Silk Road
Rival is the operating brand of SilkRoad Technology, a human resources software company focused on talent acquisition and related workforce-management capabilities.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Rival is a human resources technology brand operated by SilkRoad Technology, Inc., a private software company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The business serves organizations ranging from mid-market employers to Fortune 100 companies, providing software and services intended to support recruiting, candidate engagement, learning, and broader human-resources management activities. Reported customers include Airbnb, Cleveland Clinic, Dairy Queen, eBay, Netflix, and Stellantis. The company traces its origins to North Carolina in 2003, when Andrew "Flip" Filipowski founded SilkRoad Technology with Eprise. Its early development combined internal product creation with acquisitions. In 2004, the company acquired OpenHire, a Winston-Salem-based recruiting software provider. SilkRoad subsequently introduced its technology publicly at the Human Resource Executive Technology Conference and Expo in Chicago in 2005. In 2008, it acquired VTN Technologies, the developer of the Olé Online Learning Environment training product, expanding its presence beyond recruiting into employee learning and development. SilkRoad moved its headquarters to Chicago in 2010. Over time, the company developed a broader human-resources software portfolio and maintained an international operating footprint, with facilities reported in Edmonton, Alberta; the Philippines; and Belgrade, Serbia. In 2019, it added Strategic Consulting Services, extending the business beyond software products into advisory and implementation-related work. A significant ownership change occurred in 2021, when HighBar Partners acquired SilkRoad Technology. The company then broadened its recruiting capabilities through its 2022 purchase of the assets of Entelo. That transaction added established candidate-search, candidate-marketing, candidate-interviewing, and recruiting outsourcing capabilities. In 2023, SilkRoad Technology adopted the Rival brand and relaunched its legacy recruiting product as Rival Recruit. The relaunch positioned the product as a complete talent-acquisition suite, combining recruiting workflows with a database of more than 700 million preloaded passive candidates and artificial-intelligence-driven insights and candidate-engagement functions. The rebranding reflects a stronger emphasis on talent acquisition while retaining the company’s longer history in enterprise human-resources technology. Rival is therefore best understood as a software and services brand in the human-resources technology sector rather than a consumer-products brand. Its competitive proposition centers on helping employers identify, attract, engage, and manage talent through integrated recruiting and workforce-management tools, supported by professional services and international operations.
History
SilkRoad Technology, the company behind the Rival brand, was founded in North Carolina in 2003 by Andrew "Flip" Filipowski in collaboration with Eprise. The business entered the human-resources software market during a period when employers were increasingly adopting web-based systems for recruiting, training, and employee administration. Its early expansion included the 2004 acquisition of OpenHire, a recruiting software company based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. SilkRoad presented its technology publicly at the Human Resource Executive Technology Conference and Expo in Chicago in 2005. The company later broadened its product capabilities through the 2008 acquisition of VTN Technologies, Inc., creator of the Olé Online Learning Environment training software. This transaction strengthened SilkRoad’s position in employee learning and development in addition to its recruiting activities. In 2010, SilkRoad relocated its headquarters to Chicago. The company continued to operate as an enterprise human-resources technology provider, serving customers from the middle market through the Fortune 100. Its reported customer base has included Airbnb, Cleveland Clinic, Dairy Queen, eBay, Netflix, and Stellantis. The business also developed an international presence with facilities in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; the Philippines; and Belgrade, Serbia. SilkRoad expanded its service model in 2019 by beginning to provide Strategic Consulting Services. This move complemented its software portfolio with advisory capabilities related to human-resources transformation and implementation. In 2021, HighBar Partners acquired SilkRoad Technology, placing the company under new private ownership. The company increased its recruiting capabilities again in 2022 through the purchase of Entelo assets. The transaction brought in established functionality and services for candidate search, candidate marketing, candidate interviewing, and recruiting-related search and marketing outsourcing. These capabilities helped form the basis for a more concentrated talent-acquisition proposition. In 2023, SilkRoad Technology rebranded as Rival and relaunched its legacy recruiting solution under the name Rival Recruit. The relaunch described Rival Recruit as a complete talent-acquisition suite, using a database of more than 700 million preloaded passive candidates together with artificial-intelligence-driven insights and candidate-engagement features. The new identity emphasized recruiting and talent acquisition while building on SilkRoad’s earlier experience in broader human-resources software. The available reference material does not identify a separate public listing, a current chief executive, annual revenue, or a standalone corporate website for Rival. It does establish Rival as an active private human-resources software brand operated by SilkRoad Technology and owned by HighBar Partners.
- 2023
Rival rebrand and Rival Recruit relaunch
[1]SilkRoad Technology rebranded to Rival and relaunched its recruiting platform as Rival Recruit.
- 2022
Entelo assets acquired
[1]SilkRoad purchased Entelo assets, adding recruiting search, marketing, interviewing, and outsourcing capabilities.
- 2021
Acquired by HighBar Partners
[1]HighBar Partners acquired SilkRoad Technology.
- 2019
Strategic Consulting Services introduced
[1]SilkRoad began providing Strategic Consulting Services alongside its software offerings.
- 2010
Headquarters move to Chicago
[1]The company relocated its headquarters to Chicago, Illinois.
- 2008
VTN Technologies acquisition
[1]SilkRoad acquired VTN Technologies, developer of the Olé Online Learning Environment training software.
- 2005
Public product launch
[1]The company launched its technology at the Human Resource Executive Technology Conference and Expo in Chicago.
- 2004
OpenHire acquisition
[1]SilkRoad Technology acquired OpenHire, a recruiting software company based in Winston-Salem.
- 2003
SilkRoad Technology is founded
[1]Andrew "Flip" Filipowski founded SilkRoad Technology in North Carolina with Eprise.
Products and positioning
A human-resources technology provider for mid-market and large employers, with particular emphasis on integrated talent acquisition, candidate engagement, recruiting intelligence, and workforce-related software and services.
Talent acquisition software · 2023
Rival Recruit
Rival Recruit is the rebranded and relaunched recruiting solution associated with the Rival identity. It is presented as a complete talent-acquisition suite, combining recruiting workflows with access to more than 700 million preloaded passive candidates. Its stated capabilities include artificial-intelligence-driven insights and candidate engagement, alongside functions derived from candidate search, marketing, interviewing, and recruiting services.
Employee learning software
Olé Online Learning Environment
Olé Online Learning Environment was a training software product created by VTN Technologies. SilkRoad Technology acquired VTN in 2008, bringing the learning and development product into its broader human-resources technology portfolio.
Human-resources consulting · 2019
Strategic Consulting Services
Strategic Consulting Services extended SilkRoad Technology’s offering beyond software. Introduced in 2019, the services supported the company’s broader human-resources technology and transformation proposition, although the available reference does not provide a detailed service catalog.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2023
Rebranding from SilkRoad Technology to RivalStrategyBackground
Following the addition of Entelo-derived recruiting capabilities, the company emphasized talent acquisition as a central part of its market identity.
Action taken
SilkRoad Technology rebranded to Rival and relaunched its legacy recruiting solution as Rival Recruit.
Aftermath
Rival Recruit was positioned as an integrated talent-acquisition suite using a large passive-candidate database, artificial-intelligence-driven insights, and candidate-engagement functionality.
2022
Purchase of Entelo assetsM&ABackground
SilkRoad sought to strengthen its talent-acquisition capabilities and expand the recruiting functions available to customers.
Action taken
The company purchased Entelo assets, adding candidate search, candidate marketing, candidate interviewing, and search and marketing outsourcing capabilities.
Aftermath
The acquired capabilities supported the company’s subsequent concentration on talent acquisition and the development of the Rival brand.
2021
Ownership transfer to HighBar PartnersM&ABackground
SilkRoad Technology was operating as a private human-resources software company with enterprise customers and an expanding product and services portfolio.
Action taken
HighBar Partners acquired SilkRoad Technology.
Aftermath
The transaction placed the company under HighBar Partners ownership. The available reference does not disclose transaction value or detailed post-acquisition operating changes.
Recent events
SilkRoad Recruiting adds texting capabilities[2]
Reported:
SilkRoad Technology announced the launch of texting within SilkRoad Recruiting.
- Unconfirmed
Ticketmaster acquires Rival[3]
Reported:
According to Billboard, Ticketmaster acquired Rival, a digital ticketing platform, including its technology and team. The report said the acquisition did not include Rival's founder Nathan Hubbard.
US Department of Justice approves Ticketmaster's acquisition of Rival[3]
Reported:
The US Department of Justice reportedly approved Ticketmaster's acquisition of Rival in March 2020 after investigating whether Live Nation was breaching its consent decree with competition regulators.
Sources3 sources
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