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Conversation
Highlights
Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech’s most innovative B2B founders. In today’s episode, we’re speaking with Karoli Hindriks, Founder of Jobbatical, a relocation visa support platform that has raised $23 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
- Simplifying Global Mobility: Jobbatical is working to make relocating to a new country as simple as booking a flight, leveraging AI and automation to streamline the employee visa process, cutting costs and reducing friction for both individuals and HR teams.
- Pivoting to Meet Customer Needs: Originally starting as a cross-border recruitment platform, Jobbatical pivoted in 2019 to focus solely on solving the relocation challenges their customers highlighted, such as visa management.
- Embracing Borderless Living Technology: Karoli describes Jobbatical as a creator of “borderless living technology,” aiming to build a new category that transcends traditional immigration tech and adapts to the modern, highly mobile workforce.
- Service Layer on Top of SaaS: Jobbatical blends software with a service layer, automating tasks like filling out visa forms and reducing manual work, significantly enhancing the user experience.
- Tackling Legacy Providers: Jobbatical is disrupting both large immigration law firms and internal HR teams by offering a more cost-effective and seamless solution to global relocation.
- Future Vision: Karoli envisions a world where the current paper passport becomes obsolete, replaced by a digital identity that makes global relocation frictionless, supported by AI-driven platforms like Jobbatical.
Actionable
Takeaways
Listen to Your Customers for the Pivot:
When Jobbatical noticed their customers struggling more with visa processing than recruitment, they didn’t hesitate to pivot. Founders should pay close attention to customer feedback—it could reveal a new and more lucrative direction.
Blend Software with Service for Greater Impact:
Karoli emphasized that software alone wasn’t enough to transform their industry. Adding a service layer allowed Jobbatical to automate the tedious aspects of relocation. Consider how integrating services can offer more value to your customers.
Don’t Be Afraid to Let Go:
Pivoting after years of work is emotionally tough, but clinging to a failing business model will hold you back. Karoli shared that overcoming the psychological barrier of pivoting was crucial to Jobbatical’s success.
Create Your Own Category:
Jobbatical positions itself as a “borderless living technology” company rather than sticking to a traditional immigration tech label. Innovators should think about how to define and own a new category rather than fitting into an old one.
The Importance of Strategic Fundraising:
Karoli advises founders to carefully choose their investors, as working with the wrong venture capitalists can drain energy and resources. Treat VCs like partners you can’t easily divorce—ensure they are aligned with your long-term vision.
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