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Case Study: Founding Hello HR

A Human-Centred HR Platform

Role: Founding Chief Technology and Product Officer
Company: Hello HR
Timeline: 2015–2017
Sector: SaaS / HR Tech / Startups
4 months
MVP to Launch
Angel
Funding Secured
Finalist
MassChallenge UK
8 people
Team at Peak

The Vision

When we founded Hello HR in late 2015, our goal was simple but ambitious: to reimagine HR for modern companies. We saw small and medium businesses struggling with outdated, complex HR systems that were built for enterprise but forced onto smaller teams. Our vision was to create a human-centred platform that would make HR delightful rather than dreadful.

What We Built

Onboarding Flows

Paperless contracts, right-to-work documents, and comprehensive starter checklists.

Employee Profiles

Central hub for HR, role information, salary, benefits, and employment history.

Time-Off Tracking

Simple annual leave tools with seamless calendar integration.

Benefits Portal

Health insurance to pensions, with curated SME-focused offers.

My Role

As Founding Chief Technology and Product Officer, I was responsible for turning our vision into reality:

  • Architected the MVP using modern web stack and cloud-first infrastructure
  • Built onboarding, time-off, and employee document workflows
  • Integrated third-party services like WPA for insurance and Typeform
  • Designed the admin interface for maximum efficiency
  • Created interactive pitch decks and live demos
  • Led early customer onboarding and success

Outcomes & Achievements

Rapid Development

Built and launched MVP in under 4 months

Accelerator Success

Accepted into MassChallenge UK 2016 accelerator program

Customer Success

Onboarded early customers including startups and retailers

Additional Achievements

  • Negotiated UK-specific benefits partnerships with WPA
  • Delivered multiple investor decks and live demos
  • Established automated compliance and document generation
  • Built scalable cloud-first architecture from day one

Interested in Learning More?

Want to discuss the code, product decisions, or strategic approach? Get in touch.

Contact Dan