Sama, migrant talent recruiter, lands US$1.2M in new funding

Sama, Singapore-based digital platform helping connect migrant workers and employers, has recently announced a successful seed funding round of US$1.15 million.

The round was led by US-based Collaborative Fund, a backer of Impossible Foods and Lyft, and Singapore-based 3T Venture Capital Partners (3tvcp). Startup builder Antler and PropertyGuru co-founder Steve Melhuish also participated in the round.

The funds will mainly be used to grow the team in Singapore and build the technology platform to match workers to jobs more efficiently.

Co-founder Kirtan Patel was inspired to start Sama last April after his conversations with migrant workers uncovered the recurring burden of high fees paid by workers in order to secure a job. The matter was also close to home for fellow co-founder Nemanja Grujicic, whose family dealt with similar employment situations in Eastern Europe.

Investor Mr Melhuish said: "(Migrant workers) and their families are at the bottom of the pyramid. Despite this, many pay up to nine months' salary in commissions to middlemen to secure their jobs. Sama aims to stop this and ensure they get a fair deal."

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