Croux moves to Tampa Bay to scale AI staffing for hospitality

Croux, an artificial intelligence staffing marketplace, relocated its leadership team to Florida in May to expand operations in the Tampa Bay, Orlando, and Miami markets. The Alabama-based company joined spARK Labs by ARK Invest, an incubator in St. Petersburg, earlier this summer to support that growth.

The platform connects venues, hotels, resorts, and country clubs with on-demand workers. It currently serves more than 50,000 registered talent accounts. Workers use the app to find shifts in security, housekeeping, cooking, bartending, and dishwashing. Croux co-founder Stewart Price moved to Florida to oversee this regional expansion.

Price cited a labor shortage in the local hospitality industry as a primary driver for the move. He noted that immigration laws have removed some workers from the sector, creating a gap in available staff. The company aims to fill this void by providing a flexible workforce that does not require full-time commitments.

The founders identified the need for the platform during the pandemic. Price, Jennifer Ryan, and Kenny Kung all worked in hospitality operations. They observed the Great Resignation, where many employees left the industry due to low pay and poor benefits. They built Croux to offer a better method for matching workers with employers.

The system uses AI to recruit, vet, and match individuals with specific job requirements. Venues post shifts on the platform, and the algorithm assigns workers based on skill sets. Price stated that many hospitality workers need an extra $300 to $500 per month. These individuals often have full-time jobs or face childcare and transportation barriers that prevent them from taking traditional part-time roles.

spARK Labs CEO Becca Brown said the incubator supports Croux because its technology helps businesses find talent while offering flexible work to individuals. Brown stated that the lab looks forward to connecting the Croux team with its community. Price said joining the incubator allows him to connect with other tech founders and potentially access future capital raises.

Croux currently operates in five states. The company is focused on expanding its presence across the United States. Price described the Florida hospitality scene as booming and a perfect fit for the platform's model.