Innovation
Praca za Rogiem
One of the most successful venture-building case studies in Poland and CEE. For LMC, we’ve built and scaled Praca za Rogiem recruitment app from concept validation and market launch to sales, marketing and operations. The app grew from zero to 2 million users across Poland, Czechia and Slovakia.
Challenge
For our client, LMC – one of the largest recruitment portal companies in Europe and a market leader in the Czech Republic and Slovakia – in cooperation w Direct People Czech Republic we sought innovative ideas for new products, services, and business models. Given the company’s extensive scale of operations, the bar for new projects was set exceptionally high. One of the key areas identified was the blue-collar workforce segment, which includes retail workers, manufacturing employees, and couriers. Insights gathered from market research indicated that this group highly values proximity to their workplace and is often willing to switch employers in order to work closer to home.
The company recognized that building a new startup operating across three countries would exceed its operational capacity and raise concerns about effectiveness, particularly due to the potential cannibalization of its existing job listing business, especially in the early stages. Our task was to develop and scale the Praca za Rogiem (Job around the corner) application using a venture building model.
Approach
We implemented the project using a venture building approach, taking full responsibility for nearly all business functions – from launching and managing the new business to scaling it until it reached a level of maturity that allowed it to be integrated into the client’s product portfolio.
Our team focused on developing Praca za Rogiem in Poland, working closely with the Prague-based team responsible for the application’s growth in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
As part of the project, our responsibilities included:
- validating the concept and launching the project in Poland – conducting market research, testing business model assumptions, and adapting the product to the specifics of the Polish market
- product development – conducting continuous research and working closely with the development team to tailor the application to user needs and optimize functionality
- acquiring the first corporate clients – actively engaging with large companies seeking employees and building their trust in the platform
- candidate recruitment – attracting workers interested in job offers and developing engaging recruitment strategies
- expanding the employer base in the SME segment – focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises that could utilize the platform through a self-service model
- building the corporate sales team – training and supporting sales specialists responsible for managing relationships with key clients
- customer support and user assistance – operating a dedicated Contact Center that handled onboarding, support, and engagement for both candidates and employers
- data analysis and process optimization – continuously analyzing user data, measuring campaign effectiveness, and refining growth strategies
- marketing and public relations – managing a comprehensive marketing strategy, including brand-building and communication efforts
- intensive online campaigns – leveraging digital channels to attract new users—both candidates and employers—while strengthening the brand’s market presence
- outdoor campaigns and testing of non-standard advertising formats – executing multiple outdoor campaigns and experimenting with innovative ad formats, such as in-store promotions in local businesses like shops and restaurants
Our compensation was directly tied to the scale of growth and success of the business in Poland, ensuring a strong alignment between our efforts and the company’s long-term objectives.
Piotr Nejman
CEO of Salto Strategies
Results
The Praca za Rogiem application followed an impressive growth trajectory, starting from zero and reaching 2 million users across three countries – Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia – within just a few years. In Poland, the platform’s popularity surged, with peak monthly active users reaching one million, making it the third-largest recruitment app in the country, competing with the biggest players in the market.
The application effectively connected employers and job seekers, offering an intuitive and fast solution tailored to local needs. It was utilized by large corporations such as Żabka, Euro RTV AGD, and Poczta Polska, as well as by tens of thousands of smaller businesses looking to recruit employees for their local operations. Its location-based matching model made it particularly attractive to individuals searching for jobs near their homes.
After an intensive scaling phase and achieving a leading market position, the management of the application was handed back to the client. Despite its strong market presence in Poland, the company made a strategic decision to discontinue the application in this market and refocus on its core market in the Czech Republic, where Praca za Rogiem continues to enjoy strong user loyalty and successfully connects employers with candidates
