Former Dragons’ Den star James Caan CBE has been appointed as a strategic adviser to an AI-powered recruitment platform following its £1m seed funding round.
London-based Alfa AI was founded by Alfie Whattam, Ed Godshaw and Dr Linda Yu in 2025. Its AI-powered tool automates the hiring process by finding and screening top candidates and connecting them with employers.
The latest £1m seed funding round was led by Sake Bosch, with participation from FirstDegree, Golden Egg Check and Black Green Capital. The funding will be used to accelerate product development and support the company’s expansion.
Caan’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the technology start-up as organisations increasingly adopt artificial intelligence to improve hiring outcomes, reduce recruitment costs and address growing talent shortages.
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Alfie Whattam, CEO and co-founder of Alfa AI, said: “Welcoming James as a strategic adviser is a significant milestone for Alfa AI. Few individuals have had a greater impact on the recruitment industry or possess such a deep understanding of how talent acquisition is evolving.
“James has built one of the most successful recruitment businesses in the world and has spent decades helping organisations scale through better talent strategies.
“His experience, network and strategic insight will be invaluable as we continue our mission to transform recruitment through artificial intelligence.
“This appointment reflects the confidence we have in our vision and the opportunity ahead of us as we scale globally.”
Over the past four decades, Caan has founded, scaled and invested in numerous recruitment, staffing, HR technology and professional services businesses in the UK and internationally.
Through his private investment office, Hamilton Bradshaw, he continues to back ambitious entrepreneurs and high-growth businesses across a range of sectors.
Caan said: “The recruitment industry is undergoing one of the most significant transformations in its history.
“AI has the potential to fundamentally improve how organisations identify, assess and engage talent.
“What impressed me about Alfa AI is that the platform solves genuine challenges faced by employers and recruiters today.
“It is not AI for the sake of AI; it is technology that delivers meaningful commercial value by improving hiring efficiency, reducing costs and helping organisations make better recruitment decisions.
“Having spent my career building recruitment businesses and investing in the future of talent acquisition, I see a tremendous opportunity for Alfa AI.
“The market demand is clear, the technology is compelling and the leadership team has demonstrated both vision and execution.”
Alfa AI raised £500,000 in pre-seed funding in February 2025, valuing the business at £4.75m.