Interview. Catrinel Hagivreta: MEDIjobs platform has reached break-even point after an investment of EUR 45,000

The CEO and co-founder of the MEDIjobs platform, Catrinel Hagivreta, exclusively told BR that the platform has reached break-even point after the investment of EUR 45,000. She added the online platform is currently registereing a monthly turnover of EUR 5,000.

Georgiana Bendre

What was the initial investment in the platform MEDIjobs?

Until now, the investment in the MEDIjobs platform is of almost EUR 45,000, the largest amount being allocated towards the ongoing development and optimization of the platform. As the recruitment area is extremely dynamic, especially in the medical sector, where the needs are increasing, we developed and implemented recently the MEDIrecruit service, a recruitment solution unique both in Europe or even America. MEDIrecruit takes over and handles the recruitment needs of the medical clinic, automates the “matching” process of the most relevant candidates and submits a list of up to maximum five people. The investment in the development and implementation of this platform is slightly over EUR 5,000.

Are you looking for new investors to support the development of the platform?

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The development of our business in Romania was made through equity-based capital, with no external infusions, which makes us very proud. We are in the process of negotiating with potential investors to support our business with both capital and know-how, in order to develop MEDIjobs abroad. For 2017, we aim to enter other markets, such as Germany and Great Britain, where we plan to replicate our business model.

Do you plan an exit from the business?

The unanimous objective of the founders is to reach a European development of the business and become a reference in the area of medical recruitment. When we will reach the maturity and stability to fulfill this objective, we will decide in regards to the optimal formula in which MEDIjobs can continue its development. This could mean, of course, our exit and the takeover by a strategic player.

How does MEDIjobs generate its revenues at this moment? Has it reached break-even? What is the current turnover of the platform?

The marketplace platforms, where two different audience segments meet to collaborate, involve an initial investment quite generous for the development of the community. Therefore, the first year of activity was entirely dedicated to this aspect and to the optimization of the platform. As of September 2016, the company has reached its break-even point, especially due to the MEDIrecruit service, which answers the recruitment needs of the medical clinics in Romania. Currently, MEDIjobs has a turnover of over EUR 5,000/month, at just one year since its launch, which is a performance.

Who are the biggest clients using the platform?

Currently, we collaborate with over 450 hospitals and medical clinics all over the country, including the top medical companies, such as Gral Medical, Ponderas, Ares, Bio Orto Clinic and many others. Ever since the first months of launch we managed to overcome our target, with a double number of customers than initially estimated for the entire year, a sign that the need for such a solution was very big. Now, we register an average of almost ten new customers per week.

How do you select the candidates, meaning the medical specialists? What are the criteria?

The selection criteria varies based on the employer needs, but we consider four main steps in this process: the professional competences level, the attitudes and behavior, the financial expectations and the compatibility with the organizational culture of the company. It is not an easy thing, especially when you work with people who do not have enough time, but the satisfaction when you manage to offer development perspectives to a young physician in his country is enormous, as this will positively impact his life and of the patients he interacts with. This is the main element we have in mind with every recruitment process we manage through the platform – the impact our activity has in the society is a very important one.

What is the employment rate among the doctors that apply to the jobs present on the platform?
Based on our data, until now, almost 1,000 medical specialists, such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists and veterinary physicians have positively interacted with an employer, on our platform.