After losing a $50,000 Upwork contract, this Nigerian founder built a startup to fix global hiring bias
- Obinna Umeh lost 17 freelance contracts on Upwork after clients discovered he was based in Nigeria.
- In 2020, Umeh lost a $50,000 contract due to payment system restrictions requiring a U.S. Social Security number.
- Umeh and co-founder Emmanuel Ajayi launched Growwr in 2024 to address global hiring barriers.
The emergence of platforms like Growwr is crucial in addressing systemic biases in global hiring, particularly for talent in emerging markets. By leveraging AI to streamline the hiring process, Growwr not only enhances efficiency for businesses but also opens up opportunities for skilled professionals in regions that have historically faced barriers. This approach could significantly reshape the future of work and talent acquisition.
