In a world where career paths are rarely linear, especially for women, HerKey stands tall as a platform that’s not only changing the rules but rewriting the game altogether. Founded by Neha Bagaria, this Bengaluru-based powerhouse is giving women the tools, support, and networks they need to rise, restart, and reinvent their careers.
If you’ve ever felt like society handed women a career roadmap filled with detours, potholes, and speed breakers, HerKey’s GPS is here to reroute you toward success.
The Spark: When Career Break Became Career Breakthrough
The story of HerKey begins with its dynamic founder, Neha Bagaria, a Wharton graduate, serial entrepreneur, and mom of two. Her resume reads like a dream: founder of an education startup straight out of college (yes, Paragon), a key player in pharma company Kemwell, and… a 3.5-year career break to raise her children.
Wait, pause.
That “career break” isn’t a comma in her story. It’s the full-blown plot twist that led her to see the barriers women face in trying to return to work. Spoiler alert: there were plenty. From bias and loss of confidence to lack of flexible opportunities, the reentry challenge was real.
So, in 2015, on International Women’s Day (because: iconic), she launched JobsForHer, a platform for women restarting their careers. But with growth came transformation, and today, that same vision is called HerKey.
And oh, it’s so much more than a job portal.
What is HerKey? Let’s Break It Down Like a Career Bestie Would
Think of HerKey as that one friend who always has a lead on a great job, knows the best course to upskill fast, and keeps dragging you into inspiring WhatsApp groups (you’re glad she did). It’s a full-stack platform dedicated to helping women engage meaningfully with their careers, wherever they are on the journey.
Here’s what HerKey brings to the table:
🔸 Jobs: Curated roles across sectors for women looking to start, restart, or climb higher.
🔸 Companies: A backstage pass to employers committed to inclusive hiring.
🔸 Courses: Reskill or upskill, because being industry-relevant is the real glow-up.
🔸 Mentors: Access to coaches and experts who’ve been there, nailed that.
🔸 Communities: Groups and forums where like-minded women hype each other up instead of tearing anyone down.
Oh, and don’t forget the HerKey Gold Club, an invite-only network of stellar women leaders across sectors. Think of it as a career girl gang, but make it elite.
Stats Don’t Lie: The Career Ladder is Still a Cliff for Most Women
Here’s the harsh reality HerKey is tackling:
🔹 26% of women are present at the entry level in companies.
🔹 That figure plummets to 13% at senior levels.
🔹 At the CXO tier? It’s just 10%.
That’s not a pipeline, it’s a leaky faucet.
And this isn’t just about diversity reports and HR metrics. It’s about missed ideas, untapped talent, and a whole lot of “what could’ve been”. HerKey’s mission is clear: build real engagement, because when women stay engaged, careers don’t just continue, they soar.
Backed by Big Dreams (and Big Investors)
Behind every strong founder is a strong pitch, and Neha nailed hers. HerKey has raised $4 million from Kalaari Capital and 360 One, and its current valuation stands at a respectable ₹131 crore.
And honestly, it makes sense.
This is not a niche problem. It’s a massive, overlooked opportunity, one that spans industries and job levels.
HerKey’s growing base of 4.5 million+ women candidates is proof that the demand is real. With this funding, the company is expanding into new tech tools, career engagement initiatives, and deeper corporate partnerships to bridge that gender gap, once and for all.
A Workplace Where Women Rule (Literally, 85%)
HerKey walks the talk. With a team that’s 85% women, the company culture is both empowering and flexible. Here’s how they describe it:
“ Unlike the rest of the world, we didn’t need a pandemic to teach us about work-life balance. It’s the way of life here at HerKey.”
Mic. Drop.
It’s a space where accountability meets empathy, and expectations meet unprecedented support. The other 15% of the team? They wouldn’t have it any other way.
Obstacles? Oh, There Were Plenty
Launching a women-focused platform in a country where gender roles are deeply entrenched is not for the faint-hearted. From corporate skepticism (“Do we need this?”) to navigating a society that still asks women ‘When are you planning to settle down?’, Neha and her team had to break barriers constantly.
Add to that the early perception that career breaks meant the end of ambition, and you realize just how uphill this journey was.
But HerKey tackled it with a triple threat:
– Data-backed value for companies.
– A nurturing environment for users.
– And unapologetic storytelling that redefined ambition.
How They’re Smashing the Barriers
So what’s working?
🔹 Customized Hiring Solutions – Companies now partner with HerKey to access talented women across career stages.
🔹 Learning Tracks – Tailored content for the Starter, Restarter, and Riser (those climbing leadership ladders).
🔹 Community-Led Growth – Groups of women lifting each other? That’s the vibe.
🔹 Inclusive Branding – No pink-washing here. Just honest dialogue, real careers, and zero cringe.
HerKey isn’t just filling jobs, it’s changing the psychology around female ambition. And that kind of shift? It’s pure magic.
What’s Next? World Domination (But Make It Inclusive)
HerKey is on a mission to ensure that ambition, ability, and access aren’t divided by gender. With plans to expand:
– Into more metros and Tier 2 cities
– Deeper tech integration with AI-driven role matching
– Partnerships with unicorns and legacy firms alike
The message is clear: You can’t afford to ignore women in your talent pipeline anymore, and with HerKey, you won’t have to.
Final Thoughts: If the Ladder’s Broken, Build a New One
HerKey isn’t just another hiring platform. It’s the BFF that hands you tools, cheerleads your ambition, and introduces you to the people who’ll open doors. Founded on personal experience, backed by bold leadership, and built for systemic change, this is the career companion women didn’t know they needed.
So whether you’re a woman mapping your return to work, eyeing the next promotion, or just tired of hitting ceilings that don’t crack, HerKey’s holding the elevator door open for you.
Follow their journey: Herkey
