Apna, a Bengaluru-based startup that helps job seekers find blue-collared jobs has managed to raise over $70 million from Tiger Global and Insight Partners. The app was launched before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Since then it has grown over 50 times and is currently valued at $570 million. 

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According to the company’s announcement, the funding will be used for talent acquisition, expanding to the United States and Southeast Asia regions and improving their technology. 

The app’s unprecedented growth over the last 12 months could be because of the increased demand for e-commerce and health care. 

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Nirmit Parikh, former Apple Inc. executive, who built Apna calls the platform a sort of Linkedin but for non-English speakers. 

“Each job has a ripple effect by helping put food on the table or helping pay kids’ school fees, all of which is even more important in these COVID-19 times”, said Parikh in an interview. 

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The app has now raised over $90 million and has helped connect over 10 million job seekers to more than 100,000 employers. 

They also provide training on micro-courses such as conversational English and job interview skills. When a candidate does not do well in an interview, the app advises them on how to learn a particular skill to overcome the issue. 

These skill-based courses are taught by partners or are developed in-house.