Shomvob: Changing the Way Bangladesh Connects Jobs and People

Overview

A social venture called Shomvob seeks to increase employment accessibility and inclusivity for all people in Bangladesh. It holds that all people, regardless of their identity or background, should have an equal opportunity to work and develop. Shomvob helps businesses foster a more inclusive and varied workplace by bringing together employers and job seekers.

In Bengali, “Shomvob” means “possible.” It embodies the organization’s conviction that fair opportunity for all can lead to a better future. In addition to supporting under-represented groups including women, individuals with disabilities, and those from low-income backgrounds, Shomvob is trying to lessen discrimination in hiring. The word “Shomvob” means “possible” in Bengali. It reflects the organization’s belief that a better future is possible when everyone gets equal opportunities. Shomvob is working to reduce discrimination in hiring and to support underrepresented groups like women, people with disabilities, and people from poor backgrounds.

Why Shomvob is Important

In Bangladesh, many people find it hard to get a good job. Some face problems because they are poor, live in rural areas, or don’t have good connections. Others face discrimination because of their gender, religion, disability, or other social reasons. Many companies only hire from certain universities or cities. This makes it unfair for many talented people who do not fit those categories. Shomvob wants to change this. They believe that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. By creating a fairer hiring system, Shomvob is helping to build a stronger, more equal society.

What Shomvob Does

Shomvob offers a number of services that help both job seekers and employers. Their main focus is on inclusive hiring. Let’s look at some of the key things they do:

1. A platform for inclusive recruitment

A digital job portal has been developed by Shomvob, where users can register for jobs and build profiles. The platform offered by Shomvob is made to give everyone an equal opportunity, in contrast to other employment portals. It eliminates prejudices based on location, gender, or university name. It emphasises abilities, experience, and potential instead.

Also they give businesses the ability to examine applicants without seeing names or other potentially biased personal information. Businesses can make more equitable and better recruiting decisions by using what is known as a “blind hiring” procedure.

2. Employer Support

Shomvob works with employers to help them become more inclusive. They train HR teams on diversity, equity, and inclusion. They also help companies review their hiring practices to remove discrimination.
By doing this, Shomvob helps companies tap into a wider talent pool. Many companies have found that inclusive hiring helps them get better employees and improves their brand image.

3. Guidance on Careers for Job Searchers

Shomvob also provides career coaching and training to help job seekers. They assist people in developing skills that are relevant to the workplace, enhancing resumes, and getting ready for interviews. They give particular attention to those who are frequently overlooked in the employment market, like women who are going back to work.

Individuals that are disabled, young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and Initial-generation graduates- Shomvob helps these people gain confidence and prepare for the workforce by providing them with training, mentoring, and direction. This data-driven approach shows how inclusive hiring impacts business success and helps uncover hidden problems.

4. Information and Investigation

Shomvob also gathers data about hiring trends in Bangladesh. They publish reports describing the instances of prejudice and their remedies. Their research helps businesses, academic institutions, and politicians make better decisions. This data-driven method helps reveal hidden issues and demonstrates how inclusive hiring affects company success.

Impact of Shomvob

Since its beginning, Shomvob has helped thousands of people get better job opportunities. They have worked with many top companies in Bangladesh to improve hiring practices. Some of the major changes they have seen include:
•More companies now hire from rural and public universities.
•Women are getting more opportunities, even in male-dominated industries.
•People with disabilities are getting jobs in regular companies, not just NGOs.
•Employers are becoming more aware of unconscious bias.
• Shomvob’s work is helping to break the cycle of poverty by giving people jobs based on merit, not background.

Challenges

Even though Shomvob is doing great work, it still faces challenges. Many companies are still not ready to change their hiring systems. They fear that inclusive hiring will be hard or expensive. Some also do not understand why diversity matters. Shomvob is trying to change these mindsets by showing real results and business benefits. Still, changing social norms takes time. Also, reaching job seekers in remote areas is not always easy. Many people don’t have access to the internet or smartphones. Shomvob is exploring ways to reach them through offline training and partnerships.

Vision for the Future

Shomvob dreams of a future where no one is left behind in the job market. They want to create a Bangladesh where:
1. Companies value skills over background.
2. Everyone, no matter their gender or ability, gets a fair shot.
3. Hiring is done with fairness, respect, and dignity.
4. Inclusive workplaces become the norm, not the exception.
To achieve this, Shomvob plans to expand across Bangladesh, partner with more companies and training institutes, and use technology to reach more people. Shomvob is a leading job-tech and HR-tech platform in Bangladesh that is changing the way job seekers and employers connect with each other. The platform focuses mainly on blue-collar and silver-collar workers—people who do hands-on jobs or technical work.

The Problem

In Bangladesh, both big companies and small businesses (MSMEs) often have a hard time finding the right employees. Because of this, many companies face up to 30% loss in productivity. At the same time, around 70 million people struggle to find jobs that match their skills, experience, or expectations. Many job seekers end up relying on middlemen, known locally as dalals. These middlemen often charge high fees and sometimes even exploit people.

The Solution: Shomvob

Shomvob is solving this big problem with the help of smart technology. It helps job seekers by giving them digital professional identities. This means their skills and experience are recorded in a digital format, which makes it easier for them to apply for jobs. It also creates equal opportunities for everyone by allowing job seekers to connect directly with employers—without needing a middleman. Shomvob also has a live application tracking system (ATS). This gives job seekers full visibility of where they stand in the hiring process. They can see if their application was received, reviewed, or selected—making the process more transparent and less stressful.

For Employers

For companies, Shomvob makes the hiring process simple and efficient. Employers can find the right candidates faster, which saves both time and money. It also helps businesses stay compliant with labor laws and regulations.

A Mission-Driven Company

Rifad Hossain, the founder and CEO of Shomvob, says the platform is deeply committed to helping both employers and employees. “Shomvob is focusing on the low to mid-income population to integrate them in the growth engine of the country,” he said. According to him, the goal of Shomvob is to connect talent with the right opportunities and help build a stronger economy.
With this mission in mind, Shomvob is on its way to becoming the most trusted platform for job seekers and employers across Bangladesh.
● Shomvob Raises $1 Million in Pre-Seed Funding to Revolutionize Bangladesh’s Job Market. The top B2B HR and job-tech portal in Bangladesh, Shomvob, has raised $1 million in a pre-seed fundraising round. Leading the investment was Singapore-based venture capital firm Cocoon Capital, which helps early-stage businesses. In addition to this investment, Shomvob has received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This investment will help the business increase low-income women’s job opportunities in Bangladesh. Shomvob was founded by Rifad Hossain, Hasibur Rahman, and Naqib Muhammad Faiyaz in May 2022. Since its launch, the network has grown quickly, with over 600,000 job seekers registered and over 1,300 employers partnered.So far, Shomvob has successfully helped fill over 12,000 job positions across important sectors like logistics, retail, and
healthcare.

Solving Hiring Problems in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, over 650,000 companies and SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) struggle to find the right people for frontline jobs. This is primarily due to their continued reliance on antiquated, paper-based methods and their limited access to information. Consequently, many businesses make poor hiring decisions, which can result in a 30% decrease in output.

Meanwhile, almost 70 million individuals in the nation are searching for improved employment prospects. But many of them fall into the hands of local brokers or middlemen, known as “dalals,” who take advantage of their situation.

The Way Shomvob is Assisting

By providing job searchers with a digital identity and a seamless, businesslike application process, Shomvob seeks to address this issue.Its Application Tracking System (ATS) helps connect the right individuals with the appropriate opportunities by providing real-time updates on each application so job searchers are always aware of the situation. Shomvob helps companies recruit more rapidly, effectively, and economically. Another advantage is
that they continue to adhere to employment laws.

Huge Market Potential

Bangladesh has a $17 billion recruiting and hiring market that is growing at a rate of roughly 8% per year. The Asian hiring and staffing market is around $250 billion. Shomvob is in a good position to grow into other developing nations with comparable job issues because of its robust platform and social mission.

What the Leaders Are Saying

Rifad Hossain, Founder and CEO of Shomvob, said: “We are very thankful for the support from Cocoon Capital and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Their help is very important as we try to change the job market in Bangladesh to make it fairer and more efficient. We are also proud to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially those that focus on reducing poverty and promoting decent work and economic growth.” Zong Xi Sia, Investment Director at Cocoon Capital, also commented: “Shomvob is not only solving big employment problems, but it’s also creating fair job opportunities and supporting inclusive growth. We believe this partnership is a big step toward creating long-term social impact in the region.” Sia has recently joined the Board of Directors at Shomvob, showing Cocoon Capital’s strong belief in the company’s vision and leadership.

Helping You Build the Right Skills

Imagine being in a learning program that doesn’t just teach you basic knowledge, but also helps you understand what’s happening in the job world right now. Participants in a variety of work fields are taught particular skills that employers demand. As a result, individuals are more likely to get hired after completing the program because they already know what the profession requires. In addition to providing training, Shomvob Jobs provides a platform for career development where you may learn by doing and apply your knowledge to real job openings.

Learn more than just skills

Shomvob Jobs recognises that technical skills alone are insufficient to compete in today’s rapidly changing work market. That is why the curriculum focusses on improving soft skills, such as:
● Critical thinking – Learning how to think effectively and make sound conclusions.
● Problem-solving – Finding solutions to real-life difficulties.
● Teamwork and communication – Effectively working with others and exchanging ideas.
These abilities are developed through interactive conversations, case studies, and real-world simulations that allow participants to experience what it’s like to work in a professional setting.

More significantly, the curriculum promotes a growth mindset—the concept that you can always learn, progress, and adapt, no matter where you start. This approach is essential for keeping relevant and competitive in the employment market.

Your Career, Your Roadmap

Shomvob Jobs is not just about helping you get a job quickly. It’s about helping you build a long-term, successful career. The program provides personalized career counseling. This means that you get to sit down with career experts who help you:
● Understand your strengths and weaknesses
● Discover your interests and passions
● Plan a clear and smart path toward the kind of job or career you really want

With this kind of guidance, participants feel more confident and prepared to take the next steps in their professional journey.

Conclusion

Shomvob is not just another tech startup—it is a mission-driven platform aiming to solve one of Bangladesh’s biggest challenges: the gap between job seekers and employers. By focusing on blue and silver-collar workers, Shomvob is building a more inclusive job market that prioritizes transparency, accessibility, and fairness.
Through its digital professional identity system and real-time application tracking, Shomvob empowers job seekers—especially those from low and middle-income backgrounds—to apply for jobs with confidence and clarity. At the same time, it helps businesses find the right people faster and more efficiently. With strong backing from international partners like Cocoon Capital and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and collaborations with global organizations like UNICEF, Shomvob is steadily becoming a key force in reshaping the future of work in Bangladesh. Its rapid growth and proven success show that technology-led employment solutions can create real, lasting impact in developing economies. Shomvob represents the possibility of a better employment ecosystem where skills meet opportunity, and everyone gets a fair chance to grow.

Reference
Official website of Shomvob
Cocoon Capital official website
The Business Standard
The Financial Express