BorderPlus is the website connecting the world’s blue-collar workforce to international opportunities, having recently completed a funding round worth $7 million. It has been led by Owl Ventures and represents the perfect opportunity for this co-founder-led startup with Mayank Kumar and Ayush Mathur on board to target labor shortages on the global front through employment in international jobs.

Mayank Kumar, renowned for co-founding the edtech giant upGrad, and Ayush Mathur, a former senior leader at OYO, have combined their extensive experience to launch BorderPlus. Their shared vision is to bridge the gap between the abundant skilled labor force in countries like India and the escalating demand for such talent in various global markets. 

Reuniting after more than a decade since their tenure at the Parthenon Group, the duo aims to redefine cross-border mobility, starting with the healthcare sector in Germany. 

Strategic Focus on Healthcare

BorderPlus has initiated its journey by focusing on the healthcare industry in Germany, a sector currently experiencing significant labor shortages.

The platform is piloting its first batch of candidates, providing them with comprehensive training programs designed to prepare them for international roles. These programs, spanning six to nine months, offer flexibility through offline, blended, or online formats, with the final phase conducted offline to ensure effective language learning. The first training center is operational in Pune, followed by Mumbai, with plans to expand to additional cities nationwide for last-mile training.

Expansion into Multiple Sectors and Regions

While the initial focus is on healthcare, BorderPlus has ambitious plans to expand into other sectors such as hospitality, retail, teaching, construction, and logistics. 

The company also intends to explore new geographies beyond Germany within six to eight months of operations, targeting regions like the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), Canada, various parts of Europe, Japan, and South Korea.

Innovative Training Approach

To facilitate language proficiency and cultural acclimatization, BorderPlus is developing an AI-powered conversational tool based on OpenAI technology. This tool allows candidates to practice spoken language through interactive exchanges, thereby enhancing their readiness for international roles. 

The training program is designed to be holistic, encompassing language skills, cultural orientation, and job-specific competencies to ensure candidates are well-prepared for their new environments.

The leadership team at BorderPlus is strategically aligned to tackle global workforce challenges. Kevin Shah is spearheading demand, Praniti Lal and Radnyee Naik bring deep language expertise, and Subhendu Chandra leads supply operations. This diverse team is committed to bridging the gap between talent and opportunity, ensuring a seamless process for both candidates and employers.

Addressing Global Labor Shortages

Countries like Germany and Denmark are currently facing critical labor shortages in industries such as healthcare and hospitality. BorderPlus aims to address these gaps by connecting skilled Indian professionals with international opportunities. 

The platform’s comprehensive training programs ensure that candidates are not only technically proficient but also culturally and linguistically prepared to thrive in their new roles.

Mayank Kumar emphasizes the importance of channeling India’s demographic dividend toward global opportunities. He states, “Despite being the largest youth nation, there’s a very severe opportunity gap in India that is restricting talent migration. 

Therefore, we have brought like-minded leaders together to revolutionize international recruitment and effectively channel India’s demographic dividend toward the right global opportunities.”

Ayush Mathur shares his experiences about OYO while conferring that there has been a challenging talent pool in the hospitality sector. He feels that a structured talent migration model will help reach this scale through industry cooperation with organizations in Europe, the UK, the US, and Japan, which shall also help India to be on a journey of becoming the largest supply market of skilled labor.

Future Outlook

With the infusion of $7 million from Owl Ventures, BorderPlus is well-positioned to scale its operations and expand its reach into multiple sectors and regions.

The company plans to establish additional training centers across India to handle final-stage training and increase the frequency of training batches as the platform scales.

BorderPlus, being a technology-driven and comprehensive training program, would streamline the pathway of the Indian worker to international job platforms to achieve global labour market balance and accelerate economical growth.