Unscripted with @jrichlive ft. Garrett Lord (Handshake)

TL;DR

Handshake CEO, Garrett Lord, discusses the personal problem that led to the creation of Handshake, the challenges faced along the way, and the company's impressive growth.

Transcript

all right it says we're live garrett so we're live uh happy thursday man great to see you great to see you too jeff always fun talking i love your background it's uh much more exciting than mine but um hey we've only got a half hour and um you and i have spent a lot of time over the last couple years together i thought it'd be fun just to share som... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤝 Handshake addresses the inequities in job opportunities for college students based on the school they attend.
• 🎓 The company has experienced rapid growth and became the largest network for college students, universities, and employers.
• 🖐️ Garrett Lord's personal experiences and his father's support played a crucial role in starting Handshake.
• 🤝 Handshake focuses on building collaborative and meaningful relationships with investors and partners.
• 👨‍💼 Handshake's success is attributed to its mission, the complexity of its business, and its commitment to impact and innovation.
• ❓ The company's growth aligns with the overall positivity and opportunities in the technology industry.
• 🤝 Handshake aims to revolutionize college recruiting and contribute to a fairer and more efficient ecosystem.
• ✋ The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected higher education institutions, placing even more strain on career services and creating a greater need for Handshake's technology.

Questions & Answers

Q: What inspired Garrett Lord to start Handshake?

Garrett Lord's personal experience of facing information inequities and limited job opportunities after college motivated him to create Handshake. He witnessed the impact of socioeconomic factors and the school attended on employment prospects, which he found unfair.

Q: How did Handshake secure its initial funding?

Initially, Garrett Lord's father supported the company by refinancing his home and providing the first investment of $150. Later, Handshake raised its first round of venture capital funding in 2015-2016.

Q: How did Garrett Lord overcome the challenges of fundraising and persevering through rejections?

Garrett Lord emphasized the importance of resilience and staying active. He talked about the emotional difficulties of facing frequent rejections but found solace in exercise. He also advised founders to get to know investors on a deeper level before seeking funding.

Q: How does Handshake approach recruiting and building its team?

Handshake prioritizes recruiting and building a motivated and talented team. They work with executive search firms, value prior experience, and invest time in getting to know candidates' motivations and career visions. They also aim to cultivate a strong talent brand and continuously improve their recruitment processes.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Handshake was founded by Garrett Lord to address the inequities in accessing job opportunities after college, based on the school a student attended.

• The company aims to level the playing field for college students by connecting them with meaningful job and internship opportunities, regardless of their background or school.

• Handshake has become the largest network in the country for college students, partnering with over 1,100 universities and 525,000 companies.