n8n, Apify
Application vetting agent
Built for NSRCEL, the startup incubator at IIM Bangalore, to speed up the first-level review of incoming applications.
Automating applicant screening for faster, fairer selection
This agent evaluates every new application as it arrives, assigns an internal score, and automatically sends rejection emails to unqualified applicants. The result is a faster, more consistent L1 vetting process that helps teams focus only on high-potential startups.
Results at a glance
5–10 hours saved weekly in application review
60% reduction in reviewer load
2 days from concept to working pilot
The problem
The NSRCEL team was spending long hours manually reading and scoring hundreds of program applications. Each submission required background research, subjective evaluation, and manual follow-ups, slowing down the overall selection timeline.
The solution
We built an automation that performs instant Level 1 evaluation for every incoming application. It collects applicant data, analyses key factors using a defined scoring framework, enriches profiles with LinkedIn information, and updates the master sheet with final scores. Unqualified applicants receive automated rejection emails, allowing reviewers to focus on the most promising entries.
How it works
Input: Applications captured through form submissions trigger the workflow.
Enrichment: Apify scrapes LinkedIn to verify background and company details.
Scoring: GPT-5 Mini applies NSRCEL’s internal scoring criteria to rate each applicant.
Update: Results populate a shared Google Sheet with scores and comments.
Action: Automated emails are sent to applicants who do not meet thresholds.
Impact
Saved 5–10 hours per week of manual evaluation
Reduced L1 screening workload by 60 percent
Enabled faster turnaround and more consistent scoring
Freed staff to focus on high-value shortlists and interviews
Build overview
Duration: 2 days (design, build, testing)
Stack: N8N, Apify, GPT-5 Mini, Google Suite
Client: NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore
Program type: Startup incubator and accelerator
In summary
The Application Vetting Agent helped NSRCEL handle a high volume of startup applications with accuracy and speed. By combining enrichment, reasoning, and automated communication, it streamlined the first-level screening process and cut reviewer workload by more than half.
Next work
