Apna.co, a recruitment startup that aims to connect millions of bottom-of-the-pyramid (grey and blue-collar workers) to employers amid the lockdown has raised $8 Mn from multiple investors.
The startup founded in December 2019 by Nirmit Parikh has created a vertical network for skilled professionals like carpenters, painters, field sales agents etc. This startup claimed that it has more than 1.2 million users engaging on its platform.
Apna.co Founder and CEO Nirmit Parikh said, “Apna’s mission is to connect people with opportunities. We want to uplift workers who form the backbone of the economy and provide them a platform to grow in their career.”
It generated over a million job interviews in the last month for workers like carpenters, painters and field sales agents, growing over 3X month-on-month, according to the company. The firm added that Amazon.com, online grocer BigBasket, and HDFC Bank Ltd. have hired through the app.
It is an app which helps first-time internet users access job opportunities by entering their name, age, and skills to generate a virtual “business card” that’s shared with potential employers. Less than a year after its December launch, Apna has 1.2 million users.
Vaibhav Agrawal, Partner at Lightspeed India Partners Advisors, said, “The most powerful thing for me about Apna is its communities — I’ve seen people help each other start a business, learn a new language or find a gig! Communities rely on trust and make the model infinitely scaleable.”
The funding, from new investors Greenoaks Capital, Rocketship VC as well as existing backers Lightspeed India and Sequoia Capital, will help the app expand to more cities, the Indian firm said in a statement published Tuesday. It also wants to grow across verticals such as accounting, customer service and nursing.
Apna.co, which is present in five cities, plans to use this fresh round of funding to enter newer markets, hire talent, and add more verticals.