In this episode of The Power Talk Show powered by Business Talks Weekly, we sit down with Sean Griffith, founder of Truffle, to explore how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the hiring process — and why bringing the “human” back into recruitment is more crucial than ever.
Sean’s journey began in the corporate world, deeply rooted in customer experience. That foundation led him to his first entrepreneurial venture — a Canadian-style “Uber for snowplows.” But it was his leadership at Simple Texting, which scaled from 7 to 150 employees and was acquired by two international firms, that sharpened his skills in hiring, product strategy, and business growth.
From Simple Texting to Truffle
After leaving the corporate scale-up world, Sean identified a common challenge: how do hiring teams find the right talent in a sea of resumes? Truffle was born out of that frustration — a platform that allows one-way video interviews powered by AI, giving companies clearer insights into soft skills, cultural fit, and candidate potential.
“Skills can be taught. We wanted to assess the intangibles — what makes a person tick,” Sean explains.
AI + Hiring: Friend or Foe?
With the rise of AI-generated resumes and applications, both candidates and companies are navigating uncharted territory. According to Sean, “Up to 30% of applicants now use AI in their applications — and not always for the better.” Truffle detects AI usage and lets hiring managers decide how it fits into their selection process.
Built for Startups, Not Just Enterprises
What sets Truffle apart is its focus on small to mid-sized businesses. With a self-serve platform, built-in AI, and seamless setup, it’s designed to empower hiring managers, not just HR teams.
“We built Truffle for speed and clarity,” Sean says. “Our goal is to help founders and small teams identify the best candidates without burning time on unqualified leads.”
Key Takeaways:
- Truffle helps companies find the “diamond in the rough” by giving each candidate a voice beyond the resume.
- AI is a double-edged sword in hiring — useful when used wisely, problematic when misused.
- Cultural fit and human authenticity are still irreplaceable.
- Startups can build lean, efficient HR pipelines using tools like Truffle without waiting to scale.
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Advice for Founders and Candidates
Sean encourages founders to “stay close to the customer” and not shy away from iterating their product or approach. For candidates, his advice is simple: use AI as a prep tool, but always be human.
“Ultimately, people hire people — don’t let AI strip away your personality.”