BROOKLYN, NY – 05/02/2026 – () – In an increasingly competitive market for elite engineering talent, businesses are turning to hiring platforms that minimize complexity and highlight true technical skill. Fonzi AI, a talent marketplace specializing in placing top engineers, has advanced this goal by acquiring Cook’d, an AI-native applicant tracking system specifically designed for engineering positions.
This deal represents Fonzi’s second acquisition, after it bought the boutique recruiting firm BKB Talent in June 2025, and underscores the company’s plan to bring essential hiring processes together into one unified platform.
Cook’d sets itself apart by assessing engineers on their actual project work instead of depending on traditional resumes or keyword searches. The system gathers data from platforms like LinkedIn, GitHub, and other technical profiles to evaluate real-world engineering contributions, experience at startups, and the caliber of products a candidate has delivered.
The acquisition allows Fonzi to merge Cook’d’s automated technical screening with its existing talent marketplace and AI-powered matching system. This creates a cohesive solution that lets companies evaluate applicants, get precise match suggestions, and obtain dedicated recruiting assistance, all without juggling separate software tools.
Fonzi’s leadership states that this integration aims to streamline a hiring process that has grown cumbersome and slow. By centralizing screening, matching, and marketplace functions, the company intends to help employers accelerate hiring without compromising on technical standards.
For Cook’d, becoming part of Fonzi expands the application of its screening technology from a standalone offering. The team’s emphasis on gauging authentic engineering skill now directly contributes to a more comprehensive hiring process, where automated assessment results guide matching and recruiter actions.
Cook’d’s platform allows businesses to define engineering roles quickly, auto-post openings to major job boards, and screen applicants using indicators like GitHub contributions, previous employment history, and proven technical expertise. These features are now integrated into Fonzi’s platform, enabling a seamless workflow from job creation to hiring within one system.
This move aligns with a wider shift in technical recruitment towards platforms that value quality signals over quantity and that replace disjointed HR technology with unified, AI-powered alternatives. By incorporating Cook’d, Fonzi establishes itself as a comprehensive hiring solution for companies looking for first-rate engineering talent.
About Fonzi
Fonzi is an AI-driven talent marketplace that links companies with premier engineering candidates using sophisticated matching technology and smooth ATS integration. Since its launch in June 2025, Fonzi has brought together marketplace resources, recruiting knowledge, and specialized screening tools to help organizations hire skilled technical talent more effectively.
About Cook’d
Cook’d is an applicant tracking system created exclusively for engineering recruitment. It uses AI to analyze actual technical projects and experience, assisting companies in finding qualified engineers without the need for manual screening or resume keyword searches.