Crelate will use some of its series seed round to hire a CTO so co-founder Aaron Elder can move into the role of CEO. (Crelate Photo)

Crelate, a startup with offices in Bothell, Wash. and Bethesda, Md., has closed a $1.2 million investment round led by the Alliance of Angels.

The startup, which makes software for recruiters, plans to use the cash to grow its business and development teams. The funding will also allow Crelate to bring on a new CTO so that co-founder Aaron Elder to move into the role of CEO. Clint Simon, a startup vet who has worked with Elder at several previous businesses, will be joining the team as CTO

Crelate’s development and marketing team. (Crelate Photo)

“Through all of my previous companies, I’ve always playing the CTO role, it is especially rewarding for me to be able to step back and guide the growth strategy for Crelate,” he said.

Elder and co-founders Mark Barrett and Michael Speca have worked together for nearly two decades at companies like Ascentium, Avanade, and BES Capital.

“They’ve had a couple of successful prior exits (i.e. they founded and sold a couple of startups in the past and made money for everyone involved), and this is a domain they understand well,” Alliance of Angels Managing Director Yi-Jian Ngo said when GeekWire asked why the organization invested. “In addition, there was also some market validation in the form of paying customers.”

Crelate’s tools help recruiting and staffing agencies track job candidates, follow-up on leads, and schedule interviews.

Over the next few years, Crelate aspires to expand beyond recruiting and build tools for talent management and workforce engagement.

“Problems that become even more challenging with the rise of freelancing, contingent staff, and the need for on-demand employment,” said Elder. “We believe we can facilitate the full lifecycle of this increasingly complex and agile employment landscape.”

Crelate currently has 14 employees across the two coasts.

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