An Atlanta The executive with a long history of software-sector leadership has launched an online network to match companies with technology talent.
MatchupIT along with some of the profile features that drive social media networks, but it’s more sharply targeted at meeting tech professionals around areas of interest than at establishing direct personal connections.
While LinkedIn has 630 million users, the uninterrupted flow of content and flood of profiles could have the effect of hiding the expertise of the world’s tech workers, says Lalit Dhingraformer president of the Americas for NIIT Technologies and founder of The Ensign is Digitalanother adventure dedicated to digital transformation.
Mr. Dhingra’s experience at NIIT and working with Ensignis clients told him that companies need a better window into what workers can actually do.
“Not all technical resumes are well written, they don’t represent what these people are capable of, and there is no platform that can accurately showcase their expertise,” he told Global Atlanta.
Similarly, workers tend to emphasize programming languages or certifications more than their core skills such as coding. MatchupIT, Mr. Dhingra hopes to “guide people to think differently.”
“When you put your data in, you’re forced to think about the way the platform wants to present you to other people,” he said.
MatchupIT also includes “Communities,” message boards that allow members to share insights and showcase their skills to peers in similar specializations.
“It’s a huge technology community. It’s not going to be 630 million and you’re one of them. In the worst case scenario, you could be one of 40 million; in the best scenario, if I only get 25 percent of the market, 10 million that, “said Mr. Dhingra.” But all these 10 million are qualified and in just the same field: technology. “
Mr. Dhingra will also try to encourage companies on the platform, not only for talent recruitment, but also to raise their profile in front of large companies looking for vendors or procurement targets who are skilled in platforms such as SAP, Service Today o Oracle.
“It’s a platform for them to market themselves-it’s not just talent,” he said, adding that company and individual profiles wouldn’t be linked in the beginning.
Mr. Dhingra also sees some value in helping companies keep track of which local areas around the world are home to clusters of specialized technology talent, perhaps helping with the corporate transition.
MatchupIT was self-funded for the first year, as Mr. Dhingra used his own networks to build a critical mass of activity on the platform. Once it has proven its value for the first few thousand users in its own areas in Atlanta and Delhi, he says, it must be grown through word-of-mouth and natural network effects. So far, he has focused on recruiting new graduates from technology institutes with computer science programs, as well as targeting young companies from India’s burgeoning startup scene.
The platform is free for both users and companies for 2022, after which it can introduce a monthly subscription fee. In 2023, Mr. Dhingra plans to review whether to hire a management team and raise investment to expand marketing efforts.
Either way, the more than 40-year tech veteran is convinced the market will only grow. With 8 to 10 percent growth in the world’s worker technology annually, helping companies scrutinize the sea of workers will be an important service.
“There’s a merit because of the lack of resources, lack of great talent, to do difficult or complex projects, and that’s where people are outsourcing.”
Learn more at MatchupIT.com.
Read more about Mr. Dhingra’s leadership journey in this story: The Tech Exec narrates the Leadership Journey from India to Atlanta