In August 2017, Alex and Nathan Guggenberger launched Jobiki, an innovative online platform for job seekers and companies. The Jobiki team is trying to reduce the stress of job seekers while offering a glimpse into companies that want to share their benefits, environment, and culture with the world. “Just like many fourth graders want to be in a class with a teacher that has a 64 crayon box set, personal whiteboards, balance balls, and fun classmates… Many adults want to work at a company that has unlimited vacation, catered lunch, a matching 401K plan, and allows them to bike to work. Jobiki helps people find that company,” explained Alex Guggenberger.

Entrepreneurial History 

The Guggenberger brothers have an entrepreneurial history that began in their childhood. As elementary students, the two started Already Been Chewed (ABC), a molded gum company. “We took our gum company seriously back then… now we are teaming up again to work on Jobiki and we are trying to solve the problem most job seekers face,” said Guggenberger. Although the Guggenbergers’ first endeavor was a whimsical idea, Jobiki is a venture the two brothers are fully invested in.

Along with their brotherly connection, Alex and Nathan are a complementary pair because of their college education. Alex had aspirations to be a doctor entering college but ended up earning a degree in business and accounting at Augustana University. A few years prior to Alex, Nathan graduated from Winona State University and honed his skills in web application and back-end development. “The idea for Jobiki came during my job search before my senior year of college in 2016… I slowly realized that there is a lack of information to find on companies, and I knew there were companies that had great cultures and stories to share,” explained Guggenberger.

Winning Idea

With a problem to solve, Alex entered the Innovation Expo student pitch competition in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in the fall of 2016. After winning the pitch competition with his Jobiki idea, Guggenberger took the $350 prize, purchased the domain for Jobiki, recruited his brother to join the team and began researching the market potential of a platform for job seekers and companies. “I began talking with friends, family, and connections about a website that would narrow down companies that would fit their needs…. and over the next year we built up to the launch of Jobiki,” said Guggenberger.

In August of 2017, the Guggenbergers launched Jobiki and are constantly adapting to the needs of their audience. “From the beginning, companies pay to have access to learn about types of people coming to view their profiles and what they are interested in… It is a great source of information for future employees,” said Guggenberger.  As of December 2017, the Jobiki platform now offers a search feature with filtering capabilities for job seekers. Quick adaptations will be the key ingredient for future success for the Jobiki team.

Learn more from Alex and Nathan Guggenberger and Jobiki as they speak at 1 Million Cups Fargo on Wednesday, January 17th, 2018 at 9:15 a.m. at The Stage at Island Park.