The Spark That Ignited a Movement
When seasoned enterprise sales leader Piyush Raj Akhouri first noticed talented professionals being overlooked for roles they were perfect for, he knew something had to change.
“A pivotal moment occurred,” he recalls, “when I witnessed a highly qualified candidate being rejected due to outdated screening methods and the absence of a proper contract-to-hire mechanism from India to Europe.”
For many, this would have been an unfortunate anecdote. For Piyush, it became the beginning of a mission to overhaul the way companies source, screen, and hire talent across borders.
Today, he stands at the helm of two powerful ventures — Bridgentech and HirePlusPlus Technologies Pvt. Ltd., platforms that have already transformed global hiring norms and are poised for even greater disruption.
Global Experience, Local Empathy
Piyush’s entrepreneurial journey is built on a robust foundation—both academically and professionally. A mechanical engineering graduate from MIT, Manipal, he further pursued an MBA in International Business from SPJIMR Mumbai and the European School of Business in Germany.
His corporate career spans more than 16 years across India, Europe, the U.S., and the Middle East, in roles that demanded not only business acumen but also cross-cultural finesse.
“My roles across geographies taught me to appreciate the nuances of hiring—how a cultural misfit can sometimes outweigh even the best technical match,” he says.
This perspective laid the groundwork for his ventures, which seamlessly blend technology with human intuition.
Bridging Gaps with Bridgentech
Launched first, Bridgentech was built around the idea of Just-in-Time IT staffing — providing clients with access to elite tech talent across 180+ technologies.
One of its major innovations was introducing the Contract-to-Hire (C2H) model in Europe, a region traditionally averse to such structures.
“In Europe, early attrition was a recurring challenge. Professionals were being let go within the first six months due to misalignments. C2H provided a safety net—for both companies and candidates,” Piyush explains.
Today, Bridgentech offers a full suite of remote staffing, training, and IT delivery services, connecting companies with highly vetted professionals from across continents.
Enter Maya: The AI Behind HirePlusPlus
But Piyush Raj Akhouri wasn’t done yet. Realizing that even the most forward-thinking staffing models needed technological backbone, he launched HirePlusPlus, a human-led, AI-powered hiring platform that augments recruiters’ productivity and effectiveness.
At the core of this platform is Maya, an AI recruiter co-pilot that Piyush Raj Akhouri describes with pride.
“Maya isn’t here to replace recruiters—she’s here to empower them,” he emphasizes.
Trained on vast public datasets, Maya drafts job descriptions, creates personalized candidate communications, and can even conduct fraud-free interviews across multiple languages and industries.
“Our recruiters became 10X more productive,” Piyush Raj Akhouri notes. “And because Maya blends data analytics with contextual human insight, we’ve drastically improved accuracy and reduced time-to-hire.”
HirePlusPlus has already filed two patents related to Maya, and the platform is now being integrated into global HR ecosystems like SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle Taleo, and Workday.
Navigating Headwinds: Challenges That Shaped the Vision
Building two pioneering startups wasn’t without challenges. One of the biggest hurdles was educating the market—especially in Europe—about the value of new hiring frameworks.
“There was initial skepticism,” Piyush Raj Akhouri admits. “Organizations were cautious. We had to prove value by delivering results—not just selling software.”
Another obstacle was managing diverse international operations. From legal frameworks to cultural differences, scaling across continents demanded deep local insights.
“We invested heavily in local partnerships,” Piyush Raj Akhouri says. “That was non-negotiable.”
Then came the challenge of building and scaling high-performing teams.
“We hired for values first, and skills second. That’s how we’ve maintained consistency across markets.”
Breakthroughs and Patents: Milestones That Mattered
Two major milestones signaled a turning point for the company:
- Successful introduction of the C2H model in Europe, which dramatically reduced attrition and improved cultural fit.
- The development of Maya, culminating in multiple patents and redefining how companies approach recruitment across IT, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing.
“These weren’t just business wins,” says Piyush Raj Akhouri. “They validated our belief that tech and empathy can—and should—coexist in hiring.”
What’s Next: Scaling Smarter, Not Just Bigger
The next five years will see Bridgentech and HirePlusPlus following two parallel but complementary trajectories.
- Bridgentech will deepen its presence across Europe, the U.S., and the Middle East with specialized IT staffing solutions using its proprietary 5F Strategy Framework — Focus, Find, Filter, Fit, and Flex.
“It’s about more than filling roles,” Piyush Raj Akhouri explains. “It’s about long-term alignment.”
- HirePlusPlus will double down on its platform strategy. Maya will evolve with better contextual analysis, deeper HR integration, and more advanced industry-specific modules.
“We’re expanding into healthcare, retail, and manufacturing—industries with unique hiring challenges. Our goal is to create intelligent systems that are not just efficient, but also empathetic.”
Lessons for Founders: Build for the Gap, Not the Glamour
Asked what he’d say to aspiring entrepreneurs, Piyush Raj Akhouri doesn’t hesitate:
“Don’t just chase the next big thing—build for a real gap. And test your ideas in the field, not just on whiteboards.”
He emphasizes persistence and humility as cornerstones of success.
“We didn’t break through because we had a great pitch deck. We broke through because we listened to the market, delivered real results, and kept improving.”
Follow the Journey
Piyush Raj Akhouri and his ventures are on a mission to humanize hiring while scaling it through technology.
Whether you’re a founder, a hiring manager, or a job seeker, there’s something to learn—and be inspired by—in his journey.
📌 Learn more: www.hireplusplus.com
📌 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hireplusplus
📌 Follow Piyush: linkedin.com/in/piyushraj1
📌 Instagram: @hireplusplus
📌 Twitter (X): @hireplusplus
📌 Facebook: facebook.com/hireplusplus
Call to Action
Whether you’re scaling a startup, recruiting global talent, or dreaming of building your own venture — follow Piyush’s journey for insights on building with purpose.
👉 Visit www.hireplusplus.com and see how intelligent hiring is transforming the future of work.
