Two-year-old startup serves Deloitte and PwC while targeting gender inclusion in continent’s growing job market
Moroccan AI-powered recruitment startup Jobzyn has secured an undisclosed pre-seed funding round led by Pan-African VC firm Janngo Capital, with participation from Digital Africa and angel investors, as the company prepares to expand across Africa and the MENA region.
Founded in 2023 by Simo Zizi and Abdelbassite Badou, Jobzyn uses artificial intelligence to automate candidate screening and matching, helping recruiters manage high volumes of applications while providing job seekers with company insights including management vision, office culture, and video testimonials.
Addressing Africa’s Youth Employment Challenge
Africa’s job market faces significant structural challenges with millions of young applicants competing for limited opportunities, creating inefficiencies for both employers and job seekers. Jobzyn’s AI platform aims to streamline this process through automated candidate matching and soft-skill assessments conducted before interviews.
The startup has already gained traction with international clients including Deloitte, PwC, and Glovo, alongside Moroccan corporates such as Maroc Telecom and Inwi. This client mix demonstrates the platform’s ability to serve both global and local employers across different industries.
University Partnership Expands Market Reach
Beyond corporate recruitment, Jobzyn offers a Career Centre solution that helps universities track graduate outcomes and employment data. This B2B2C approach creates multiple revenue streams while addressing the broader ecosystem challenge of connecting education with employment opportunities.
The university partnerships also provide valuable data on employment trends and graduate outcomes, potentially enhancing the platform’s matching algorithms and market intelligence capabilities.
Gender-Focused Investment Aligns with Market Needs
Janngo Capital’s investment reflects its mandate to support startups creating inclusive employment opportunities, particularly for women and youth across Africa. The VC firm, which closed its second fund at $78 million in October 2024, operates Africa’s largest gender-focused tech fund.
“Jobzyn addresses a crucial challenge of integrating women, who still represent only 20% of the formal workforce,” said Fatoumata Bâ, Founder and Executive Chair of Janngo Capital. This focus on gender inclusion addresses a significant market inefficiency while potentially expanding the available talent pool for employers.
Regional Expansion Strategy
The funding will support Jobzyn’s expansion across Africa and the MENA region, markets characterized by young, growing populations but limited formal employment opportunities. The company’s Morocco base provides strategic access to both African and Middle Eastern markets while offering French and Arabic language capabilities.
“With the support of Janngo Capital, we are accelerating our mission to make the job market more accessible, fair, and efficient across the entire continent,” said CEO Simo Zizi.
Competitive Landscape and Differentiation
Jobzyn enters a competitive market with established players like LinkedIn and regional recruitment platforms. However, its focus on AI-powered soft-skill assessment and African market specificity could provide differentiation in markets where traditional recruiting methods may be less effective.
The platform’s emphasis on transparency through company culture insights addresses job seeker concerns about workplace conditions, potentially improving retention rates and employee satisfaction beyond just initial placement.
Market Timing and Growth Potential
The investment comes as Africa’s tech sector continues attracting venture capital despite global funding slowdowns. The combination of demographic trends, increasing smartphone penetration, and growing demand for skilled labor creates favorable conditions for digital recruitment platforms.
However, success will depend on the platform’s ability to scale across diverse African markets with varying economic conditions, languages, and employment practices while maintaining the quality of AI-powered matching that has attracted its current client base.
