This Platform Helps Hispanic Immigrants Find Jobs Using WhatsApp
Coming to the US and trying to find a job as an immigrant is no easy task. Colombian immigrants Stephanie Murra and Lorenza Vélez saw how many Spanish-speaking people struggled to find their first job in the United States, so they sought a solution. In 2023, the pair launched Miami-based Ponte Labor during their final year at Harvard, according to TechCrunch.
Connecting Hispanic workers with future employers
The pair observed that employers in blue-collar industries, such as hospitality, construction, and retail, often struggle to find workers to fill hourly roles. Ponte connects Hispanic immigrants who struggle to land roles due to language barriers with employers in these industries.
As many Hispanic immigrants struggle to use technology, Ponte meets people where they are. It utilizes social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram ads, and WhatsApp, to locate these workers. Since its launch, it has a 95% Hispanic user base with more than 60,000 job seekers on the platform.
The founders told TechCrunch that their platform pre-vets and onboards legally authorized hourly workers “faster and more efficiently than traditional methods.” It has an in-house AI recruiter that pre-vets candidates through WhatsApp and voice-based AI interviews.
Ponte Labor’s growth
After its launch in November 2023, it onboarded over 60,000 candidates and provided 800 workers with hospitality roles. Its annualized net revenue increased from $70,000 in February of 2024 to $550,000 (April 2025).
The founders told TechCrunch that Pointe recently raised a $3 million seed round led by Harlem Capital at a $15 million valuation. Better Tomorrow Ventures, The 81 Collection, and Wischoff Ventures also participated in the round.
Murra and Vélez hope that Ponte can “create a place to help Hispanic immigrants in the U.S. achieve their professional goals. “So that’s not just helping them find an entry-level job. We also want to help them grow within those jobs,” Vélez said.
Image: Ponte Labor
