Even after reviewing résumés, cover letters, and conducting interviews, selecting the right job candidate remains a subjective and often unpredictable process. Hiring managers frequently rely on intuition or unconscious biases, making the decision less about objective fit and more about gut feelings. To address this challenge, Sarah Lucena founded Mappa, an AI-powered behavioral intelligence platform designed to bring greater clarity and fairness to hiring. Mappa uses an AI model trained to analyze voice patterns and identify behavioral traits such as communication style, empathy, confidence, and emotional intelligence. Candidates interact with Mappa’s AI agent by answering a series of questions, and the platform then delivers a shortlist of candidates whose traits align best with the specific role and team culture. Unlike traditional hiring methods, Mappa doesn’t label traits as “good” or “bad”—instead, it focuses on compatibility. Lucena launched Mappa in 2023 alongside co-founders Pablo Bérgolo and Daniel Moretti. The company has since raised $3.4 million in a seed round led by Draper Associates, Tim Draper’s investment firm. In just under three years, Mappa has grown to serve more than 130 customers across the U.S. and generated over $4 million in annualized recurring revenue. A key differentiator for Mappa is its proprietary, highly curated datasets built specifically for understanding human behavior. Initially, the company experimented with video and online presence analysis, but found that voice-based assessments delivered the most reliable insights. This focus on voice has allowed Mappa to achieve impressive results—employees hired through the platform have a turnover rate of just 2%, significantly lower than the industry average of around 30%. Lucena emphasizes that Mappa’s mission isn’t just about improving hiring outcomes—it’s about creating more equitable opportunities. To date, the platform has facilitated over 3,000 hires, with more than 60% of candidates identifying as women, LGBTQ+, or immigrants. As someone born and raised in Brazil, Lucena is particularly proud of the platform’s role in expanding access to opportunity for underrepresented groups. Looking ahead, Lucena envisions Mappa evolving from a hiring services provider into a foundational infrastructure tool. Its API is already being used by companies beyond recruitment, including Tim Draper, who uses Mappa to evaluate founders for investment, and Re-Skilling.ai, which leverages the platform to identify skill gaps in learners. Future applications could include assessing loan applicants without traditional credit histories, using behavioral insights to evaluate trustworthiness and reliability. Lucena sees Mappa as a tool for fairer, more human-centered decision-making across industries. Mappa is a Startup Battlefield Top 20 finalist at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 in San Francisco. Attendees will have the chance to experience the platform firsthand, attend insightful workshops, and connect with innovators shaping the future of technology and talent. For those interested in the latest in AI-driven hiring and behavioral intelligence, the event runs October 27 to 29 in San Francisco.