The innovative hiring platform ‘Dandelion Civilization’, promoted by entrepreneur Dmitry Zaytsev, not only aims big by helping companies to go beyond résumés and AI screenings to uncover real human potential to boost hiring success rates by over 40 per cent, but equally to equip candidates to understand themselves better, improve their skills, and ultimately find more fulfilling careers.
The startup, set for a grand take off in Dubai next month, aiming to garner a major chunk of an estimated $150 million market over the next 2-3 years, is currently in talks with some of the leading corporate groups in the finance and retail sectors to initiate pilot projects to onboard employees and launch their innovative hiring programmes.
The platform is currently in the end stage of developing two games – a psychological and competitive assessment game to measure psycho types and competitive strengths, offering valuable insights into a candidate’s natural tendencies and decision-making style, and Hivecraft – a strategy-based game where players improve strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
Its future plans include creating an open-world environment where ‘players’ – candidates – can meet and interact, build their careers, and explore various job opportunities.
“AI can analyse data, but it struggles to understand human qualities like creativity, emotional intelligence, and decision-making,” Zaytsev told Arabian Business in an exclusive interview.
“We realised that gamification could be the missing piece,” he said.
The senior executive-turned entrepreneur who relocated from Moscow to Dubai, said he believes the future of hiring is not just about automation – “it’s about understanding people”.
Beyond traditional recruitment
Zaytsev said that in today’s job market, finding a job has become increasingly frustrating for candidates and employers alike.
Many job seekers have experienced being “ghosted” by employers after an interview or application, leaving them without feedback or closure.
At the same time, companies face an overwhelming number of applications, with many struggling to identify the right talent among the noise.
“We are working to fix this disconnect – and its solution is rooted in gamification,” he said, adding that the long-term vision of Dandelion Civilization is to create a platform that accompanies users throughout their lives – from school to career and beyond.
He said the platform envisions a ‘digital avatar’ that evolves with the user, offering guidance and support based on real-time data.
“Our goal is to create a virtual environment that mirrors real-world career progression and personal growth.”
The Dandelion Civilization founder said companies could set up virtual hubs, offer job opportunities, and create tailored development programmes for employees through their platform.
The startup is also working with top universities and exploring partnerships with major corporations in Dubai to create assessment tools for younger candidates.
Zaytsev said a planned pilot with a leading university will include an interactive gaming experience where one in ten participants is expected to receive a job offer based on their performance.
He revealed that Dandelion Civilization is also adapting the platform for use with younger candidates, including school-age children, through educational programmes designed to enhance soft skills – an area often overlooked in traditional education.
“Most universities focus on hard skills, but soft skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving are becoming even more critical in today’s job market,” Zaytsev said.
Interest across key sectors
Zaytsev said the platform is already seeing active interest from corporate clients across multiple industries in Dubai and beyond, including finance, development, and retail.
The strongest demand is coming from large corporations facing challenges in leadership delegation and employee career growth.
“These organisations are seeking ways to enable internal career advancement, attract talent, and make work processes more engaging – areas where our platform offers tangible solutions,” he said.
The Dandelion Civilization founder revealed that the startup is currently in negotiations with several companies regarding pilot projects and onboarding employees into its system.
He, however, declined to name the companies because of confidentiality issues.
A key part of the platform’s mission is to integrate corporate goals directly into game mechanics, encouraging employee engagement, while enabling companies to transparently track individual contributions, achievements, and bonus distribution.
“We aim to provide a new level of freedom and clarity in how people build their careers within organisations.”
Zaytsev said that apart from corporate clients, educational institutions and universities are showing strong interest.
“They are looking for ways to help graduates find employment despite limited experience and formal skills.
“Our gamified platform assesses students’ soft skills such as communication, creativity, and responsibility and helps present them as high-potential candidates,” he said.
The startup, which soft-launched its operations in Dubai recently, taking advantage of the city’s innovation-friendly environment, plans to expand further into the MENA region and India.
Zaytsev, however, said the venture is not planning to raise external investments this year.
“Growth is currently funded through our own revenue, with profits reinvested into product development,” he said.
The Dandelion Civilization founder revealed that they are preparing to launch an AI-based educational platform focused on practical skill development for real-world work scenarios.
