What is Acqui-hiring?
Acqui-hiring or Acq-hiring (combination of “acquisition” and “hiring”) is a relatively new phenomenon which stands for purchasing companies in order to recruit and acquire its employees, while the product of the company becomes secondary. It describes the process of acquiring a company primarily to recruit its employees, rather than to gain control of its products or services.
Acqui-hiring is a smart recruitment strategy as it saves time and money in acquiring new talent. It represents an effective shortcut to fast hire best talent in large numbers. It is also an alternative to a shutdown for a company that is being acqui-hired. Companies which are being bought are often experience financial difficulties so this type of business deal provides them with the kind of an exit and it allows investors to recover some or most of their money. The company that is acquired often shuts down after the purchase.
The strategy of acqui-hiring has been most popular in the tech startup industry.