Apna - Empowering Job Seekers and Recruiters With the Apna App

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As a pioneer in the ever-changing world of professional networking and job platforms, Apna connects professionals with businesses in a smooth manner and opens doors to rewarding career prospects.

Millions of people in India lost their jobs during the coronavirus pandemic as numerous enterprises shut down and forced workers to return home. In India, there are nearly 500 million blue and gray-collar employees as per news report of 2022, and providing them with meaningful job opportunities is one of our country's major concerns.

Apna is a leading professional networking and job platform that facilitates seamless connections between professionals and employers, enabling individuals to secure rewarding career opportunities.

Founded in 2019, Apna became a unicorn approximately 21 months after its founding and 15 months after it started full-scale operations. The firm was founded by ex-Apple executive Nirmit Parikh and has been valued at $1.1 billion, becoming a unicorn following a fundraising round led by Tiger Global Management in 2021.

Read the success story of Apna and also learn about its founder, business and revenue model, funding and investors, growth, and more.

Apna - Company Highlights

Apna - About
Apna - Industry
Apna - Founders and Team
Apna - Startup Story
Apna - Mission and Vision
Apna - Name and Logo
Apna - Business and Revenue Model
Apna - Fundings and Investors
Apna - Shareholding
Apna - Growth and Revenue
Apna - Partnerships
Apna - Advertisements and Social Media Campaigns
Apna - Competitors
Apna - Future Plans

Apna - About

Apna is an Indian digital recruiting company that links companies with millions of blue, gray and entry level white workers. Job seekers may use the platform to build a profile that includes their talents, education, and experience, search for opportunities, phone the company directly, schedule an interview, and be hired.

Employers may use it to advertise job openings, interact with prospects, arrange interviews, and recruit employees. BYJU'S, Swiggy, Paytm, Flipkart, Delhivery, Zomato, Licious, and others are among the company's notable clientele. The Apna app is also accessible as an Android and iOS app.

The coronavirus pandemic boosted digital recruiting, with a rise in job postings in manufacturing and eCommerce fueled by the country's recovery from multiple illness waves.

The Apna platform has earned the trust of 5 crore job seekers community, making it India's sought-after destination for discovering relevant opportunities. With a presence in over 74 cities and ongoing expansion, Apna is meeting the surging job demand as India returns to work.

Apna - Industry

The staffing and recruitment market is expected to develop significantly as per news report from Globe Newswire, with a projected valuation of $683.22 billion by 2022. Based on projections, there will be a significant increase to $1778.29 billion by 2030, with a strong Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.7% between 2022 and 2030.

A strong presence across industries including IT & Telecom, BFSI, Healthcare, Retail & E-commerce, and a variety of staffing kinds and expanding recruitment platforms are some of the causes driving this growth. In addition to being a major player in the financial sector, the staffing and recruitment business is crucial in determining the nature of work globally.

Apna - Founders and Team

Apna was founded by former Apple executive Nirmit Parikh in 2019.

Nirmit Parikh

Apna is the biggest recruiting and vertical professional network for India's working class, and Nirmit Parikh is the Founder and CEO of Apna. Nirmit was previously a member of Apple's iPhone product operations team and Director of New Products / Data Analytics at Intel Corporation. Earlier, he established Cruxbot (which was bought by Kno, Intel Corporation).

Nirmit holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from Stanford University and a Bachelor's degree in Instrumentation and Control Engineering from Nirma Institute of Technology.

Apna - Startup Story

Apna's startup story began with its founder, Parikh, recognizing the challenges faced by his relatives and friends in India when it came to recruiting employees. Despite a large number of people actively seeking employment, there was a significant labor shortage. Parikh identified the lack of a scalable networking infrastructure as the main obstacle to connecting job seekers and employers.

To gain a deeper understanding of the labor market challenges, Parikh immersed himself in the field. He engaged with employees and even took on roles as an electrician and a floor manager, going undercover to experience firsthand the issues they faced. These experiences provided valuable insights and informed the development of Apna.

At the core of Apna's business is a mission to address the network gaps experienced by workers. Apna has developed an Android app available in multiple languages, offering over 70 categories tailored to specialized professions such as carpenters, painters, and field sales representatives. Through the app, users can interact with each other, sharing leads and career advice. Apna also provides resources for skill development, interview practice, and job enhancement. The company aims to further enhance its offerings by developing skilling courses, result- or job-based training, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities through vertical communities.

With a user-centric approach, data insights, and a continuous feedback loop, Apna has experienced rapid growth, facilitating over 20 million job interviews per month as of 2022. The company's focus on addressing the needs of both job seekers and employers has positioned it as a significant player in the job market, striving to bridge the gap between talent and opportunities.

Apna - Mission and Vision

Apna works with the strong mission of accelerating India by empowering the rising workforce with better professional opportunities.

Apna - Name and Logo

Apna means "ours" in Hindi. It is a platform that brings job seekers and recruiters together, empowering both sides by connecting them to relevant opportunities and resources in India's job market.

Apna - Business and Revenue Model

The core of Apna's business model is to assist employees in both the formal and informal sectors of the Indian economy. The platform has steadily broadened its focus to include white-collar jobs, despite its initial emphasis being largely on blue-collar vocations. Employees can streamline their job hunt with Apna's free access to professional tools and job prospects.

Companies use a fee-based mechanism on the employer side of Apna to post job openings and gain access to the platform's wide applicant pool. This two-pronged strategy positions Apna as an essential intermediary between companies and job seekers, expediting the recruitment process and promoting professional and social growth for all stakeholders.

Revenue Model

Apna generates its revenue through various channels within its business model. One of its main sources of income is providing technical support services to the holding company, which in turn offers platform services to recruiters and job seekers. This mutually beneficial arrangement allows Apna to earn income while supporting the smooth functioning of the platform.

In addition, Apna monetizes its operations by offering recruitment solutions through its web platform and mobile application. By providing valuable services to both job seekers and recruiters, Apna creates a platform where employers can connect with potential candidates and individuals can explore job opportunities tailored to their preferences.

The company also diversifies its revenue streams by earning interest on fixed deposits, current investments, and other non-operating income. These additional sources contribute to the overall financial stability and growth of Apna.

Through its unique approach and commitment to facilitating connections, Apna strives to provide value to both employers and job seekers in the ever-evolving job market.

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Apna - Fundings and Investors

Apna has raised a total of $193.5 million in funding over five rounds as of November 2023.

Here are the funding details for Apna:

Apna - Shareholding

Apna - Growth and Revenue

Apna, a digital employment platform for blue-collar employees, gray and entry level white-collar employees, was valued at $1.1 billion just two years after it was launched. Another intriguing aspect of Apna is that it was in the pre-revenue stage, with no revenue at that time.

Here are some of the growth highlights of Apna:

• It has 5 crore job seekers community
• The company has presence in 74+ cities
• Apna has 50 lakh+ jobs, as per the website
• It has 501–1,000 employees, as per LinkedIn

Financials

Operating income for Apna increased by over 3X to Rs 180.2 crore in FY23 from Rs 63.9 crore in FY22.

After losing Rs 112.5 crore in FY22, the startup lost Rs 120.3 crore in FY23, a 7% rise. The company had a 73% increase in total expenses from Rs 178.3 crore in FY22 to Rs 308.4 crore in FY23.

Expenses

Total expenses of Apna rose from Rs 45.4 crore in FY21 to Rs 178.3 crore in FY22.

EBITDA

Apna - Partnerships

Apna collaborated with some of India's most prestigious governmental and private institutions, including the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the National Skill Development Corporation, and UNICEF YuWaah, to help applicants get improved skilling and employment prospects.

Apna's platform onboarded more than 100,000 recruiters in India, including BYJU's, Flipkart, Zomato, Licious, Burger King, Zepto, Rapido, PharmEasy, and more. With a streamlined job posting process that takes less than five minutes, recruiters can connect with hyperlocal candidates possessing relevant skills within a span of two days.

Swiggy

In April 2023, Swiggy, the popular online food delivery startup, joined forces with Apna in a collaborative effort. The partnership's primary focus is to create 10,000 hyperlocal opportunities exclusively for Swiggy's quick-commerce grocery service, Instamart. This strategic alliance aims to enhance Swiggy's operations and strengthen its delivery workforce in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

Apna - Advertisements and Social Media Campaigns

Apna has undertaken advertising and social media campaigns to create awareness and attract job seekers. Their notable campaign, #ApnaKaamAyega, launched in April 2022, aimed to highlight Apna's ability to connect job seekers with relevant opportunities. The campaign conveyed a message of hope and confidence to job seekers, establishing Apna's brand presence in the competitive job market.

Additionally, Apna leverages social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Instagram to share engaging content. Their social media posts focus on capturing users' attention and fostering relatability. By utilizing these channels, Apna expands its online presence, reaches a broader audience, and generates interest in the platform.

Apna - Competitors

Some of Apna's top competitors are:

• Monster
• Hired
• Indeed
• Naukri.com
• Zippia
• ZipRecruiter

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Apna - Future Plans

Apna, India's largest professional networking platform, is committed to improving job accessibility and helping users find the right opportunities. Their new initiative, Apna Ascend, aims to upskill 1 million job seekers by 2024, providing top-notch training and bridging the skill gap. With dedicated coaching, improvement sessions, and insights from industry experts, Apna Ascend empowers job seekers and addresses the skills mismatch.

Additionally, Apna plans to launch more courses in sectors like sales and data support services to widen the scope of upskilling and create job opportunities in emerging technologies. Furthermore, Apna has introduced an international jobs feature, expanding career horizons by assisting Indians in finding work opportunities in the global market. These efforts align with Apna's commitment to enhancing job prospects for its users.

FAQs

What does Apna do?

Apna is a professional networking platform that connects job seekers with relevant opportunities and empowers recruiters to find the right talent.

When was Apna founded?

Apna was founded by former Apple executive Nirmit Parikh in 2019.

What is Apna app?

Apna app is a mobile application that serves as a comprehensive platform for job seekers and recruiters, facilitating job searches, networking, and professional development.