Knockri was founded in 2017 as a solution to our own problems of facing discrimination in the hiring process.

The idea sprung when Cofounder Jahanzaib Ansari, would apply to jobs and never hear back from employers. While feeling confused and looking for answers, a friend suggested that Jahanzaib anglicize his name. This rather insignificant adjustment completely turned things around — the anglicized Jahanzaib was given interviews and job offers by the very hiring managers that previously overlooked him.

Realizing the extent of the broken hiring process, and an increased focus on the importance of soft skills, Jahanzaib got together with his childhood friend, Faisal Ahmed, a Machine Learning Scientist. They began their study with a renowned Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychologist to create Knockri, a skills assessment tool deeply rooted in I/O Psychology, and built Knockri from the ground-up with ethical AI and inclusivity in mind.

To date, Knockri has assessed thousands of candidates worldwide. We’ve helped reduce hiring bias, cut costs, and have significantly improved candidate experience during the hiring process. Due to our tool’s amazing results, Knockri was awarded Innovator of the Year by Ascend, one of North America’s largest diversity groups, and has been given a seat at the World Economic Forum’s Global Council on Equality and Inclusion!