Gainwell Technologies - Early Career Business Analyst, application via RippleMat

The story of RippleMatch begins not in a boardroom, but in a Yale University dorm room in 2016. It was there that co-founders Andrew Myers and Eric Ho, then students themselves, witnessed a frustrating and inequitable reality in early-career recruiting. They saw countless talented classmates miss out on incredible opportunities simply because their universities weren't on the 'target school' lists of top employers. The traditional career fair model, with long lines and impersonal interactions, felt broken. It was a system that perpetuated a lack of diversity and relied more on geography and prestige than on actual skills and potential. This firsthand experience sparked a powerful idea: to build a platform that could level the playing field and connect students from all backgrounds with their dream jobs.

Driven by this mission, Myers left Yale before his senior year to join forces with Ho, who brought his engineering experience from a stint at Facebook. Together, they embarked on a journey to fundamentally redefine how Gen Z finds work. They envisioned a world beyond outdated job boards, one powered by intelligent technology that could understand the unique aspirations and qualifications of each candidate. Their platform would use AI to act as a matchmaker, connecting students with roles where they could truly thrive, based on a deep understanding of skills, interests, and cultural fit. What started as a solution to a personal frustration has since blossomed into a venture-backed powerhouse. RippleMatch has expanded its reach to over 1,500 college campuses, including a significant number of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). Having raised over $80 million in funding, the company now partners with industry giants like Amazon, eBay, and General Mills, proving that their initial vision of a more efficient, equitable, and data-driven recruitment process was not just a dream, but a necessary evolution in the world of hiring.