SA recruiting startup JOBJACK raised $2.5 M to support initiatives to reduce unemployment

Pre-Series A funding has been raised by South African recruitment startup JOBJACK, which aims to transform the perception of entry-level hiring in the nation, totaling ZAR45 million (US $2.5 million).

Christiaan van den Berg and Heine Bellingan founded JOBJACK, a free web-based job search platform, in 2018 to cater to job seekers seeking entry-level work. With JOBJACK, job seekers can apply for jobs straight from their mobile devices by following a simple CV creation process. For MTN and Vodacom network users, the application process is currently data-free.

Nearly two million job seekers have registered on the platform, and the number is increasing by 2,000 every day, according to the startup. The ZAR45 million (US $2.5 million) in funding that has been secured will help job seekers find opportunities that could change their lives while also expanding JOBJACK’s expanding network in South Africa. Michael & Susan Dell Foundation is among the investors in the round, which was headed by NEXT176.

“These funds allow us to continue our momentum of onboarding employers and, not only streamlining their entry-level recruitment but to drive accessibility and affordability for the job seekers that need it most,” said van den Berg, co-founder and co-CEO at JOBJACK.

According to Ona Meyer, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation’s program manager for youth employment, the foundation makes investments in businesses that create innovations that give unemployed South Africans access to job opportunities so they can support their families.

“This partnership will allow JOBJACK to further scale its current response plan, streamlining the recruitment process and increasing access and affordability for job seekers. We are encouraged by the growth trajectory of JOBJACK’s business model to serve those looking to enter the entry-level job market,” he said.