Meet CraveHRO, Member of New York's Momentum 10

Congratulations on being a part of the Momentum 10, the elite top 10 startups who demonstrated truly exceptional drive and progress in the year 2024. The Momentum 10 Interview Series will delve into the unique journeys and powerful foundations propelling your startups to the top in the 2024 Startups of The Year campaign!

Tell us about you.

I’m Nicole Craveiro, founder of CraveHRO — a modern HR consulting firm built to serve small employers who crave real guidance, not corporate nonsense. My mission is to partner with employers who crave HR guidance to foster a competitive, compliant, and thriving workforce. My vision is to shift how small employers see HR — not as a legal landmine, but as a competitive advantage when done right.

Tell us how your startup is changing the world.

CraveHRO is helping small employers stay compliant, confident, and compassionate — without drowning in red tape. We’re closing the gap between what companies think HR is (boring paperwork) and what it actually can be (a foundation for growth, stability, and healthy workplaces). My ultimate goal is to normalize mental health advocacy and human-first policies in small business environments across the U.S.

What sets you apart from the competition?

CraveHRO is “Not Your Father’s HR.” I bring real-world, lived experience — from being fired unfairly myself to helping employers avoid those exact pitfalls. I don’t hide behind corporate jargon or bloated strategies. It's just straight-up expert HR advice, delivered with clarity, compassion, and a little sass. Plus, I’ve built tools to bring HR into the future, not keep it stuck in the past.

What does it mean for you to be in the Momentum 10?

It’s validation that doing things differently — challenging outdated norms and betting on real impact over buzzwords — works. I'm honored to use this momentum to keep pushing the industry forward.

What do you love about your team, and why are you the ones to set out for this mission?

CraveHRO is a one-woman powerhouse — but no one builds a movement alone. I collaborate with incredible service partners and experts who share my belief that work should be better for everyone. We foster innovation by staying curious, staying human, and staying just rebellious enough to spark real change.

Looking back, what milestone was the biggest turning point for your startup?

The launch of CraveWave — my HR tech platform — was a game-changer. It proved that small employers want to be compliant and do right by their teams — they just need affordable, accessible tools to get there.

What’s one valuable lesson you learned this year that you’d pass on to other startups?

Bet on yourself, especially when things get hard. 2024 threw curveballs left and right — but self-trust, clear boundaries, and community carried me through. Trust your gut. It's smarter than you think.

How do you envision your industry evolving in the coming years, and how will your startup stay ahead?

HR is heading toward AI-powered personalization and compliance on autopilot — but human judgment will matter more than ever. CraveHRO is already there: balancing smart tech with real human guidance to keep small employers ahead of the curve without losing their soul in the process.

How do you or your company intend to bring forward the Momentum 10 inspirations in 2025?

I'm using this title as fuel to scale impact — expanding CraveWave, amplifying mental health initiatives, and continuing to show that HR can be bold, tech-driven, and fiercely human at the same time.

What goals are you looking forward to accomplishing in 2025?

• Growing CraveWave’s userbase.
• Launching the CraveHR4Kidz children's e-book series (yep — even the next generation deserves better HR!).
• Building out CraveHOPE, my give-back initiative focused on suicide prevention and mental health education. So far, I have partnered with ONEHOPE wine, and continue to deliver Talk Saves Lives to workplaces as a volunteer through the American foundation for Suicide Prevention.

2024 has been crazy, with all the new techs, and all the geopolitics fluctuations. What are the impacts of these to your startup, and to your industry as a whole? Be as brief or as detailed as you like.

It’s been survival of the adaptable. Economic uncertainty made small businesses more cautious — and more reliant on affordable, smart HR solutions. AI exploded onto the scene, but it also raised the bar: people want tech that feels personal, not cold. CraveHRO adapted by leaning into AI with humanity, not instead of it.

We would love your feedback on HackerNoon as a tech publication! How has your experience been with us?

Genuinely refreshing. You’ve created space for real, relatable founders to share their journeys — and it shows.

Any words of wisdom you’d like to share with us?

Don’t confuse noise for momentum. Be yourself, do the right thing, and build things that matter.