Apna Raises $70M to Empower Indian Job Seekers

Addressing the Employment Challenges in India

A significant portion of India’s population comprises low-skilled laborers originating from rural areas, seeking employment in urban centers. The recent coronavirus pandemic has unfortunately resulted in job losses for many of these individuals, as economic activity has been curtailed globally.

Introducing Apna: A Platform for Blue and Gray-Collar Workers

Founded by a former Apple employee, Apna is a startup dedicated to empowering blue and gray-collar workers through upskilling, community building, and job placement. The company recently secured $70 million in a new funding round, fueled by its growing market acceptance and plans for expansion across India.

Series B Funding and Valuation

Insight Partners and Tiger Global jointly led Apna’s $70 million Series B funding round, resulting in a company valuation of $570 million. Existing investors, including Lightspeed India, Sequoia Capital India, Greenoaks Capital, and Rocketship VC, also participated, bringing the total funding raised by Apna to over $90 million.

Bridging the Networking Gap

The core mission of Apna, inspired by a popular 2019 Bollywood song, is to address the networking disparities faced by many workers. Founder and CEO Nirmit Parikh explains that individuals from privileged backgrounds often have access to superior education and influential connections, opportunities frequently unavailable to those just kilometers away.

Building a Scalable Networking Infrastructure

Apna is focused on creating a scalable networking infrastructure to connect workers with suitable employers and facilitate job opportunities. Griffin Schroeder, a partner at Tiger Global, emphasizes that Apna’s digitization of job discovery, application processes, and employer-candidate interactions has the potential to fundamentally change the recruitment landscape.

App Features and Community Engagement

The Apna Android application, available in multiple languages, currently hosts over 70 communities catering to skilled professionals like carpenters, painters, and sales agents.

Within the app, users connect with peers, share job leads, and exchange advice for professional development. Furthermore, the platform provides upskilling opportunities, interview practice, and access to a wider range of employment options. Apna is developing Masterclass-style skilling modules, job-focused training, and peer-to-peer learning initiatives within its specialized communities.

Demonstrated Success and User Growth

Apna’s approach is proving effective, with the platform now boasting over 10 million users. Last month alone, the app facilitated more than 15 million job interviews, according to Parikh. All job postings on the Apna platform are verified by the company and are offered to candidates at no cost.

Strategic Partnerships

Apna has established partnerships with leading public and private organizations in India, including the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the National Skill Development Corporation, and UNICEF YuWaah, to enhance skilling and job prospects for candidates.

Recruiter Adoption and Efficiency

Over 100,000 recruiters, including prominent companies like Byju’s, Unacademy, Flipkart, Zomato, and Licious, are utilizing Apna’s platform. They can post job openings in under five minutes and connect with qualified, local candidates within two days.

Industry Recognition and Investment Rationale

Nikhil Sachdev, Managing Director at Insight Partners, states that Apna has created a “market leading platform” for India’s workforce to build a digital professional presence, network, access training, and secure quality jobs.

Sachdev further notes that employers are rapidly adopting Apna due to its efficient talent acquisition process and high customer satisfaction. The investment is expected to accelerate Apna’s growth, expand its operations, and improve access to opportunities for the Indian workforce.

Future Expansion Plans

Apna intends to use the newly acquired capital to expand its reach across India and eventually launch the app in international markets. The company is actively recruiting tech talent in South Asia, having recently welcomed experienced professionals from Uber, BCG, and Swiggy.

Apna’s established infrastructure and brand recognition allow for rapid deployment in new cities, with the ability to generate over 10,000 interviews within two days of launch.

Commitment to Economic Recovery

“Our first goal is to restart India’s economy in the next couple of months and do whatever we can to help,” says Parikh, who previously worked on the iPhone product-operations team at Apple.