Frontier Raises $2.8M to Empower Job Candidates

Frontier Launches with $2.8 Million Funding

Frontier, a newly launched jobs marketplace described as “vertically integrated,” has secured $2.8 million in seed funding. The investment round was spearheaded by NFX, with participation from firstminute Capital of London, FJ Labs, Cyan Banister, Ilkka Pannanen, Alex Bouaziz, Liquid 2, and a number of other investment funds and individual investors.

Streamlining the Hiring Process

Frontier differentiates itself by pre-screening applicants and identifying top candidates. This allows these pre-qualified individuals to schedule interviews directly with employers. The aim is to significantly reduce both the time and cost associated with traditional hiring procedures.

Focus on High-Volume, Low-Skill Roles

The platform is specifically designed for businesses requiring a large number of workers for entry-level positions. Frontier is not targeting roles demanding specialized expertise or extensive experience.

Current clients include Carrol’s, the largest franchisee of Burger King restaurants, and Concentrix.

Addressing Hiring Inefficiencies

According to Elliot O’Connor, founder and CEO of Frontier, the current hiring landscape is fragmented. This fragmentation leads to prolonged hiring times and inflexible labor markets, a situation he believes is unsustainable.

O’Connor stated that a successful hiring platform must control a greater portion of the hiring process than existing job boards. This control will enable a fundamental improvement in the overall experience for both employers and job seekers.

Skill-Based Assessments, Not AI

Frontier employs skill-based assessments to mitigate unconscious bias in the selection process. The company emphasizes that it does not utilize artificial intelligence in the conventional sense.

These assessments focus on practical skills relevant to high-volume roles, such as typing speed, for positions in areas like customer support, retail, and warehousing. Resumes are not considered during the initial screening phase.

The system operates on a rule-based framework, allowing companies to define their own criteria for candidate evaluation.

A Vertically Integrated Solution

Frontier has consolidated various software components into a single, integrated platform. This includes a modular screening tool that allows each customer to customize the screening process based on their specific requirements.

This approach ensures that employers receive qualified candidates ready for interviews.

Industry Perspective

Pete Flint, a general partner at NFX, highlighted Frontier’s innovative approach to talent sourcing. He believes the platform delivers an on-demand experience comparable to those found in other sectors.

Flint noted that accelerating the hiring process provides substantial benefits to significant portions of the labor market. He also emphasized the network effects inherent in Frontier’s product and business model, distinguishing it from traditional competitors.

He stated that these network effects create a fundamentally different offering.