Jumbl is Building a Structured Internship Hiring Infrastructure for India’s Startup Ecosystem
- ByStartupStory | March 24, 2026
Addressing the Gap Between Student Aspirations and Startup Hiring Needs
India’s student ecosystem is undergoing a significant shift, with increasing emphasis on practical exposure, internships, and early career readiness. As expectations evolve, students are no longer looking for just degrees, but for opportunities that help them build real-world skills and industry experience.
However, despite this growing demand, a clear structural gap continues to exist.
On one hand, students often struggle to find internships that are both meaningful and fairly compensated. On the other hand, startups face challenges in identifying and hiring the right talent efficiently, largely due to limited bandwidth and the absence of structured hiring processes. This disconnect creates friction on both sides, slowing down what should ideally be a seamless exchange of opportunity and talent.
Jumbl is building within this exact gap, developing a system that brings structure, efficiency, and intent into the internship hiring process for both students and startups.
Founder Background and a Journey Shaped by Experimentation and Setbacks
Vansh Kathuria, Co-Founder and CEO of Jumbl, represents a journey that is anything but linear.
A mechanical engineering graduate from VIT Vellore, Vansh’s entrepreneurial inclination began early. From building his first startup in 2017 to navigating multiple failures, career shifts, and periods of uncertainty, his journey has been shaped by continuous experimentation.
One of his early ventures involved building a tech solution for hotels to streamline guest experiences. While the idea showed initial promise, even leading to conversations with large players like ITC, it eventually had to be shut down due to lack of scalability and traction.
What followed was a series of transitions. From attempting higher education abroad and facing setbacks due to the pandemic, to working in a supply chain role at an EV company, Vansh experienced multiple phases of uncertainty, including periods of being without both a job and academic direction.
However, each phase contributed to a deeper understanding of real-world problems. His time in the recruitment space, where he helped over 26,000 professionals secure referrals across companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, became a defining experience.
That’s what eventually led him to build Jumbl.
From Job Referrals to Internship Infrastructure
Before Jumbl, Vansh built Kounselo, an education counseling marketplace that helped students navigate international admissions. The platform generated over ₹10 lakh in GMV and received a government grant under the NIDHI-EiR scheme.
However, despite initial traction, the venture faced challenges in scaling and fundraising, eventually leading to its closure.
After working full time in the recruitment space, Vansh returned to building. What started as a job referral platform quickly revealed deeper insights through user data. A significant portion of demand was coming from fresh graduates and students, highlighting a much larger opportunity in the early careers space, especially internships. This led to a clear shift in focus towards building a more structured solution around internships, shaping Jumbl in its current form
Building a Structured Hiring System for Internships
Jumbl operates as an end-to-end internship hiring infrastructure designed specifically for startups, bringing structure and efficiency to a traditionally fragmented process.
For students, the platform provides access to paid internships across early-stage startups in domains such as technology, marketing, design, and operations. Many of these roles are remote and offer potential PPO opportunities, positioning them as meaningful entry points rather than short-term engagements. For startups, Jumbl simplifies the hiring journey by removing the operational burden associated with sourcing and screening candidates. Instead of navigating large volumes of unfiltered applications, the platform manages the entire pipeline, from initial screening to shortlisting, allowing founders to engage only at the final stage of selection.
As a result, most hiring cycles are completed within 7 to 10 days, significantly improving both speed and decision-making efficiency.
Leveraging AI to Streamline Screening and Selection
One of Jumbl’s core differentiators lies in its structured screening process powered by technology.
The platform evaluates candidates through multiple stages, including profile screening, group discussions, and AI-led interviews. The AI system assesses parameters such as communication, technical understanding, enthusiasm, and long-term intent. This allows startups to access a refined pool of candidates without investing significant time in the early stages of hiring.
Additionally, Jumbl has introduced a performance-based scoring system where founders can review interns based on actual work experience, creating a more reliable and accountable alternative to traditional resumes.
Early Traction and Ecosystem Partnerships
Jumbl has demonstrated strong early traction, particularly within the startup ecosystem.
The platform launched its pilot at IIT Bombay, receiving over 1500 applications, and has since worked with more than 100 startups. Within its initial phase, it successfully deployed 25 interns across domains such as technology, operations, marketing, and design and began generating revenue in its first quarter.
Currently, the platform has built a network of over 25,000 students across institutions such as IIT Bhubaneswar, IIM Sambalpur, Ashoka University, Miranda House, Maitreyi College, Kj Somaiya and other leading campuses across India.
Jumbl has also partnered with multiple incubators including AIC-RNTU, SIIF, and D-Labs and is actively working as an ecosystem partner to support hiring needs within startup communities.
Funding, Support, and Current Position
Jumbl is currently a bootstrapped venture.
The company has received early-stage financial support through grants, including funding of over ₹3.5 lakh, which helped initiate its operations. It is also backed by ISB’s I-Venture Immersive program, where Vansh is part of the current cohort. While the company has demonstrated early traction, it is now actively looking to raise funding to expand its team, strengthen its product, and scale its market presence.
Vision to Build a Complete Career Ecosystem for Freshers
Looking ahead, Jumbl is focused on evolving beyond internships to build a comprehensive and structured ecosystem for freshers.
The long-term vision is to create an integrated pathway that bridges the gap between learning and employment, starting with training programs designed to make students internship and job ready. By combining skill development with real opportunities, the platform aims to streamline the transition from education to the workforce.
At the same time, Jumbl is working toward expanding its presence across India while gradually exploring global markets. The focus remains on scaling thoughtfully, strengthening its product, and building a system that can consistently deliver value to both students and startups.
Founder Perspective on the Evolving Student Ecosystem
Vansh highlights a significant shift in the mindset of students over the years.
Compared to earlier batches, today’s students are more aware of the importance of practical exposure and skill-building. Internships are no longer optional but a critical part of career development. His advice to students reflects this shift, focus on gaining experience, build strong communication skills, and prioritise learning over immediate financial outcomes.
Building Within a Rapidly Changing Hiring Landscape
As India’s startup ecosystem continues to expand, the need for structured and efficient hiring solutions is becoming increasingly important.
Jumbl is positioning itself within this transformation by addressing one of the most critical gaps in the early career journey, access to meaningful internships and efficient hiring systems. By combining data-driven insights, AI-led screening, and ecosystem partnerships, the company is building a model that aligns with the evolving needs of both students and startups.
In doing so, Jumbl is not just simplifying hiring, but redefining how early careers are built in a rapidly changing ecosystem.
Follow Startup Story
Related Posts
