Raise Acquires Murmur, Reshaping Contingent Workforce Management

HOUSTON, TX – January 20, 2026 – Workforce deployment company Raise today announced its acquisition of Murmur, a technology-enabled supplier marketplace, in a strategic move set to modernize how enterprises manage their expanding networks of contingent talent. The integration promises to bring new levels of order, performance, and agility to a sector grappling with increasing complexity.

This acquisition formalizes and deepens a pre-existing strategic partnership where the two companies collaborated on several client programs. By bringing Murmur's innovative platform fully into its ecosystem, Raise aims to create a single, unified destination for sourcing and managing contract labor, solidifying its position as a leader in next-generation workforce solutions.

“Raise was built on the belief that every connection in the talent supply chain — client, supplier, and worker — should feel simple, transparent, and human,” said Tim Masson, CEO of Raise. “By bringing Murmur into Raise, we’re expanding that vision — giving enterprises and suppliers a single, trusted destination to connect, collaborate, and deliver outcomes together.”

Addressing a Fragmented Market

The acquisition comes at a critical time for many organizations. The contingent workforce, once a peripheral part of staffing strategy, is now a core component of modern business. However, the systems used to manage it often lag behind. Many companies are burdened by sprawling, unmanageable supplier lists, leading to challenges like rogue spend, worker misclassification risks, and prolonged, inefficient procurement cycles.

Raise’s newly enhanced Supplier Marketplace, which already provides access to over 6,000 sourcing partners, is designed to directly address these pain points. The integration of Murmur's technology introduces a performance-led approach, enabling clients to attract, evaluate, and manage their suppliers based on concrete, in-program results. This data-driven methodology is expected to streamline procurement through automated workflows, ensure vendor-neutral competition, and simplify the onboarding process for new suppliers. For clients, the primary benefit is clear visibility into supplier performance and overall program outcomes, replacing guesswork with actionable intelligence.

This move is a direct response to a market where a lack of centralization often leads to uncontrolled spending and inconsistent workforce quality. Industry analyses show that implementing sophisticated Vendor Management Systems (VMS) can yield cost savings of 8-15% through better rate compliance and process efficiency. By combining its extensive network with Murmur's performance analytics, Raise is positioning its platform to deliver similar, if not greater, value by creating a more cohesive and transparent talent supply chain.

A Strategic Play in a Growing Sector

Raise's acquisition of Murmur is more than a technological upgrade; it is a significant strategic maneuver within the rapidly consolidating HR technology landscape. The global contingent workforce is experiencing explosive growth, with some projections indicating it could represent over 40% of the total global workforce in the near future. Companies are no longer using contractors merely as temporary stopgaps but as strategic assets to gain flexibility, access specialized skills, and drive innovation. Sixty-five percent of global leaders plan to increase their reliance on this talent segment in the next two years.

This fundamental shift makes effective contingent workforce management a strategic imperative. Raise, a company with a history stretching back nearly seven decades through its origins as the Ian Martin Group, is leveraging its deep industry experience to meet this modern demand. The firm has long been an innovator, pioneering direct sourcing strategies and integrating AI into its workflows. This acquisition marks the next phase of its evolution, adding a critical technology layer to its established service offerings.

By acquiring Murmur, Raise is not just buying a platform but is making a definitive statement about the future of work. The move signals a belief that the future belongs to integrated platforms that can manage the entire lifecycle of contingent talent—from sourcing and vetting to performance management and payment. This positions the company to compete effectively against a wide array of VMS providers, Managed Service Providers (MSPs), and freelance talent platforms.

The Power of Performance-Led Technology

At the heart of this acquisition is Murmur's unique, performance-led approach to supplier management. Founded in 2023, the platform quickly gained traction by offering a solution for a common dilemma: how to build a dynamic supplier network without losing control or incurring massive overhead. Murmur was designed to be a neutral partner that empowers companies to manage their own contingent programs more effectively.

Its technology allows enterprises to attract, evaluate, promote, and even retire suppliers based on their actual performance within the program. This creates a merit-based ecosystem where the best partners are elevated, ensuring higher quality candidates and better outcomes for hiring managers. This contrasts sharply with traditional models, which often rely on long-standing relationships that may no longer be the most effective or cost-efficient.

“Murmur began with a belief that self-managed contingent workforce programs needed a sidekick — a neutral partner to help build a more dynamic, flexible, and responsive supplier network,” said Taren Dube, founder of Murmur. “Bringing Murmur into Raise is a natural next step. Raise is committed to shaping the future of contingent workforce management, and their ecosystem is exactly where a supplier marketplace can have the most impact. I’m excited to see Raise help organizations strengthen supplier relevance, reduce friction, and deliver better outcomes for hiring leaders, suppliers, and candidates."

The Future of the Talent Supply Chain

For clients of both Raise and Murmur, the integration promises a more powerful and seamless experience. The combined entity aims to deliver a holistic solution that simplifies sourcing, elevates the experience for contractors and suppliers, and accelerates a more technology-enabled future for workforce management. By fostering a collaborative environment built on transparency and performance data, Raise is working to reduce the friction that has historically plagued the relationships between corporations and their staffing partners.

This acquisition also reflects a broader industry trend toward consolidation, where comprehensive, all-in-one platforms are becoming more valuable than a patchwork of single-point solutions. As companies increasingly look for strategic partners to help them navigate the complexities of the modern workforce, integrated providers like the newly expanded Raise are poised for significant growth.

The ultimate goal, as stated in Raise’s mission, is to “connect people in meaningful work” and transform the employee experience on a global scale. By bringing greater efficiency, transparency, and humanity to the contingent talent supply chain, this acquisition represents a significant step toward realizing that vision, positioning the company as a formidable force in the ongoing evolution of global talent management.