Using Data and Automation to Address Humanitarian Challenges: A Personal Journey with Soter
In the vast landscape of technology and innovation, it’s easy to get swept up in the rush for the next big thing — the next groundbreaking app or a piece of tech that promises to change the way we live. But as a tech entrepreneur, my heart has always been set on harnessing technology to solve real-world, pressing issues. When I founded companies like Darkmatter and Thumos, my core mission was to leverage data, automation, and technology to make a tangible difference. Today, I want to share a chapter from this journey: The inception and evolution of Soter.
The Genesis of Soter
It all began when I met Josh Midgett. Here was a visionary from the healthcare sector, grappling with a profound challenge: high vacancy rates in Direct Support Professional (DSP) roles, despite rigorous recruiting efforts. The sheer scale of this issue wasn’t just a business problem; it was a humanitarian one. Every vacant DSP role meant individuals with developmental disabilities weren’t receiving the support they required. This was a gap I felt compelled to bridge.
Marrying Data and Human Needs
Our collaboration culminated in Soter — the Superhuman Resource System. While the name might have a whimsical touch, its mission is profoundly serious. Through Soter, we wanted to demonstrate how data and automation, when channeled correctly, can address pressing humanitarian problems.
Let’s break it down:
- Data: By tapping into vast databases, we could scour countless profiles to identify potential candidates. But raw data alone isn’t the solution. The true magic lies in filtering this data, in sieving out the candidates who truly align with the healthcare and caregiving vision.
- Automation: Manual evaluation, while valuable, has its limits. By automating the pre-screening process, we ensured that recruiters spent their time engaging with the most promising candidates, rather than sifting through piles of irrelevant applications.
- Funnels: This is where the science of sorting comes into play. Instead of inundating recruiters with a deluge of candidates, we devised a funnel that meticulously sorted, educated, and pre-screened applicants. By the end of the process, only the most suitable candidates made it to the interview stage.
The Humanitarian Impact
Since its inception, Soter has not just been about filling vacancies. It’s about ensuring that every individual requiring support receives the best care possible. The impressive 95% interview show-up rate and a conversion rate of 50–70% aren’t just business metrics; they’re indicators of how many more individuals with developmental disabilities are now receiving the support they deserve.
Furthermore, our approach reduces burnout among recruiters, ensuring that they can operate at their best and continue their invaluable work in connecting caregivers with those in need.
The Way Forward
What Soter is achieving is a testament to the power of technology when directed towards humanitarian ends. It’s a beacon for what can be achieved when we look beyond profits and tap into data and automation to address the real challenges that our society faces.
As we look to the future, our goal is ambitious: to reduce DSP vacancies to under 10% by 2025. While the road ahead is long, with the potent combination of data, automation, and a commitment to humanitarian values, I believe we’re on the right path.
Learn more at soter.ai
Authors: Eric Thumos Sullivan and the Data Trash Pandas
