Achievers is a private human capital management software company specializing in employee engagement and recognition solutions. Founded in 2002 by Razor Suleman in Toronto, Canada, the company has expanded its presence to Victoria, Australia, and Manchester, England. Achievers' mission is to help organizations create a culture of recognition that drives employee engagement, retention, and performance. The company's platform is utilized by clients in over 110 countries, including notable organizations such as Deloitte, CVS Pharmacy, ConAgra Foods, and Microsoft.
Key Strategic Focus
Achievers focuses on delivering a cloud-based Employee Success Platform™ designed to engage, align, and recognize employees effectively. The platform emphasizes frequent, real-time recognition through a points-based system, offering a global rewards marketplace where employees can select rewards that matter to them. Achievers integrates seamlessly with popular workplace tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Workday, ensuring recognition is accessible and embedded within daily workflows.
Financials and Funding
Since its inception, Achievers has secured a total of $53.1 million in funding over five rounds. In 2007, the company raised $3.3 million in its Series A funding round led by Laurence Capital, Relay Ventures, and JLA Ventures, followed by a Series B round worth $6.9 million in 2009. In September 2011, Achievers received $24.5 million in its Series C funding round led by Sequoia Capital, with participation from GrandBanks Capital, JLA Ventures, and Ontario's Venture Capital Fund. In 2015, Achievers was acquired by Blackhawk Network for $150 million. In 2018, Blackhawk transitioned from a public to a private company, during which time Achievers spun out as a separate entity, now co-owned by Silver Lake and P2 Capital Partners.
Pipeline Development
Achievers continually enhances its platform to meet the evolving needs of modern workplaces. In 2020, the company acquired TemboSocial, a Canadian software startup specializing in employee recognition and feedback solutions, to bolster its offerings. In 2025, Achievers unveiled a sophisticated suite of recognition tools at UNLEASH America to address the manager crisis, demonstrating its commitment to innovation and addressing contemporary workplace challenges.
Technological Platform and Innovation
Achievers' platform stands out due to its proprietary technologies and scientific methodologies:
- Proprietary Technologies: The Employee Success Platform™ is a cloud-based solution that facilitates real-time, peer-to-peer recognition, aligning employee behaviors with company values.
- Scientific Methods: The platform employs advanced analytics and reporting tools to provide insights into employee engagement and recognition trends, enabling data-driven decisions to enhance workplace culture.
Leadership Team
Achievers' leadership team comprises experienced professionals dedicated to advancing employee engagement:
- Christopher Valdemar: CEO, leading the company's strategic vision and operations.
- Dave Brennan: CFO and COO, overseeing financial strategy and operational efficiency.
- Tony Hocevar: Chief Marketing Officer, responsible for the company's marketing initiatives.
- Natalie Baumgartner: Chief Workforce Scientist & Director of the Achievers Workforce Institute, focusing on research and thought leadership in employee engagement.
Leadership Changes
In recent years, Achievers has experienced leadership transitions to strengthen its executive team. Specific details regarding these changes are not publicly disclosed.
Competitor Profile
Market Insights and Dynamics
The employee engagement and recognition software market is experiencing significant growth, driven by organizations' increasing focus on enhancing workplace culture and employee satisfaction. Achievers operates in a competitive landscape with several key players offering similar solutions.
Competitor Analysis
Achievers' primary competitors include:
- Bonusly: A peer-to-peer recognition platform that allows employees to award points to each other for contributions, redeemable for various rewards.
- Awardco: A comprehensive recognition and rewards platform partnering with Amazon Business to provide a broad range of reward options.
- Nectar HR: An employee recognition and rewards platform designed to align recognition efforts with company values, offering customizable rewards and seamless integration with communication tools.
- WorkTango: An all-in-one employee engagement platform focused on enhancing workplace culture through continuous feedback, social recognition, and detailed reporting.
- Workhuman: A globally recognized platform for cultivating a positive workplace culture through employee recognition and engagement, offering a wide range of recognition and reward options.
These competitors offer similar features, including peer-to-peer recognition, customizable rewards, and integration with workplace tools, making the market highly competitive.
Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships
Achievers has established significant collaborations to enhance its market position and innovation capacity. The acquisition of TemboSocial in 2020 expanded its capabilities in employee recognition and feedback solutions. Additionally, Achievers integrates with popular workplace tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Workday, ensuring its platform is accessible and embedded within daily workflows.
Operational Insights
Achievers differentiates itself through its comprehensive Employee Success Platform™, which emphasizes real-time, peer-to-peer recognition aligned with company values. The platform's global rewards marketplace and seamless integration with workplace tools provide a user-friendly experience that fosters a culture of recognition and engagement.
Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions
Achievers is poised to capitalize on the growing demand for employee engagement solutions by continuing to innovate and expand its platform's capabilities. Future directions may include leveraging artificial intelligence to provide more personalized recognition experiences, expanding the global rewards marketplace, and enhancing analytics to offer deeper insights into employee engagement trends.
Contact Information
- Website: www.achievers.com
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/achievers
- Twitter: twitter.com/achievers
- Facebook: facebook.com/achievers
- Instagram: instagram.com/achievershq
