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Hey, techie! Today we’re speaking with Tri Ahmad Irfan, the Founder & CTO of Lumina, Indonesia’s leading job search platform. Tri also authors a newsletter called The Stoic CTO. If you enjoy Dispatch, you will certainly appreciate The Stoic CTO as well.
The world of job boards is vast and intricate, with every platform aiming to bridge the gap between employers and potential employees. So, when I sat down with one of the key minds behind Lumina — a progressive job board catering primarily to the Indonesian market.
Lumina's Tech Stack: Speed and Simplicity
Despite being in its early stages, Lumina's small team of 7-8 engineers supports multiple platforms, including a worker-facing platform, a web interface, and an Android app with 1.5 million users. Their secret? A tech stack focused on simplicity and quick development.
For the frontend, Lumina uses React and Next.js, chosen for their ease of use and robust support. The mobile app relies on Kotlin with Jetpack Compose, ensuring smooth app creation. The backend is powered by Django and Python, allowing rapid feature rollouts.
In a nutshell, Lumina's tech choices emphasize rapid development without compromising on quality. Their strategy is a testament to the power of smart tech decisions in startup environments.
Addressing User Engagement Challenges Head-on
One of the most immediate challenges that job boards face is user retention. Lumina recognized this issue early on and aimed to tackle it. How? By offering features that users could engage with even when they're not job hunting. Community features, for example, allowed users to stay updated with company hiring stories or help others in their job search journey.
Incorporating Feedback Into Product
Like any product-driven company, Lumina places a high emphasis on user feedback. Feedback provides vital insights and also identifies recurring challenges. One such challenge Lumina found was the delay or lack of updates from recruiters to applicants. Their solution? If a recruiter fails to update applicants within a specified timeframe, Lumina archives the application, providing closure to job seekers.
Local Needs & Challenges
Indonesia, with its diverse culture and vast geography, poses unique challenges. Lumina recognizes the importance of catering to local needs. Understanding and addressing such local preferences can make a world of difference.
In Indonesia's emerging market, Lumina faces two primary challenges. Firstly, due to traditionally lower incomes, many users have low-spec phones. Secondly, as an early-stage startup with a lean team, they have to judiciously allocate resources, ensuring development is efficient and avoids overly complex solutions that might be more fitting for developed markets.
Monetization without Compromising User Trust
Lumina's monetization strategy is clear: they will never charge the worker side. Revenue streams are generated from the employer side, including premium subscriptions and advertisement features.
The Role of External Support: Y Combinator's Influence
Lumina's stint at Y Combinator (YC) was transformative. Described as more of a "school" than just an investor, YC provided Lumina with invaluable learning, networking opportunities, and guidance from industry leaders.
Building a successful job board isn't just about connecting employers and job seekers. It's about understanding and addressing unique challenges, continually adapting to evolving market needs, and having a vision for the future. Lumina's journey offers a blueprint, but as with all things, innovation and adaptability will determine the future players in this space.
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