Rocket Internet is getting into the temp recruitment business

Photo credit: andreypopov / 123RF.

German startup leviathan Rocket Internet may have had a mixed 2016, but that’s certainly not preventing it from continuing to invest in new companies.

The latest startup to launch in Asia is Ushift, a marketplace for businesses to hire temporary staff. Ushift will officially launch on January 16 with Singapore as its first port of call. It’s a brand-new venture in its own right and, unlike some other startups, not a company that Rocket has exported from existing operations in Europe or Latin America.

Robinson Blanckaert, CEO of Ushift, tells Tech in Asia that the decision to target this niche was because existing processes for hiring short-term workers in Southeast Asia are fragmented and broken. There’s real demand from businesses like event management firms, restaurants, and catering outlets, but most recruiting is done through Facebook groups or word of mouth.

“If you manage a restaurant during high season, you might need from the next day on up to ten additional waiters to meet the workload. Ushift allows its clients to find the right candidates in a fast and convenient way,” he adds.

Ushift’s Robinson Blanckaert. Photo credit: Publicity.

Prospective employees sign up on the site and answer questions about experience, education, and availability to build a profile. Candidates also upload a short video to introduce themselves.

But that doesn’t mean all applicants are automatically added to the pool. Once candidates have done their bit, their profiles are put in ‘pending’ mode. Ushift’s team conducts background checks, including a Skype call to vet the person and verify his/her details. They’re added to the roster if everything checks out.

No commission

Rob explains they’re trying to engender a model that’s radically different from traditional short-term recruitment agencies.

“There are many [such agencies] which work with hotels and large hospitality players, and they do their jobs well, but they charge a year’s salary as commission. As a result, workers get paid less,” he says.

Ushift doesn’t take any money from people looking for work. It won’t charge employers a percentage of individual salaries either. There’s a tiered-pricing model in place – businesses can hire unlimited staff through the site for a monthly fee of US$100. Employers with staffing needs of up to five temporary hires a month use the site for free.

It went from idea to launch in just two months.

The pricing mechanisms aren’t yet in place. They’ll be implemented once the team has understood how best to serve businesses and employees and has achieved a semblance of product-market fit.

Conquering Southeast Asia