Talent-hungry tech companies from the earliest startups to multibillion-dollar public titans are pairing a virtual job fair with a pitch deck for Columbus, as they woo local grads and expats considering a return.
About 30% of candidates searching Midwest tech job listings on Purpose Jobs are doing so from the East or West coasts – compared with less than 10% pre-pandemic, said founder and CEO Ryan Landau. The recruiting platform is hosting the "State of Columbus Startups" event and job fair this week.
"The way we think of an ecosystem, it can't be just about the job," Landau said. "What we're trying to do here is showcase everything that Columbus has to offer ... best places to eat, best places to work and live – it's a great place for a variety of reasons."
Central Ohio graduates also don't have to leave to work for a Silicon Valley company: Many are hiring remotely, and at least two have set up physical offices here.
Veeva Systems Inc., a publicly traded $1.5 billion software maker in Pleasanton, California, chose Dublin as a major hub three years ago because of its talent, said Catherine Allshouse, CIO, head of cloud operations and Dublin site leader.
Besides the concentration of colleges and universities, the region has financial and healthcare employers – from which Veeva can recruit those experienced in heavily regulated fields to its health IT niche.
"This area here feels actually very similar to Pleasanton – friendly, diverse, open community, not super-big urban," said Allshouse, keynote speaker at the virtual event. "The innovation ecosystem that's growing here ... it's drawing a ton of people to the region."
The office recently topped 200 employees in both administrative and engineering roles. It also offers Silicon Valley perks such as free organic lunches and plentiful snacks, she said, plus an attractive "work-from-anywhere" policy.
Other companies recruiting include recently IPO'd digital insurer Root Inc., online lending platform Lower.com, other Drive Capital portfolio companies such as Battleface and Finite State, and just-launched startups such as UnifiHealth and ReAlpha.
Speakers espousing Columbus also include Drive co-founder Mark Kvamme, Rev1 Ventures COO Kristy Campbell, and Densil Porteous, CEO of LGBTQ-focused Pride Fund.
After leading a number of startups to acquisition, Landau started Purpose Jobs five years ago in his hometown of Detroit to foster tech industry collaboration throughout the Midwest. Cities with shrinking manufacturing sectors are rejuvenating economies through innovation, he said.
"All of these cities are rebuilding themselves," Landau said. "We just wanted to tie those communities together."
The DBA of Repurpose Group LLC, Purpose Jobs generates revenue through the platform matching candidates with employers by factors including skills and passion for the mission. It reports 90% retention in its placements. It expanded to Columbus two years ago. JobsOhio and One Columbus have referred several growing companies to the service.
The online event on Oct. 12 is free for employers and candidates. For details check the website here.
