For a long time, the mass recruitment market in Uzbekistan remained one of the most labor-intensive and least digitalized. Companies searched for employees manually, recruiters spent hours calling candidates, and many job seekers did not have resumes and could apply only via phone or messengers. Against this backdrop, Jobster.hr emerged — a local startup that quickly became one of the most in-demand solutions in the country’s HR technology market.

Today, more than 70 companies use the platform, and its approach to hiring automation allows businesses to reduce time-to-hire by up to 5x and cut recruitment costs by at least 30%. Thanks to integrations with Telegram, WhatsApp, hh.uz, ishgo.uz, and company career pages, Jobster has become a convenient tool for both recruiters and candidates.

From idea to product

 

The idea for Jobster came to the project’s founder, Abrorbek Sharipov, while he was working as a Chief Financial Officer and Head of Innovation at a large distribution company. During his work, he encountered one of the key problems of the market — the complexity and low efficiency of mass recruitment.

“We constantly faced the same problem — mass vacancies needed to be closed quickly, but the processes were completely manual and inefficient,” recalls Abrorbek Sharipov.

The problem was especially acute in the so-called blue-collar segment — warehouse staff, delivery, retail, manufacturing, and call centers. Many candidates did not have resumes, did not use job websites, and preferred to look for work via phone calls and messengers.

“I realized that a significant part of these processes could and should be automated. That’s how the idea of Jobster was born — a system that simplifies and accelerates mass hiring,” he says.

 

What is Jobster and how it works

 

Jobster.hr is an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) adapted to the realities of the Uzbek market. It helps companies find, track, and hire employees, while allowing candidates to apply easily without resumes or complex registration.

A candidate can see a vacancy through any convenient channel — Telegram or WhatsApp, a corporate website, hh.uz, ishgo.uz, or social networks. After clicking the link, the candidate fills out a short form that does not require a resume or complicated registration.

 

The system automatically analyzes the data, selects suitable candidates, and passes them to the recruiter. All applications, statuses, correspondence, and approvals are displayed in a single interface, simplifying the HR specialist’s work and reducing the amount of manual tasks.

When a candidate receives an offer, Jobster continues to support the process and helps track onboarding stages within the company.

This approach makes mass hiring more accessible and technology-driven. Candidates can apply directly from their phones, while companies receive a structured flow of applicants without overloading recruiters.

 

The uniqueness of Jobster

 

Jobster was built based on real requests from HR specialists of local companies, which is why each platform feature solves a specific mass recruitment challenge. This makes the system a practical tool that can be implemented quickly and delivers immediate results.

One of the key advantages cited by clients is smart filtering. It automatically screens out unsuitable candidates based on predefined criteria and helps recruiters work only with relevant applications. This is especially important in industries where dozens or hundreds of applications are received daily.

Another highly valued component is AI-powered tools. They improve selection accuracy, suggest the most suitable candidates, and help avoid mistakes related to human bias or human error.

HR specialists also highlight the convenience of a unified interface. All applications — from messengers, job sites, social networks, and career pages — are collected in a single window. Recruiters do not need to switch between platforms, which significantly speeds up the process and reduces operational workload.

Jobster’s analytics help companies assess the effectiveness of each hiring channel. The system shows where more candidates come from, where conversion rates are higher, and which sources generate lower-quality traffic. Based on this data, companies adjust their recruitment campaigns and optimize hiring costs.

The platform is in demand across many industries: restaurants and cafés, retail, delivery, manufacturing, distribution, online marketplaces, call centers, educational centers, and private schools. What unites these sectors is high employee turnover. In such conditions, hiring speed is critical, and Jobster makes the process as fast and manageable as possible for businesses.

 

Key achievements

 

Today, Jobster is used by more than 70 companies across various industries — from retail and distribution to food service and e-commerce. Such a diversified client base confirms that the platform works effectively in any sector where speed and scale of hiring are critical.

Jobster has been focused on corporate clients from the very beginning, rather than agencies or individual recruiters. This focus ensures a stable client base and creates a predictable revenue model: each company connects multiple HR specialists to the system, accelerating the growth of active users and the volume of processed applications.

One of the first clients of the platform was Balton Trading, where Jobster was implemented to automate mass hiring. Later, the service was adopted by LeBazar, the Safia confectionery chain, and the international KFC network, for which speed of hiring and centralized control of recruitment processes are especially important. Working with large and international companies confirmed the scalability of the solution and its compliance with corporate requirements.

High user satisfaction is confirmed by internal NPS and CSAT metrics. HR teams report reduced manual workload, faster vacancy closures, and the ability to manage the entire hiring process in one interface. This feedback became the foundation for further product development: the team strengthened AI features, improved candidate filtering algorithms, and expanded the analytics module, making selection more accurate and controllable.

 

Monetization model

 

Jobster operates on a subscription model, making the system convenient and predictable for companies. Clients pay for access to the platform and receive a full set of tools for mass recruitment without hidden fees.

With the subscription, companies get unlimited vacancies, automated hiring processes, and integrations with all used channels — messengers, job platforms, career pages, and social networks. This allows the entire hiring cycle to be managed in one system without dependency on external limitations.

 

The subscription also includes analytics for tracking channel effectiveness and managing the hiring funnel, as well as HR team support and training, which simplifies platform implementation within companies.

The sustainability of the business model is confirmed by financial performance: Jobster’s monthly recurring revenue (MRR) exceeds $27,500. Revenue growth is driven by acquiring new corporate clients and expanding platform usage within existing companies, allowing the startup to scale without a sharp increase in operational costs.

 

Investments and development

 

Jobster has already attracted its first investments, which became the foundation for accelerated growth. The startup raised $60,000 from angel investors and an additional

$150,000 from the venture fund Aloqa Ventures. These funds enabled the transition from a basic product version to active scaling and platform development.

The investments are allocated to several key areas. First, they allow the team to expand and grow: the project needs developers, product specialists, and marketers to support growth and implement new features. Second, funding is directed toward building a new version of Jobster.hr and developing the related service IshGO.uz. These products will form the basis of a unified ecosystem: Jobster.hr will enhance recruitment processes for companies, while IshGO.uz will help candidates and employers interact faster and more conveniently, creating a full-cycle employment solution.

A separate portion of funds is allocated to marketing and attracting new corporate clients. This helps increase market reach, accelerate sales, and improve brand awareness. In addition, investments support feature expansion, AI integration, and analytics improvements.

Jobster plans to go through a seed round (an early-stage investment round for accelerating startup growth) and then move toward Series A, B, and C rounds. The main goals are to strengthen its position in the Uzbek market, enter international markets, and scale the product to become the standard for mass hiring in the region.

According to the Jobster team, the HR market in Uzbekistan is in a phase of active growth. More companies are thinking about recruitment efficiency and transitioning to modern tools. However, the level of digitalization remains low: a significant portion of processes is still performed manually, slowing work and increasing HR department workloads.

“We see that companies are ready to move toward automation, but many still use outdated recruitment methods,” notes the founder of Jobster.

This situation creates favorable conditions for Jobster’s scaling. Demand for digital solutions is growing, while competition in mass recruitment remains low. This makes the product highly demanded and allows the company to rapidly expand its client base.

At the same time, the team emphasizes the importance of considering local specifics. The realities of the Uzbek market include varying levels of HR expertise, corporate culture characteristics, and differences in personnel management approaches. Adapting the product to these nuances helps Jobster build long-term relationships with companies.

“For technology to work, it must consider local context. We are building a product that fits into real business processes rather than imposing new complexities,” says the founder.

This approach makes Jobster not just an automation tool, but a comprehensive solution for developing HR processes in Uzbek companies.

 

Team and product culture

 

The Jobster team was formed gradually through professional networking and personal recommendations.

“We recruited specialists the way it often happens in Uzbekistan: through acquaintances and professional networks. We found people we trusted and united them around a common goal — creating a useful and valuable product,” says founder Abrorbek Sharipov.

Jobster’s product culture is built on honesty, transparency, result orientation, continuous development, and a focus on customer success. The company balances automation with a human-centered approach, avoiding solutions that complicate processes for the sake of technology.

 

All current Jobster vacancies are published in the Telegram hiring bot — @SmartboxHR_bot. Through it, candidates can get full information about open positions and the application process. The company is looking for people who share its values, understand the local market, and are ready to work in a team built on trust.

Strategy and the future of Jobster

 

Jobster continues to actively develop, expanding opportunities for employers and job seekers. Recently, the company launched IshGO.uz — a job search platform. The team is currently improving the interface and usability to make the product as clear and accessible as possible.

IshGO.uz is an Uzbek startup and digital job search platform focused on candidates. Unlike Jobster.hr, which is a tool for companies and HR teams that automates mass hiring processes, IshGO.uz helps people find and apply for jobs quickly without complex forms, resumes, or registration.

“In the first quarter of 2026, we will fully integrate Jobster.hr and IshGO.uz, creating a national employment ecosystem. This will unite employers and job seekers in one digital space,” says the Jobster team.

In addition to Telegram and WhatsApp, Jobster already uses additional modules to attract candidates at the request of clients. Candidate sources are currently divided into three groups: job websites, company career pages, and social networks with messengers. The company continues to work on new attraction channels and promises to announce them when ready.

In the near future, Jobster’s main focus remains the entire Uzbek market.

“We want to become the #1 national ecosystem at home. In the future, we may expand to neighboring countries, then to the CIS and Turkey, and later to the MENA region,” the company emphasizes.

Jobster’s main competitive advantage is the synergy of two products. Jobster.hr fully automates recruitment processes, enables data- and AI-driven decision-making, reduces recruitment costs, and creates a fast digital workflow. IshGO.uz provides job seekers with the shortest and smartest path to their dream job, becoming a digital guide for professional development.

“Together, they form a holistic labor market ecosystem where both companies and people win,” Jobster notes.

 

Personal and inspirational: advice for HR-Tech startup founders

 

In addition to product and business strategy, the founder shares personal recommendations that helped him build the startup. These tips are relevant not only for HR-tech, but for any technology startup.

1)  Problem >> Product

 

“Never forget: first there must be a big and important problem, and only then a product. Otherwise, you risk building a beautiful thing that nobody needs.”

2)  Customer Development. Talk.

 

“Communicate with customers and try to truly understand their pain. At this stage, let go of your own ideas. Your opinion is secondary — the customer’s opinion matters.”

3)  Customer Development Again. Now the Solution.

 

“When the customer’s pain is clear, offer your creative solution and carefully listen to the reaction. Don’t defend the idea — listen to the customer.”

4)  More Customer Development. A Lot of It.

 

“Talk to as many customers as possible — at least 50. This way, you’ll understand whether the problem is scalable and whether your solution can be mass-adopted.”

Jobster demonstrates how a local technology startup can transform mass hiring, making it faster, more convenient, and more transparent. Jobster’s growth became possible due to a deep understanding of the market and a careful approach to product development. The startup has already taken a noticeable place in Uzbekistan’s HR ecosystem and continues to expand.

An important role in the development of such projects is played by IT Park Uzbekistan. The platform provides startups with incubation and acceleration programs, consulting, educational resources, expert support, and helps them enter international markets and meet investors. Thanks to these opportunities, young teams can develop their products faster and attract early investments. Together, such initiatives form a strong environment for the growth of technology companies in Uzbekistan and help them confidently enter the global stage.