Even with the pandemic almost behind us, employers are still finding it increasingly difficult to find the right candidates to fill millions of open positions. The number of US job openings hit a record high of 11.55 million in March, according to the Labor Department’s JOLTS report.
The situation is even worse in the tech sector. Tech employment is set to reach 8.9 million in 2022. Europe is not faring any better. That’s why MVP Match, a Berlin, Germany-based tech startup is on a mission to match fast-growing companies with freelancers and global vetted tech talent via its online marketplace.
Today, MVP Match announced it has secured €5 million ($5 million) in seed funding to support the company’s mission of matching the world’s builders and visionaries. Alongside the funding, the company also announced it has expanded to Portugal, Georgia, and Egypt with new talent hubs. The round was led by US-based Stage 2 Capital.
Founded in 2020 by co-founder and CEO Levin Wense and Philipp Petrescu, MVP Match is a matchmaking marketplace platform for companies and freelancers. The startup empowers fast-growing companies to flexibly hire vetted tech, design, and product talent globally. Through a people-first approach and continuous investment into its proprietary technology, companies and talents are able to enjoy a personally tailored hiring and work experience.
Even as the tech market stagnates and companies slow hiring, recruiters are still on the lookout for the right candidates to fill highly specific roles. Especially in times of market uncertainty, matching the right talent for the right jobs becomes even more crucial for tech companies looking to build their products and the foundation for a recovering market. The future of work consists of permanent core teams augmented by freelance workers to provide an agile talent supply tailored for each project, and MVP Match spearheads the push toward that landscape.
“Engineering, product, and design roles are critical, yet hard-to-fill positions. They’re in high demand by both growing technology companies, as well as non-tech companies undergoing rapid digital transformation,” says Anubhav Maheshwari and Mandy Cole, Partners at Stage 2 Capital – the first go-to-market venture capital firm that combines traditional venture investing and go-to-market execution expertise by leveraging its elite LP base of 300+ senior executives from unicorns and Fortune 500 firms.
“With a dedicated focus on providing an exceptional experience both for customers and remote talent alike, MVP Match is rapidly connecting proven and experienced professionals, wherever they may be located, with exciting and high-impact projects. We are thrilled to partner with the entire MVP Match team as they scale across multiple geographies and launch new products to best match remote roles and talent.”
By opening local tech talent hubs in Lisbon, Portugal, and Tbilisi, Georgia, MVP Match offers its clients access to local talent pools and the ability to hire internationally without the need for a local presence. MVP Match offers a complete nearshore solution, managing the entire recruiting process that includes finding and screening talent, acting as an Employer or Record (EoR), setting up local office spaces, and managing the talent’s onboarding and work experience.
With a talent pool of over 6 000 professionals, its own matchmaking platform, growing hubs in Georgia and Portugal, and the new hub in Egypt, MVP Match is already working with more than 100 companies, including tech unicorns, global enterprises, and leading professional services companies.
“The future of work is hybrid, global, and agile,” said Levin Wense, CEO and co-founder of MVP Match. ”In order to navigate that landscape, companies need to be flexible and cost-effective by combining a global talent approach with the full spectrum of permanent and freelance employees—especially in times of uncertainty like the ones we’re seeing”.
To further strengthen its position on the market and take on new challenges, MVP Match has appointed Detria Williamson as its new board member. “Detria is an inspiring leader and a marketing industry veteran. She is joining us at an exciting time and we are looking forward to her insights on how we can navigate better on our journey towards becoming the world’s no. 1 talent marketplace,” said Philipp Petrescu, co-Founder of MVP Match.