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Analysis · HR & Future of Work

Digital Labour Chowk raises ₹43 crore in grants

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Date
Company
Digital Labour Chowk
What it does
Blue-collar job platform
Kind
Analysis
Amount
₹43 crore
Stage
grant
Founded
2020
Sector
HR & Future of Work

What they do

Digital Labour Chowk is an online platform connecting blue-collar workers with job opportunities across India

What happened

Founder Chandrashekhar Mandal received a ₹43 crore grant after appearing on Bharat Ke Super Founders, plus an earlier ₹10 lakh grant

Why it matters

The platform aims to give blue-collar workers a digital professional identity, similar to LinkedIn for white-collar professionals; it operates a three-sided…

The details

  • Digital Labour Chowk is a platform that brings the traditional physical labour market online, connecting workers with employers.
  • Founder Chandrashekhar Mandal, from a small village in Bihar, moved to Delhi for education and later joined an NBFC in 2020.
  • While working at the NBFC, Mandal saw the struggles of job seekers and got the idea to digitise the blue-collar job market.
  • He started by building a website where workers and employers could register and connect.
  • The COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020 accelerated the need for digital solutions in the labour market.
  • Mandal left his job and moved back to his village in September 2020 to focus on the venture.
  • The platform received its first major grant of ₹10 lakh from an incubation centre in Pune.
  • After appearing on Bharat Ke Super Founders, the platform received a ₹1 crore grant, bringing total grants to ₹1.1 crore.

The bigger picture

  • The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for digital solutions in the informal labour market.
  • The platform addresses a critical gap by providing a free service for workers while charging contractors and corporates.
  • The vision of creating a LinkedIn-like professional identity for blue-collar workers is a significant step towards formalising the informal sector.

About the business

  • Digital Labour Chowk connects workers with job opportunities across 31 states and union territories in India.
  • The platform has over 3 lakh workers connected with job opportunities daily.
  • Workers use the platform for free, while contractors are charged a nominal amount and corporates pay higher fees.
  • The business operates a three-sided ecosystem involving workers, contractors, and employers.
  • A key focus is on verification of both workers and employers to build trust on the platform.
  • The company aims to create a digital professional identity for blue-collar workers, similar to LinkedIn for white-collar professionals.

What happens next

  • The platform aims to continue building a digital professional identity for blue-collar workers.
  • It plans to expand its reach across more states and union territories.

The deal

Type
grant

Investors

  • Incubation centre in Pune (lead) — Provided the first major grant of ₹10 lakh.
  • Venture capital investor in Bengaluru (participated) — Provided additional grants and funding.

Founders

  • Chandrashekhar Mandal, Founder

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