Junoon is a creation of  Ahaan Aggarwal, a 17-year-old young entrepreneur who is passionate about helping unskilled workers to learn new skills and become upwardly mobile. Economic Independence for all is a long-term vision for Junoon.

Junoon is a simple, instructional based online vocational training and job search platform that is focused on blue-collar jobs. The platform provides rich training programs to workers across 20 categories like Auto Mechanic, Auto Driver, Painter, Plumber, Electrician, Warehouse Keeper, Security Guard, Carpenter, Mason, Construction Worker, Cleaner, Laundry Attendant, Gardener, Server, Runner, Cooking Assistant, Nanny, Pick, Pack, Delivery Man. The training programs come in both text and video formats and are deemed to be an important step towards standardizing the modest jobs in the country to provide a substantial living. It offers an end-to-end workforce management system by producing quality, skilled manpower, thereby contributing to the Indian economy.

Ahaan Aggarwal is a high school senior at the American Embassy School in New Delhi and is working passionately to help millions of unskilled or semi-skilled workers in India by cascading training and help them have the flexibility to seek jobs. He wants to create a platform for them to get consistent jobs with standardized income. 

 “After I saw the numbers, I knew what was missing,” says Ahaan. When the national lockdown had begun, Ahaan found that unemployment in manual labor had spiked after offices, warehouses, and many other locations had to shut down because of the lockdown. He created Junoon to help the millions of Indians across the country struggling to find employment.

Ahaan firmly believes that by improving the skills of blue-collar workers, India can experience sizable economic growth. Junoon is his way of giving back to the company. Ahaan interned with Lightbox VC in the summer of 2020. He attended Harvard Secondary School in Summer 2019.

SME WORLD in an email interaction with Ahaan , Founder & CEO, Junoon.

What made you take to 'business' so early in life?

Back when the national lockdown had begun, I witnessed the mass reverse migration of millions of Indians within weeks after COVID led lockdown. Because of their personal circumstances and shifting market supply, unemployment spiked; many had no choice but to return to their hometowns. One of the biggest hit groups: blue-collar workers. Roughly 60% of the total blue-collar workforce in India left with no work due to COVID Pandemic. During our research, we found that the biggest gap is numerous workers have a lack of professional training and skills and our priority is to deliver the right set of skill development training which helps them in their employment.

So, I created Junoon to help the millions of Indians across the country that were struggling to find employment.

How about your formal education?

Currently I am pursuing my intermediate from American Embassy, New Delhi.I have interned with Lightbox Venture Capital (VC) firm in the summer of 2020. I have attended Harvard Secondary School in Summer 2019. Along with academics in my extra co circular activities I have been doing theatre and I am the current president of theatre at the American embassy.

Describe your Entrepreneurship Journey.

I could say that my entrepreneurship journey has started little earlier, as my father is a serial tech entrepreneur and mother is an Internet entrepreneurand both are the biggest mentors, who have been helping me in nurturing my Entrepreneurial skills. I experienced the 'eureka moment' when millions of people were migrated during the lockdown. And I am passionate about helping the community, and I found that creating opportunities for unskilled or semi-skilled workers to upskill and find financial stability is a fundamental need for our society and economy. Also, as my mother and father are entrepreneurs their mentorship and methods have influenced me throughout my life and are the foundations of the method that I use today to grow.

What is the basic concept behind Junoon?

Junoon is a simple, instructional based online vocational training and job search platform that is focused on blue-collar and grey-collar jobs. Junoon serves to help unskilled and semi-skilled workers review or acquire career-specific skills and become better qualified. Our long-term goal is to provide the necessary opportunities to enable widespread economic independence.

Junoon provides rich training programs across 20 categories including Auto Mechanic, Auto Driver, Painter, Plumber, Electrician, Warehouse Keeper, Security Guard, Carpenter, Mason, Construction Worker, Cleaner, Laundry Attendant, Gardener, Server, Runner, Cooking Assistant, Nanny, Pick, Pack, Delivery Man. The training programs come in both text and video formats and aim to standardize modest jobs in the country provide a substantial living. It offers an end-to-end workforce management system by producing quality, skilled manpower, thereby contributing to the Indian economy.

Partner companies can list their requirements and see the profiles of skilled workers matching their requirement.

What is the model around which Junoon works?

Our Business model is very simple. It's a platform to help blue-collar workers and employers. Accessing thecontent and applying to jobs is absolutely free. Posting job openings is also free of cost with no cap on the number of jobs posting. When an employer downloads candidate's application with contact data we charge INR 79/application. Once we launch KYC and verification services, the employees will need to pay INR 199 per verified candidate. So, this Is low cost, scalable, and a performance-based business model.

What are the growth plans and the next level for Junoon?

We recently raised our seed round led by Kunal Khattar of AdvantEdge and angel investor Viren Rana. Vishesh Tandon, Chaim Friedman of LionBird Ventures and Serial Entrepreneur and angel investor Sandeep Aggarwal participated in the round.

Roadmap for the coming years:

• Close to 2 million people will be getting jobs through Junoon
• Will launch Skill assessment test was based on gender, age, knowledge, language proficiency will tell the likelihood of finding the job in any of the category keeping city and wages too in consideration
• We also plan to work on the KYC Verification, Background check and reference for Blue collared workers for providing this facility to the employer partners
• Junoon will launch the community college program in 10K villages which we have identified during our market research

How will you describe the success of Junoon?

Ans- Junoon success can be defined when we will see the people are getting skilled through junoon and the process of their recruitment will be pacing up. In my view, we will realize our success when we would be able to enhance the skills of blue-collar workers in 10 k villages which we mapped during our research.

What is the USP of Junoon?

Junoon provides rich training programs to workers across 20 categories like Auto Mechanic, Auto Driver, Painter, Plumber, Electrician, Warehouse Keeper, Security Guard, Carpenter, Mason, Construction Worker, Cleaner, Laundry Attendant, Gardener, Server, Runner, Cooking Assistant, Nanny, Pick, Pack, Delivery Man. The training programs come in both text and video. Junoon has launched English and Hindi focused vocational training content, a job portal, registration and profile for employers and Candidates and real-time matching.

Very soon the company will introduce a skill assessment test based on predictive planning. In coming months, we will also launch services for the candidates including KYC, Verification, references, and background check. We will also add more languages for content, community colleges in 10k villages and diploma courses. A good product is where you are never done building so we will keep on building the product.

What is your vision and mission for Junoon?

Vision - At Junoon we are working to help millions of unskilled or semi-skilled workers in India by cascading training and help them have the flexibility to seek jobs. We want to create a platform for them to get consistent jobs with standardized income. 

Mission - To make 450 million blue collars workers in India to be fully trained and become economically independent with simple, standards and effective education, skills, and training. Junoon offers vocational training, opening online community colleges in 10k villages, job candidates skill assessment/verification and placement services.