After two decades in global leadership, IIM Ahmedabad alumnus Vishal Sood returned to Mohali to launch PlaceCom, an AI-driven platform aimed at leveling the playing field for students from tier-2 and tier-3 Indian colleges. Frustrated by the hiring disparity where pedigree outweighs skills, Sood’s platform automates campus recruitment and offers personalized interview preparation via its PrepEdge feature. PlaceCom has already raised $2 million and is partnering with local institutions, even offering a sports car as a prize in its upcoming entrepreneurial program, CampusShark. Despite regional limitations, Sood chose Mohali for its liveability and sense of home.

Highlights

* Vishal Sood left a global CEO role to launch PlaceCom, an AI-powered platform democratizing job access for students outside top Indian colleges.
* PlaceCom uses AI to automate recruitment, personalize interview prep, and connect students with international opportunities.
* Headquartered in Mohali, PlaceCom raised $2 million early on and is focused on tech talent from the region.

From Corner Office to Campus Crusader: One Man’s Mission to Democratize Placements

Leaving a Legacy for a Purpose

Imagine leaving a successful career at the peak of its trajectory, a corner office and all the prestige that comes with it. That’s exactly what Vishal Sood, an IIM Ahmedabad alumnus, did after two decades in global leadership, including a stint as a Group CEO of a multinational conglomerate. He couldn’t shake off a burning question: Why are students in smaller towns and less-known colleges still struggling to access quality job placements?

"Students outside top institutes face structural challenges. Pedigree often gets more weight than skills. I wanted to change that." – Vishal Sood, Founder of PlaceCom

Having witnessed firsthand the hiring disparities across regions, Sood felt compelled to act. He observed that students from tier-2 and tier-3 colleges were often overlooked, their skills overshadowed by the perceived prestige of candidates from elite institutions. This realization became the catalyst for a dramatic career shift and a return to his roots.

PlaceCom: AI-Powered Opportunity

Driven by a passion for leveling the playing field, Sood launched PlaceCom in October 2021, an AI-driven career and hiring platform aimed at democratizing access to job opportunities. Partnering with his wife, Shelly, he set out to build an ecosystem that empowers students often overlooked by traditional recruitment processes.

PlaceCom leverages the power of artificial intelligence to overcome barriers and provide personalized support to students:

• Hiring Automation: Streamlines CV generation, candidate shortlisting, assessments, and job-fit analysis, ensuring a fair and efficient recruitment process.
• PrepEdge: Offers tailored, last-minute interview preparation, including AI-generated answers to common interview questions in multiple languages (English, Hindi, Punjabi, Bahasa Indonesia).

"AI is an enabler. It allows both applicants and employers to overcome geographical and pedigree-based barriers," Sood explains. PlaceCom is already expanding its reach, connecting smaller Indian campuses with international placement opportunities from the Middle East to Armenia.

Early Success: Within three months of its launch, PlaceCom secured $2 million in funding, a testament to the founding team’s experience and the platform’s potential. Today, the company employs AI engineers, full-stack developers, and business development professionals from across the region, including graduates from IIT-Ropar and PEC.

Rooted in Mohali, Reaching the World

Despite global experience, Sood chose to base PlaceCom in Mohali’s IT Park, drawn to the Tricity’s balance, tranquility, and quality of life. While acknowledging the region’s limitations in terms of technological adoption and a less mature talent pool compared to tech hubs like Bangalore or Hyderabad, he remains optimistic about its potential.

PlaceCom is actively engaged in the local ecosystem, partnering with IM Punjab to provide recruitment automation tools to startups supported by the institute. Further demonstrating his commitment, Sood is launching CampusShark, an entrepreneurial skilling program for university students across Punjab, with an extraordinary incentive: Sood’s own two-seater sports car will be awarded to the top performer.

The Statistics Speak:

• 85%: of job seekers believe that AI can help them find a better job match (Source: CareerBuilder)
• 75%: of recruiters believe that AI will significantly change the way they hire in the future (Source: LinkedIn)
• 40%: of companies are already using AI in their hiring processes (Source: SHRM)

Grounded in Passion, Driven by Purpose

Despite the demands of building a tech startup, Sood remains grounded, finding solace in simple pleasures: coffee, writing, and basketball. His commitment to the region is unwavering, as he sees Tricity not just as a place to live, but as a place to build something significant for students who need it most.

Ready to empower the next generation of talent? Visit PlaceCom today and discover how AI can unlock your career potential!

FAQ

Okay, here are 10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) based on the provided text about Vishal Sood and his company, PlaceCom:

1. What motivated Vishal Sood to start PlaceCom?

   • Sood was motivated by the hiring disparity between students from top-tier and lower-tier colleges in India. He wanted to create a platform that would democratize access to job opportunities and level the playing field.

2. What is PlaceCom?

   • PlaceCom is an AI-driven career and hiring platform designed to automate campus recruitment and provide personalized preparation support to students, particularly those outside of India’s top institutes.

3. How does PlaceCom work?

   • PlaceCom offers a hiring automation suite for CV generation, candidate shortlisting, assessments, and job-fit analysis. It also has a PrepEdge vertical for tailored interview preparation, generating answers to common questions in multiple languages.

4. What are some of the features of PlaceCom’s PrepEdge tool?

   • PrepEdge offers personalized interview preparation based on a student’s profile, and can generate answers to open-ended questions in multiple languages including English, Hindi, Punjabi, and Bahasa Indonesia.

5. Where is PlaceCom headquartered?

   • PlaceCom is headquartered in Mohali’s IT Park.

6. Why did Vishal Sood choose Mohali for PlaceCom’s headquarters?

   • Sood chose Mohali primarily for lifestyle reasons, citing its balance, quiet, and liveability.

7. What are some of the challenges PlaceCom faces operating in Mohali?

   • Sood mentions that acceptance of new technology is slower in the region, and the talent pool and investor ecosystem are not as developed as in cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, or Pune.

8. What initiatives is PlaceCom involved in besides its core platform?

   • PlaceCom has partnered with IM Punjab to provide recruitment automation tools to startups supported by the institute. They are also launching CampusShark, an entrepreneurial skilling program for university students across Punjab, with a sports car as a prize for the top performer.

9. How did PlaceCom secure its initial funding?

   • PlaceCom raised 2 million dollars within three months of its launch. Sood attributes this to the founding team’s existing networks and experience.
10. What is Vishal Sood’s background before starting PlaceCom?
    • Vishal Sood has nearly two decades of experience in global leadership roles, including a stint as group CEO of a multinational conglomerate. He is also an alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad.