Allobee, a women-led technology platform for small businesses and startups, raises $0.5 million to accelerate growth

It has been widely reported that millions of women left the workplace voluntarily since the start of the COVID-19 crisis in 2020 due to childcare needs, in addition to the millions losing work in industries hit hard by the pandemic. That’s the story of this Durham, North Carolina-based Allobee, a tech startup founded in May 2020 just three months after coronavirus spread to the United States.

Allobee now joins the list of great companies founded during difficult times. Allobee is a managed marketplace for small businesses and startups. It is a solution for women and small businesses impacted by the economy and circumstances of the pandemic.

Today, Allobee announced it has secured $0.5 million in a funding round led by Stargazer Ventures and a network of angel investors to further support the company’s rapid growth. In addition to customer acquisition and brand awareness, the funding will enable the hire of a full-time engineer, Niki Gitinabard, once bound for Silicon Valley, now bringing her Ph.D. in Computer Science and Machine Learning from N.C. State University to Allobee.

Founded by Brooke Markevicius, Allobee is a platform designed with the overwhelmed entrepreneur and small business owner in mind. Whether in need of business support services like bookkeeping and tech assistance, or up-leveling your visibility with podcast editing, website development, graphic design, or social media, Allobee is a one-stop business solution to give you time back when you need it most. Allobee’s algorithm connects business owners nationwide to a vetted, underutilized workforce of experienced, professional women who have left the traditional 9 to 5, and provides a seamless workflow to the logistics of hiring, paying, and managing projects to completion.

Founder Brooke Markevicius built her career at fast-paced big tech companies, exposing her to the pain points of both clients and freelance personnel. Markevicius’ career trajectory was changed when she became a mother and realized the two worlds did not work well together. She envisioned an end-to-end solution that addressed both the pain points of underutilized workers in the modern gig economy and those running a small business.

“At its core, I designed flexible solutions through Allobee with mothers and caregivers in mind because that’s what I needed,” Markevicius explains. “Allobee’s algorithm eliminates decision fatigue and supports an agile approach to outsource and manage workflow. The model also supports the workforce paradigm shift away from major cities.”

Since launching in May 2020, the increased demand for access to flexible skilled workers to support entrepreneurs and small businesses all over the country has accelerated Allobee hiring of a fully vetted and highly skilled workforce: women that have left the traditional 9-5.