.
Here’s a look at one of the finalists, Inuka, based in Amsterdam. 
Robin van Dalen, co-founder and co-CEO of Inuka, spoke with SHRM Online about the product and how it improves work and the practice of human resources.
SHRM Online: What does your product do?
van Dalen: Inuka’s award-winning innovation helps organizations enhance their employees’ performance and well-being by fostering resilience. We offer a proven method that improves problem-solving skills and builds resilient teams, creating a culture that embraces change. Our solution delivers three critical aspects in one comprehensive solution:
- Our world-class coaching method, developed from 15 years of scientific research, helps 9 out of 10 people feel better after just four sessions. Employees become more independent and can solve problems faster without burdening managers.
- We provide a baseline, progress tracking and comparison to benchmarks for your employees’ well-being, as well as deep data insights for organizations to tailor their people strategies, enabling measurable improvements in well-being for everyone.
- Our program is accessible to all types of workers, cultures and maturity levels, with a friendly price, and provides a significant return on investment and a solid business case for investing in employee well-being.
SHRM Online: How does your technology improve the workplace?
van Dalen: Inuka is a game changer in workplace improvement. Our solution supports employees in becoming problem-solving pros and feeling better in short, powerful steps, enabling increased vitality and resilience for your workforce. The burden on managers is reduced since employees can first speak with their coach to address challenges and formulate their own solutions.
In addition to tailored support for employees, the organization receives deep data insights on the root causes of stress in their organization or team, and can use these insights to tailor strategy, policies, processes and culture to address workplace well-being and performance holistically and strategically. This “golden data” is aggregated from anonymous coaching conversations, meaning no additional surveys, just meaningful insights, effortlessly generated.
SHRM Online: What specific HR problem does it solve?
van Dalen: In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world, organizations need their employees to be engaged, productive and able to adapt to rapid change. Contrast this with the post-Covid reality of a human energy crisis, where many employers struggle with presenteeism and absence, as well as how to attract and retain top talent. These top employees, particularly under [age] 40, are voting with their feet and choosing organizations where they can grow their career, at the same time as feeling vibrant and well. Previous employer support options such as offering a healthy lunch, access to a psychologist or group mindfulness sessions are not sufficient and offer no measurable tracking or impact. At Inuka, we recognize the need for a smarter solution that utilizes proven effective methods, with measurable impact to support employee well-being and productivity, both at an individual and an organizational level.
