Home From College

Home From College (H/FC) operates as a career technology platform targeting the Gen Z demographic, specifically individuals within the first ten years of their professional journey. Founded in 2021 by CEO Julia Haber and co-founder Kaj Zandvliet, the company aims to bridge the gap between education and early career experience. Haber's background is rooted in entrepreneurship, having started her first company, WAYV, while a student at Syracuse University. WAYV focused on creating pop-up experiences for brands on college campuses, providing Haber with direct insight into the Gen Z market. The genesis of Home From College was a pivot during the 2020 pandemic from a business model centered on physical on-campus clubhouses to a digital community. Zandvliet brings a finance and operations background from his time at Sony Corporation and PineBridge Investments, driven by his own collegiate struggles to find diverse professional experiences.

The company's core business revolves around a marketplace that connects young professionals with brands for flexible work opportunities. Its primary user base consists of over 100,000 individuals, mainly between the ages of 18 and 27. For these users, H/FC provides a platform to find paid, flexible jobs—referred to as "GIGs"—which range from one-day projects and freelance work to long-term roles. This model allows students and recent graduates to build their resumes, gain practical experience, and generate income. The platform also features a Resume Studio, an all-in-one tool for creating, managing, and sharing resumes. The service is not exclusively for college students, welcoming high schoolers and non-student young professionals as well.

Revenue is generated through a tiered subscription model for companies seeking to hire talent. Businesses can choose from a basic plan at $99 per month, a mid-tier plan at $199 per month, or a custom-priced enterprise-level subscription. In addition to the subscription fees, Home From College charges a 20% service fee on each employee invoice paid through its platform, which handles contracting, management, and payments. The company has attracted hundreds of brands, including notable names like Poppi, Aquaphor, Thrive Market, Peacock, and Steve Madden. The firm has demonstrated significant growth, securing $1.5 million in pre-seed funding in 2022 followed by a $5.4 million seed round in 2024, led by GV (Google Ventures), bringing its total funding to $6.9 million.

Keywords: Gen Z careers, student freelancing, early career platform, gig marketplace, paid internships, resume builder, student jobs, freelance projects, entry-level jobs, brand ambassador programs, Gen Z marketing, career development, professional networking, flexible work, student income, remote work, career solutions, youth employment, talent marketplace, digital natives