An app-venture – Apna which envisions to connect millions of workers dwelling in the low income and fighting to get a job during the lockdown period to probable employers has raised $8 million from a cluster of investors. Apna raised funding from new investors such as Greenoaks Capital, Rocketship VC and pre-existing investors like Lightspeed India and Sequoia Capital. The investors funded to help the app expand its operation in more cities. Apna has aims to grow in the divisions of accounting, customer service and nursing. At present, Apan is present in five cities.

Apna was founded by Apple Inc. alumnus Nirmit Parikh. Apna is more like LinkedIn for non-English speaking Indians. Through Apna, first-time internet users have access to job search by filling their name, age and skills. After filling, they receive a virtual ‘business card’, which gets shared with potential employers. Apna was launched in December last year and in quick successions, it has gained the trust of 1.2 million users.

Apna has generated more than a million job interviews in the previous month for skilled persons in the verticals of carpentry, painting, and field sales. Its growth is 3 times on a monthly basis (as per Apna). Apna stated that Amazon.com, BigBasket and HDFC Bank have used the app for successful hiring purposes.

The Principal at Sequoia Capital India, Harshjit Sethi, said during the funding, "There are over 250 million blue and grey collar workers in India. Apna has built a unique product where users quickly come together in professional communities, an unmet need so far."