Jumpstart, the California-based recruitment platform that targets a younger job market, has reached an important milestone. The company just closed on its Series A funding round, raising a total of $8.5 million. The funding round, led by venture capital firm, Sequoia Capital enables the team to end the year on a positive note.

Established in 2017, Jumpstart matches companies with entry-level talent. Candidates are sought largely for engineering positions, internships, and other early-stage roles. The approach seems simple enough, but Jumpstart offers a twist to the traditional recruitment paradigm. The company sets itself apart by using algorithms to comprehensively assess candidates, rather than viewing them from a more narrow lens. It also partners with universities and top companies seeking to fill junior positions, saving them considerable time.

Jumpstart’s integrated resource model is more inclusive, preventing talented candidates from being overlooked based on the ranking of the school they attended or other similar factors. Ben Herman, founder and CEO of the company also presented data to substantiate its diversity efforts.

“Herman says that Lyft hired one-third of its interns for 2020 via Jumpstart, and 82% were from underrepresented groups,” as reported by TechCrunch’s Ingrid Lunden.

With a successful formula in place, Jumpstart is setting new goals. The company will soon expand its horizons by incorporating more experienced candidates into its existing talent pool.

See the process of how Jumpstart works below: