Abhay Sahni

🚀 Excited to Share My Latest Product Management Project! 🚀 As part of my journey with the Product Management Fellowship at NextLeap, I tackled a critical challenge for Zomato India. Deriving Insights from Users: How can we increase the number of customer text reviews. 💬 In this 3-slide deck, I dive into: 1- Identifying the right user segment (25-35, working professionals in Tier 1 cities) 2- Understanding their behaviors and pain points through research and surveys 3- Framing the true problem using insights to guide actionable solutions 🔍 Key Takeaways: It's all about aligning business objectives with user needs, simplifying the review process, and creating incentives for engagement! A big thank you to the NextLeap team and my cohort peers for the support and insights. 🙌 #ProductManagement #CustomerExperience #UserResearch #Zomato #PMFellowship #NextLeap #CustomerFeedback

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Was invited to give a talk at my alma mater (Northeastern University) 🙏🏽 I spoke about having conviction ⤵ This weekend, it felt awesome to go back to where we started Alia and give a talk about how we built our startup out of school. I wanted to focus on the importance of conviction for startup founders and here's the main point I made👇🏽 Running a startup is hard. Very hard. And only the strong survive and push through the hard times. I think it gets easier to have conviction in the company as you start making significant progress. But how can one have strong conviction at the very infant stages? The answer is to have conviction in yourself as a person. Ideas change, customers change, and markets change. But conviction in yourself as a person is the one thing that won't change. When people tell you that it's not smart to do a startup or that it won't work, conviction will be the thing that keeps you going. When you launch and nobody cares about your launch, conviction will keep you going. You don't need to be the smartest. You don't need to have the best idea. You just need to have conviction in yourself as a person.

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Building on Mrunal Jhaveri's insightful reflections, I am compelled to share some thoughts on the dynamic landscape of venture investment through family offices—a domain not many venture into but one that holds immense potential for long-term impact. The road to establishing Ice.vc, as Mrunal describes, is paved with practical lessons that resonate across investment strategies and personal experiences alike. The clarity in focusing on core competencies rather than getting sidetracked by trying to offer everything to portfolio companies is something that resonates deeply. In an ever-evolving market landscape, flexibility and adaptability remain crucial. Furthermore, maintaining structured policies and decision-making frameworks isn't just a best practice; it's imperative for avoiding unnecessary disruptions. Clearly defining roles within the family office setup, just as Mrunal does with his brother, ensures seamless operations and clarity in execution. The essence of this journey, however, transcends financial metrics. It is about aligning investments with personal values and the overarching vision one cherishes—creating a legacy that's more meaningful than mere numbers. These insights continue to shape the future of investments and offer a beacon for those brave enough to innovate and invest in line with their own values.

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The most elementary thing that still needs to be upscaled for the Rooftop Solar Market in India is the basic understanding of an on-grid system and net-metering. The awareness rate about how an ongrid solar system can transform your roof into a savings bank is less than 5%. With that in mind, Surya Sarathi has decided to share real user stories as testimony to the “solar sahi hai” narrative and help the audience understand the benefits of installing solar in their homes under Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)’s PM - Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana Here’s our first one! 🤌🏼

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TO ALL MY FELLOW INDIAN TECH ENTREPRENEURS Something is wrong with our startup ecosystem. When my peers and I (with humility) built the first generation of Indian internet tech companies, we focused on innovation. We grappled with funding gaps, dealt with talent shortages and yearned for collaboration. We had nothing but our integrity and a promise to our users—our customers. We shunned arrogance. We never pretended to know it all. We earned the love and trust of our audience, our users and our stakeholders. But today, we see the rise of fake dreams, exemplified by Byju’s, the drama surrounding ex Housing ’s Rahul Yadav, the arrogance of Grover from BharatPe and now Bhavish from Ola, whose blatant disregard for the hard-earned money of his EV customers has highlighted everything wrong with this easy-money-investor fueled, startup ecosystem. The culture of easy money and unchecked egos is damaging the foundation of integrity, humility and respect. It’s time to recalibrate and focus on creating value—not just for investors, but for the customers who trust us with their time, money nd belief in our vision. We are entrepreneurs with ideas, driven by passion. We love what we create and work tirelessly to execute it. Sometimes, our ideas grow beyond ourselves, but we are never bigger than our idea. Faisal Farooqui #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #Innovation #Business

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🌟 Insightful Conversations and New Perspectives 🌟 Yesterday, I had the privilege of connecting with Shantanu Sonawane on LinkedIn. Our conversation was not only enriching but also a deep dive into the realities of the startup ecosystem. We explored: 1) Effective strategies for navigating and avoiding common pitfalls as startup founders. 2) Key insights on product discussions and refining business strategies. 3) Understanding how the market responds to products and leveraging that knowledge effectively. Shantanu's journey in the startup ecosystem is truly inspiring, filled with lessons and actionable takeaways. Conversations like these underscore the value of networking and learning from experienced peers in the industry. Looking forward to more such engaging discussions and collaborations in the future! #Entrepreneurship #StartupEcosystem #Networking #BusinessStrategy #Mentorship #MarketStrategies #Discussion #Mentor #Startupguidance

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Zepto announces its $ 665M Series F financing at a $3.6bn valuation yesterday. They started as KiranaKart (part of YC's W21 program) & re-branded to Zepto; the firm has defied all funding winters with crazy momentum ⤵️ June '20: $50K Contrary Capital fellowship Nov '20: $125K YC W21 program  Jan '21: $700K Seed round Oct '21: $60M Series A/B round Dec'21: $100M Series C round May '22: $200M Series D round Aug '23: $200M Series E round Zepto's investors include Y Combinator, Nexus Venture Partners, StepStone Group and even Glade Brook Capital (former investor in Zomato). 📈 And, their metrics in the last few months have been astounding: (1) ~4.5M (i.e. 45 Lakh) Zepto Pass subscribers in 3 months - Initially this was free, then they began charging > ₹99 per month (2) 75% of ~350 dark stores are EBITDA positive - Time to EBITDA breakeven per store is down from 23 months to 6 months (3) ~28% market share in Quick Comm - Impressive given they are an independent company (versus Instamart or Blinkit) ✅ And, Zepto is just getting started:  (a) Entry in non-metro cities next (b) Entry into private label (Zepto Cafe & Meats) (c) Going to x2 the number of dark stores ➡ What I've seen lately in the key metro cities: There is a shift from e-comm to QC. I think it is only going to accelerate as QC co's bring in more categories & tap into long tail SKUs via larger warehouses.. Product searches first moved from Google to Amazon, now they may move from Amazon to Zepto et al. incredible to see how the Power Law plays out - these folks are going to change Commerce in India. Congratulations Aadit, Kaivalya + team Zepto! #startups #india #venturecapital

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Forget Silicon Valley, Deep Tech is Soaring in India! India is emerging as a prime location for high-value Deep Tech startups in AI, Semiconductors, Biotech, Clean Tech, and Space Tech. - Faster Innovation: India has 3,600+ deep tech startups, with 480 established in 2023 alone - Large-Scale Testing: India's 1.4 billion+ people and diverse conditions offer unique testing grounds across sectors. - Cost-Effective R&D: In addition to lower R&D costs, the Indian government is setting up a ₹100,000 crore corpus to boost R&D in private industry, alongside a scheme to support deep tech ventures. - Vast Talent Pool: India produces over 7 million STEM graduates annually - Growing Investment: Deep tech investments in India have doubled in every three-year period, crossing $1 billion in 2021-2023. At Algram Labs Private Limited we leverage research and development to identify untapped potential and seek the next generation of pioneers in DeepTech, ClimateTech, RuralTech, and Creative Industries. Our interest in Deep Tech spans revolutionary ideas that involve AI, IoT, Blockchain, and other pertinent technologies. If you're building something groundbreaking in this space, reach out to [email protected] Source: https://lnkd.in/gdzMpBsR #IndianStartups #VentureCapital #AlgramLabs #DeepTech #TechInvestments #NextGen #Pioneers #IndiaGrowthStory

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Rebalance Cohort 07: Introducing Ajay Pal Singh Sethi and Hanit Awal who're building CUR8 Labs. Apart from being kickass operators with extensive experience building products, leading teams at scale, they're grounded and always eager to listen! Ajay and Hanit were recently part of Rebalance's 7th accelerator cohort that concluded in August 2024. Hearing what little difference we made is the best part of running an accelerator for Vikas and me. These are usually surprise videos since we aren't part of them when they're getting recorded and it truly does make it all worth it! Applications for Cohort 08 are closing soon, apply on this link if you're a female-founded/co-founded startup and are looking to accelerate your journey from 0-1 or raise capital: https://shorturl.at/45z7W (only for companies with a female founder) Cur8 is building the smartest sales enablement platform that leverages AI to revolutionize how sales teams operate and win, globally. Cur8's software seamlessly integrates into existing operational workflows to enhance sales productivity and performance. Imagine, if every sales agent had tiny intelligent whispers/nudges during their call! 🤔 $3.1 trillion is at risk as global industries face a massive revenue shortfall due to poor sales experiences. 😱 The sales engagement and co-pilot platforms market is one of the fastest-growing segments, with a 15% CAGR. Sales-tech is getting disrupted at every level with no clear winner yet - it would be interesting to watch how Cur8 takes its share of the market, globally! You can watch the video below or on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gww9eNuJ Shot by: Nayanika singhania

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I have seen this play out a lot - Investors evaluating D2C brands take feedback from friends and family which might not be the right thing to do because of 2 reasons -- 1. Negative bias kicks in. When you ask someone close how this product is, they aren’t thinking, “What’s good?” Instead their immediate thought is, “What’s bad?” This is a natural tendency—people tend to focus on what could be wrong instead of highlighting the positives. 2. The Target audience isn’t the same. Your friends and family probably aren’t the target customers of the startup. Real feedback comes from people who actually use the product and experience the problem it solves. Here is what you should do instead: ask the founder who their target customers are and talk to them for real feedback. Feedback from friends and family can create bias, as they’re not the real customers.

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Does improving your GMAT score feel like an insurmountable challenge? Imagine going from 490 to 685! Meet Kartik, who did just that, achieving a stellar 685 on the GMAT Focus Edition, placing him in the 97th percentile. Through unwavering diligence and strategic approach, Kartik transformed his performance in Verbal from the 43rd percentile to an impressive 98th percentile and improved to the 96th percentile in Data Insight. 1. 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Starting with a 43rd percentile in Verbal, Kartik soared to the 98th percentile. How? Kartik honed the skills of pre-thinking in CR and reading strategies in RC. The video lessons in the course and Scholaranium helped him master Critical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension. He says, “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘴 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺. 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘶𝘮’𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘺, 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦.” 2. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐭: From a 21st percentile to the 81st, Kartik’s quant journey was transformative. Despite a math background, he struggled initially. Learning the process skills taught in the course and focused practice on the cementing quizzes made all the difference. 3. 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲: A section that initially seemed daunting turned into Kartik’s strength, taking him from the 56th to the 96th percentile in just 40 days. By learning the art of reading tables and interpreting data correctly, Kartik could efficiently break down complex information and draw accurate conclusions. “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘋𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦,” he says. 4. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Kartik’s success wasn’t just about learning concepts but also strategic preparation. He meticulously analysed his mistakes, managed his time effectively, and maintained a positive mindset throughout his journey. If you’re facing similar challenges, don’t miss Kartik’s inspiring story! Learn how strategic preparation and the right resources can transform your GMAT journey. Watch Kartik's Journey Here: https://lnkd.in/gTcDVqwr Follow Payal Tandon and Rajat Sadana for more stories and strategies that will help you ace the GMAT! Rajat, Abhinav, Atul, Shubham, Rida, Prakriti, Sanchari, Abhishek, Rashmi, Abha, Satish, Manas, Dhruv #GMAT #GMATPreparation #GMATSuccess #eGMAT #TestPreparation #SuccessStory #MBA #BusinessSchool #StudySmart #AchieveYourGoals

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The Evolving Landscape of #Startup #Equity in India Over the past 5-7 years, the startup equity market in #India has undergone a significant transformation. Here are some key trends that have emerged: 1️⃣ Increased Investor Interest: India has seen a surge in #VentureCapital and #AngelInvestment, with more funds and individuals looking to back promising startups. 2️⃣ Diversification of Funding Stages: The startup ecosystem has matured, with more defined #funding stages (pre-seed, seed, Series A, B, C, etc.). 3️⃣ Employee Stock Ownership Plans (#ESOPs): Startups are increasingly using ESOPs to attract and retain talent. By offering equity, startups can compensate employees with upside potential and align their interests with the company's success. 4️⃣ Equity Crowdfunding: Platforms like Grip allow retail investors to participate in startup equity alongside venture capitalists. As the startup ecosystem continues to evolve, it's crucial for founders, investors, and employees to understand the nuances of startup equity. SaaS platforms like Carta Vega Equity - ESOP & Captable Mgt. SHAREWORKS, Cake Group, Vestd, Solium etc have helped startups and enterprises of all sizes right from the beginning to the entire Life Cycle of Equity & ESOP Management. #ShareIt #esopmanagement #equity #startup

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How can you expect anyone to believe in your vision if you can't clearly define your market? As a founder, it's natural to pour your heart into building your product But defining your Total Addressable Market (TAM) is key to unlocking growth. Why does TAM matter? - It shows the full potential of your market. - Helps you prioritize and focus on key segments. - Validates that there's demand for your solution. - Guides your growth strategy with clear direction. TAM isn’t just for investors—it’s for you. It’s the foundation for scaling, making decisions, and knowing where your next big move is. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gJWvSEzF

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Following up on my previous post about disruptive travel tech models, I was fortunate to connect with several innovative founders shaping the future of travel in India. In particular, some of the interesting ideas include- 1. AI based travel assistants- AI powered chatbots which learn an individual’s travel style and recommend personalized itineraries, answer traveler queries 24/7, handle bookings and reservations while adjusting plans on the fly based on weather, events, or flight delays. AI-powered location-based services can also suggest nearby attractions, restaurants, or hidden gems based on current location and travel preferences. 2. Operations management- SAAS platforms helping hotels and vacation home owners with front-to-back end operations offering convenient digital journeys like a personalized virtual reception for their guests. These platforms streamline communication management, addressing guest inquiries such as housekeeping requests and checkin/checkout convenience. Additionally, they facilitate upselling of both in-house and third-party ancillary services such as spa treatments, airport pickups, currency exchange, vehicle rentals and local activity bookings. 3. Luggage transportation- Innovative companies offering door-to-door luggage transportation services between home/hotel and the airport with a range of pricing options based on weight, destination, transit time and additional services like express delivery. These companies manage the entire process, handling check-in and retrieval, customs clearance, special packaging and labelling requirements for a hassle-free experience. 4. Social media platforms- Tailored specifically for travellers and influencers allowing them to connect with fellow individuals with similar interests and share their unique experiences while seeking inspiration for their next travel destination. Classic amalgamation of visual appeal of Instagram and storytelling aspect of traditional travel blogs enabling travellers to encapsulate their trip in a digital timeline with the help of photos, videos, descriptions, and geo-tagged locations. 5. B2B distribution- Integrated SAAS platforms helping travel agents with white labelled customizable solutions. These platforms offer a range of features including website builders, API integrations for accessing supply-side inventory, personalized on-the-go itinerary builder for their end customers, streamlined finance and payment management as well as valuable data and insights on customer preferences. The travel industry is undergoing a paradigm shift with new business models emerging fueled by powerful technologies enabling hypergrowth. Indian founders are poised to capitalize on this opportunity building meaningful and impactful businesses. Would love to connect with more founders building in the space. [email protected] PeerCapital Ankur Pahwa | Karthik Prabhakar | Rohit M A

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🚀 Excited to share that I've submitted my first milestone🎉 The Main Goal is: To Increase the number of text reviews for the food vertical being in the shoes of a newly appointed Product Manager on the Ratings & Reviews team! at #Zomato Here's what I've been up to: 🔍 Understanding the Food Delivery Space: Market Size: Analyzed the booming Indian market and future trends. Competitors: Studied Swiggy, Uber Eats, and Dunzo to identify opportunities. Regulations: Reviewed FSSAI and local delivery regulations. Ecosystem: Mapped out key players including restaurants, delivery partners, and customers. 📊 Ratings & Reviews Analysis: E-commerce Insights: Explored review systems on Flipkart, Tripadvisor, and Amazon. Cool Features: Noticed incentivized reviews, verified badges, and sentiment analysis. 💡 Why Reviews Matter for Zomato: Trust: Builds credibility and influences customer choices. Feedback: Provides valuable insights for service improvement. Engagement: Boosts platform activity and user retention. 📈 Focus Areas: Increase Review Volume: Strategies to get more detailed reviews. Enhance Review Quality: Features for authentic and useful reviews. User Experience: Simplifying the review process for ease of use. A huge thank you to my mentor Bhawana Soni for guiding me on how to tackle this type of problem statement. If you enjoyed my work, stay tuned for more updates. In the meantime, please like and share my post. Looking forward to driving impactful changes and enhancing user experience! 😊 #Zomato #NextLeapPMFellowship #ProductManagement #FoodDelivery #CustomerReviews #Ecommerce #MilestoneAchieved #UserExperience #GrowthStrategy

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From Nirbhaya to Abhaya: A Collective Societal Failure From 2012 to 2024, twelve years later, we find ourselves at the same crossroads. India has transformed from a $1.6 trillion to a $3.95 trillion economy, rapidly progressing toward becoming one of the world’s largest economic powers, yet we continue to struggle with ensuring basic safety for women. Over 70% of rapes are committed by someone the victim knows, highlighting that rape is more of a societal issue than just a government failure. Society—comprising families, friends, schools, etc.—is riddled with subtle biases against women, creating a breeding ground for these unacceptable mentalities. Without consistent efforts to dismantle patriarchy and prioritize gender equality, we will sadly continue to see more "Abhayas" and "Nirbhayas." Today, the law and order system often serves the powerful and wealthy. The government must ensure it remains free from undue influence to drive meaningful change. Despite numerous policies, women’s safety in public and workplaces remains a critical concern. We must stop holding victims accountable and instead focus on questioning culprits more rigorously. Too often, institutional responses restrict women’s freedom when policies should empower them. Only then can we move toward true women's empowerment—because there can be no empowerment without safety.

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Two lessons for edTech startups from the recent bankruptcy/collapse of BYJU'S and 2U: 1. Don't spend $40M sponsoring the World Cup if you aren't profitable. 2. Don't spend $800M buying other companies if you aren't profitable.

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#Salesforce India has been on an ambitious hiring journey in recent months, striving to secure top engineering talent. Traditional job portals posed challenges with low relevancy, duplicate resumes, and high turnaround times. Creating roadblocks to building a strong team. Instahyre has been a game-changer for the #Salesforce TA team. With Instahyre's AI-powered Instamatch and Advanced Search, Salesforce could finally streamline its talent pipeline. The Instamatch feature allowed recruiters to easily connect with active, qualified candidates from Instahyre’s active pool, eliminating time wasted on uninterested candidates. - A 3x increase in offer-to-acceptance ratio, from 20% to 60%. - 70% of the TA team now uses Instahyre for sourcing, Increasing their productivity. - 7-8 relevant candidates out of every 10 sourced weekly, with lower turnaround time. - One-click diversity filter that supports a diverse tech pipeline effortlessly. For Salesforce, this wasn’t just a hiring improvement it was a strategic shift. Check out the full story on Salesforce’s journey from 20% to 60% conversion in the comments! #instahyre #salesforce #TalentAquisition #salesforcehiring

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"Do you have any questions for me?" Rinky Jain, Head of HR and TA at Jupiter, shares exactly what startups are looking for in an ideal answer. Want to hire thoughtful, capable, and hungry talent for your startup? Try Weekday. Our team works closely with you to source, shortlist, and screen best-fit candidates for your specific needs. Link in comments if you want to explore (get 5 free resumes within 24 hours).

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