Besew Online Debuts as a Platform for Transparent Hiring in Ethiopia

Eight-month-old startup Haye Fintax Technologies has entered Ethiopia’s job-tech market with the launch of its first product, the Besew Online app. The platform is designed to link job seekers with recruiters while also creating space for entrepreneurs to interact.

Founded by Bruke Gebreyes, a computer science and IT professional with two decades of experience, including 13 years at the Information Network Security Agency (INSA), Haye Fintax has been developing the app for since its establishment.

“The aim is to create a structured and transparent job posting platform in Ethiopia, providing job applicants with easier access to opportunities,” Bruke told Shega. He explained that the platform was inspired by everyday challenges faced by job seekers, companies, and households.

“Finding even a housemaid when you need one is difficult. You often have to communicate with multiple brokers, with no guarantee of finding the right person. There are also several problems associated with using agencies. We developed a platform that facilitates job matching and transparent hiring, fostering trust between employers and job seekers,” he said.

For many young Ethiopians, those challenges are all too familiar. Aminat Mohammed, a 2022 graduate of Arba Minch University with a degree in Water Resource and Irrigation Engineering, described her difficulties in finding work. “Most job opportunities in my field require more than six years of work experience, so I am forced to work in fields unrelated to my discipline,” she said. Aminat explained that while she uses job-searching apps, most postings do not require a degree or align with her studies. “These apps are valuable for avoiding transportation costs and harsh weather conditions when applying for jobs. They would be even more helpful if they featured positions relevant to our fields of study.”

With an unemployment rate of around 27.7% and close to 2 million new entrants into the labor market each year, finding jobs for Ethiopians is as tricky as it is critical. Merit-based hiring has remained minimal in contrast to the prevalence of nepotism, cronyism, and other biased selection criteria. The Besew app looks to bridge that gap by simplifying hiring, improving employee retention, allowing users to specify job types, and reducing job-related fraud. Companies can post openings, job seekers can create profiles, and a search function enables matching. Agencies can share job opportunities, while startups have a dedicated space to connect. The app also includes an “open to work” toggle and currently supports two languages, with plans to add more in the future.

Besew Online is free to download and open to the public, with a subscription model that unlocks additional features. Payments are processed via Addispay, with plans to integrate more gateways. The free plan provides access to public job boards with limited applications and startup engagement. The basic plan adds startup registration, escrow-supported applications, peer recommendations, broker access, and curated job visibility. The pro plan builds on this by offering company profiles, vacancy posting, detailed job descriptions, and competency-based matching. The premium plan adds psychometric assessments for employers and candidates, full competency-based matching, API integration, and analytics for automation.