Start-up prodigy Hendrick on cloud nine as interview business soars
EIGHT years ago, Sonru founder and CEO Edward Hendrick was sitting in a windowless room in Enniscorthy Enterprise Centre with towels stuffed under the door to keep the draft out.
A lot has changed since then, both at the centre and for Mr Hendrick, who told attendees at the launch that his company is now the global leader outside of the US for online HR interview provision.
Mr Hendrick said: ‘It’s really important to find out what the customer is looking for. You may think you have the best idea in the world and then someone tells you they would never use it, nevermind pay to use it. You have to take criticism on the chin and adapt your product.’
He described how his cloud based company has taken off, the key being, ‘I looked at how I could use technology to make people’s lives easier.’
From humble farming roots, Mr Hendrick studied Agri Science before following his passion for cars into a job with Boland’s before deciding to start his own business in 2007. Over the following year the germ of an idea for Sonru developed into a solid business prospect, especially after he met a technologist while based at Enniscorthy Enterprise Centre.
The business model was simple, but brilliant: have technology which mimics the live interview process for large multinational companies.
Sonru technology is currently available in 18 languages and is used throughout the world with clients including Nestle, Volvo and UBS Bank. It provides 24/7 support and has offices in Wexford, Paris and Dublin. ‘HR is a massive, boom sector and some of our customers use the verb Sonruing internally in their organisations which is cool.’
He praised the South East Enterprise platform for their support for his business and said the Rising Tide Centre can provide similar support to new and emerging start-ups.
‘At enterprise centres you find people on a similar journey to you. People sometimes who maybe had failed and are trying again. Going to an enterprise centre means you get drressed and get into your car every day and go to work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You’re putting yourselof out there and it all becomes more real.’