Kickstart Ventures Inc. Invests in Startup Online Learning Platform Kalibrr

Nov. 13, 2012 - PRLog -- Business incubation company Kickstart Ventures Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Globe Telecom, has invested one hundred thousand dollars, or more than four million pesos, in Kalibrr, a startup online learning platform designed to help users qualify for and land jobs.

Co-founded in January 2012 by UC Berkeley graduates Paul Rivera and Dexter Ligot-Gordon, Kalibrr is composed of talent from the Philippines and around the world. The company aims to create economic opportunities through learning and employment. And it’s starting by helping Filipinos get jobs in the local business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.

One of the fastest growing industries in the Philippines, the BPO sector is projected by the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) to employ 1.3 million people and earn $25 billion 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 5 percent hiring rate. Kalibrr CEO Paul Rivera, who previously founded a BPO company in the Philippines, says, “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."

Kalibrr aims to help to close this skills gap. Kalibrr partners with companies to identify critical skill 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.

Kickstart Ventures views this partnership as a step in line with its mission to cultivate a new generation of technoprepreneurs in the Philippines. For Kickstart President Minette Navarrete, “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.”

Kalibrr CEO Paul Rivera says, “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.”

To learn more about Kalibrr, visit http://www.kalibrr.com, www.facebook.com/kalibrr, or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBjn95viyos&feature=related. For more information on Kickstart Ventures, visit http://www.kickstart.ph.



About Kalibrr
Kalibrr is an online learning platform designed to help jobseekers get real jobs, starting with the call center industry. Composed of a global team of top talent, the company aims to create economic opportunities through learning and employment. Visit http://www.kalibrr.com to learn more.

About Kickstart
Kickstart Ventures Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom, Inc. Kickstart helps support and develop a dynamic community of technopreneurs in the Philippines. We help startup founders build innovative businesses by providing funding, facilities, mentorship and market access. Visit http://www.kickstart.ph for more information.