In 2014, two students from the Athens University of Economics and Business, Υannis Ιmelos and Stefanos Alkidis, recognized a significant challenge: the process of finding internships and entry-level jobs in Greece was outdated and inefficient for both students and employers.
Motivated by their personal experiences and a desire to modernize the connection between young talent and the job market, they participated in an Entrepreneurship Bootcamp organized by ACE and then joined the ACE Compass Cycle in 2014. In 2016 CollegeLink was founded as a platform designed to assist students and recent graduates in finding meaningful first jobs, effectively bridging the gap between higher education and professional life.
As the company evolved, Giannis and Stefanos identified a broader need among employers for smarter, more efficient recruitment tools tailored to young talent. This realization led to the transformation of CollegeLink into linq, marking a new chapter focused on technology-driven talent acquisition.
From CollegeLink to linq: Rethinking Recruitment for the New Generation
The transition from CollegeLink to linq represented more than a rebranding; it was a strategic shift towards delivering a comprehensive recruitment experience. linq now offers employers advanced tools to attract, engage, and manage early-career candidates through automation, personalization, and data-driven insights.
With a renewed focus on user experience and technological innovation, linq has become a platform that simplifies the recruitment journey for both employers and candidates, particularly in the early-career space.
Key Achievements:
- Market Leadership:
linq has established itself as one of Greece’s most recognized platforms for junior talent recruitment, connecting thousands of students and graduates with hundreds of employers annually. - Strategic Funding:
linq has secured €350,000 investment in two funding rounds led by Uni.Fund, a prominent Greek venture capital fund. This funding facilitated the expansion of their technological capabilities and market reach. - Robust Platform Metrics:
- 200,000+ vetted candidate profiles in the Talent Database
- 300+ active job listings across various industries
- 4,000+ companies utilizing the platform for recruitment
- 85% candidate response rate, with an average response time of 3 days
- 20% interview acceptance rate, significantly higher than industry averages
- Comprehensive Services:
linq offers a suite of services including:- Smart Matching: Personalized job recommendations based on detailed candidate profiles
- Talent Database Access: Advanced filtering options to identify ideal candidates swiftly
- Employer Branding Solutions: Tools to enhance company visibility and attract top talent
- Academies: Educational programs with over 1,500 participants across 12 courses in high-demand fields
Empowering the Future of Work
linq’s mission is to make recruitment more personal, efficient, and impactful—starting from the early-career journey. By combining technology with a deep understanding of youth employment dynamics, Giannis and Stefanos have transformed a simple idea into a platform that redefines how companies discover and hire emerging talent.
From classroom frustration to scalable impact—linq is building the future of recruitment, one opportunity at a time.