Globe unit injects P4 million in tech start-up

MANILA, Philippines - Ayala-controlled Globe Telecom Inc. has infused more than P4 million to a start-up online learning platform aimed at solving the job mismatch in the growing information technology – business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) sector.

Globe’s wholly-owned business incubation company Kickstart Ventures Inc. invested in Kalibrr, founded by UC Berkeley graduates Paul Rivera and Dexter Ligot-Gordon last January to help users qualify for and land jobs.

The company, composed of talents from the Philippines and around the world, aims to create economic opportunities through learning and employment and at the same time help Filipinos get jobs in the IT-BPO industry.

Kickstart Ventures president Minette Navarrete said the partnership is a step in line with their mission to cultivate a new generation of technoprepreneurs in the Philippines.

“Kalibrr represents the kind of startup that we want to invest in: a transformational idea, an ambitious plan, and a strong drive to execute in-market. Paul and Dexter have assembled a great team, and we’re thrilled to join their drive to innovate in the education-to-employment space,” she said.

For his part, Kalibrr chief executive officer Paul Rivera pointed out that the company hopes to close this skills gap.

“Through this investment, we aim to disrupt the way people prepare for and qualify for work globally. We are a Filipino brand with a global vision,” he said.

Kalibrr partners with companies to identify critical skills needs and creates a series of assessment tools and curricula that help users qualify for a job. Once users complete the online program, Kalibrr refers them to its partner companies for a job interview. For users, the service is absolutely free. Companies pay a fixed fee for every candidate they hire through Kalibrr.

At present, Kalibrr is focused on getting users in Metro Manila call center jobs.

The company has already successfully helped users start their careers with some of the country’s top BPO companies. It plans to cater to companies in other industries, and expand to other provinces in the Philippines and abroad.

The IT-BPO sector is one of the fastest-growing industries in the Philippines.

The Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) sees the industry’s revenues hitting $25 billion and employing1.3 million people in 2016.

According to BPAP, BPO jobs – which offer higher salaries than many jobs in other industries – can help to strengthen the Philippine middle class.

However, despite the availability of thousands of BPO jobs and many companies’ leniency with qualifications, the industry only has a five percent hiring rate.

“The biggest risk to doing business in the Philippines isn’t natural disasters or corruption – it’s the ability to find enough skilled talent to fill our vacancies,” Rivera concluded.