COMPANY PROFILE

Merlin

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A new hiring technology & job marketplace that is connecting candidates and employers faster than ever before

New York City, United StatesFounded 2017eCommerce & Marketplaces

Revenue $1–10M Latest reported FY

Headcount <100 Current team size

Total funding $10–50M Disclosed equity funding

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About Merlin

Merlin, operating under merlinjobs.com, was a jobs platform focused on the hourly worker segment of the employment market. The company was established in 2017 by co-founders Güimar Vaca Sittic, Borja Moreno de los Rios, and William Guillouard. After a beta launch in May 2017, the platform officially debuted in the New York City metropolitan area in August 2018. The founding team brought together relevant experience in marketplaces and technology ventures; Moreno de los Rios holds an MBA from MIT Sloan and had experience at Goldman Sachs, Vaca Sittic studied Economics at the University of Chicago and had co-founded previous startups, and Guillouard had a background in scaling marketplaces internationally, notably as the CMO of OLX. Several founders had operational experience working with Fabrice Grinda, founder of OLX, which shaped their approach to competing with established platforms.

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The business was structured as a mobile-first marketplace, accessible via Android and iOS apps as well as its website. Its core function was to connect qualified candidates with employers seeking to fill hourly positions in sectors such as retail, hospitality, and general labor. Merlin's platform utilized a matching algorithm to align candidates with opportunities based on their qualifications and proximity to the workplace, aiming to streamline the hiring process to under 24 hours. For job seekers, the service eliminated the need for traditional resumes, instead using a user profile that showcased experience, skills, and personality. For employers, the platform offered filters for location and experience to reduce the time spent reviewing unsuitable applicants. The company manually reviewed employers to ensure the legitimacy of job postings.

Merlin secured significant venture capital, raising a total of $24 million from investors including General Catalyst, Firstmark, FJ Labs, and RRE Ventures. Despite its initial funding and expansion plans, the company ceased operations on July 10, 2020. Following the company's closure, co-founder Borja Moreno de los Rios indicated that Merlin was acquired by Commure in 2020.

Source: Dealroom company data