Home From College (HFC), a next-generation career platform, announced a $5.4 million seed round led by GV (Google Ventures). The company has raised $6.9 million in the past three years and has seen 300% annual revenue growth.
As a leader in the college career space, with a presence on campuses across all 50 states with over 100,000 users, Home From College plans to use the new funding to expand its product offerings to reach those in the first ten years of their career journeys and continue building out its team across product, sales, and marketing.
Launched in 2021, Home From College was built to provide a marketplace platform where brands can source and connect with GenZ professionals differently than traditional job sites. It democratizes access to GIG work for young professionals while enabling businesses to utilize new marketing avenues and connect with consumers where they shop.
The company’s core product is the HFC GIG. It allows students to find and apply for flexible opportunities, from one-day projects to continuous roles that align with their location, interests, and budding skills. It also provides a seamless entry point for testing new roles and bolstering resumes and is often a user’s first source of income.
Home From College has become a trusted platform for notable companies seeking a new approach, including Poppi, Aquaphor, Thrive Market, Peacock, Steve Madden, and hundreds more. Its solution makes it easy for brands to review, contract, manage, pay, and even source long-term hires for freelance work, content creation, ambassador programs, product testing, and internships.
Home From College co-founder and CEO Julia Haber founded her first startup while a freshman in college. Her first company, WAYV, brought brands like Shopify, Refinery29, and Rent the Runway to college campuses nationwide. And she is complemented by her co-founder, Kaj Zandvliet, who has a finance and operations background with previous experience at Sony and PineBridge Investments. His struggles to find diverse professional experiences during his college career is a significant driver for building the platform. He is an operator and instrumental in creating and scaling the tech-first marketplace for one of the hardest-to-capture audiences.
KEY QUOTES:
“Home From College is a first-of-its-kind destination for young people, driven by the founding team’s vision to build a comprehensive and dynamic marketplace that meets the needs of today’s professionals beyond what legacy platforms provide. We’re excited to support Julia Haber, Kaj Zandvliet, and the Home From College team as they transform the talent and hiring landscape, providing new opportunities for young professionals to connect with the brands they love.”
– KJ Sidberry, Partner at GV
“Home From College has changed the way we interact and connect with our GenZ audience. It has provided us with a seamless solution for everything from content creation to finding innovative new team members …and it continues to be a platform we turn to when ideating and creating our biggest campaigns. There truly is nothing else like it on the market and it has been such a valuable contributor to our growth.”
– Sonny Rothstadt, PR, Partnership & Event Director at Poppi
“Since our launch in 2021, we’ve seen tremendous organic growth and product adoption among young professional communities we care about. Home From College has blossomed into a powerful resource, and it’s just scratching the surface of what it can offer. We are excited to have support from GV and our clients as we further our mission and reinvent professional tools for the next generation.”
– Julia Haber, Co-Founder and CEO of Home From College
