Home From College, a career platform designed specifically for young professionals and college students, has announced that it has raised $5.4 million in a seed funding round led by GV (formerly Google Ventures). This significant investment will be used to further develop the platform’s main offering, "Gig," a marketplace where companies can list jobs, ranging from part-time and internship opportunities to one-time projects and more long-term roles.
A Solution for Gen Z’s Job Search Pain Points
The Los Angeles-based startup was founded in 2021 by Julia Haber, who previously founded WAYV, a marketing company that created "branded experiences" like pop-up shops on college campuses. Haber was joined by Kaj Zandvliet, a former banker at PineBridge Investments and financial analyst at Sony Music Entertainment.
Home From College’s genesis began during WAYV-hosted events, where students expressed their concerns about being unemployed when they graduated and not having their college major align with their desired career path. Other pain points included students struggling to find enjoyable ways to earn extra income during their time in college or not qualifying for jobs due to an empty résumé.
Disrupting the Traditional Job Search
Home From College aims to disrupt the traditional job search process for Gen Z, who are increasingly gravitating toward more flexible opportunities outside of the 9-to-5 grind. Some have dubbed Gen Z as the "flexible" or "entrepreneurial" generation, and Home From College is catering to their needs.
A Platform Designed Specifically for Students
Home From College’s platform is designed specifically with students in mind. It offers a range of features that make it easy for students to find jobs and get hired, including:
- A user-friendly interface that makes it simple to search and apply for jobs
- A feature that allows companies to list their job openings directly on the platform
- A resume builder tool that helps students create professional-looking resumes
- A payment system that allows companies to pay students directly through the platform
Competing with Design Tools Like Canva
Home From College is also competing with design tools like Canva with its newest feature, "Resume Studio." While the templates offered on Home From College are arguably less advanced than Canva’s, they serve as a starting point for students who may have never made a professional résumé before.
Pricing and Plans
Home From College is free for students, while companies can choose from three subscription tiers: Starter ($99 per month), Growth Mode ($199 per month), and Enterprise (price varies). The platform has over 100,000 users and has helped facilitate "thousands and thousands" of hires, according to Haber.
Expansion Plans
Home From College mainly caters to people just starting out in their careers, but the company wants to expand its product offerings to people who have been in the workforce for ten years or less. The company previously raised $1.5 million from PEAK6 and angel investors.
Conclusion
Home From College’s seed funding round is a significant milestone for the company, which is poised to disrupt the traditional job search process for Gen Z. With its user-friendly platform, range of features, and competitive pricing, Home From College is well-positioned to become a leader in the gig economy.
