Bandana, a New York City-based startup, is on a mission to help lower-income individuals find better jobs with higher wages and good benefits, all while reducing commuting time. It recently secured an $8.5 million investment, bringing its total funding to $12.3 million.
The company’s CEO and co-founder, Timothy Makalinao, aims to rejuvenate the working class in America by creating a platform that simplifies the job search process. Bandana’s website features job listings along with a map that displays job locations, pay details, benefits, and more.
Bandana has seen significant success with over 150,000 job seekers visiting the site since its launch, largely due to effective content marketing on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The company has attracted thousands of workers with minimal advertising spend, leveraging engaging videos to highlight job opportunities and local businesses.
With plans to expand its services beyond NYC, Bandana aims to reach new audiences and further promote job listings in other regions like New Jersey, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area. The company will utilize the recent funding to enhance its advertising efforts and broaden awareness of its platform.
Looking ahead, Bandana intends to introduce innovative features such as a generative AI search tool and additional services like training programs and financial literacy resources. The recent investment was led by General Catalyst, with support from Craft Ventures and Triple Impact Capital.
