Stephanie Murra and Lorenza Vélez are two Colombian immigrants who met as roommates and classmates while pursuing their MBA at Harvard Business School.
During their final semester at HBS (class of 2023), observing the predominance of Hispanic workers in on‑campus service roles led them to deep conversations about the systemic challenges their community faced. Many legal immigrant workers—especially non‑English speakers—struggled with English‑only job platforms, confusing application interfaces, and language‑barrier biases. Meanwhile, U.S. employers in hospitality and construction were battling severe labor shortages.
This contrast inspired them: Why not build a bridge? So in April 2023, still at Harvard, they formally founded Ponte Labor, basing it in Miami while leveraging their networks and lived experience. They’re creation is in essence, a hiring App for immigrants.
Their Backgrounds
Stephanie Murra
A Colombian immigrant and Harvard MBA ’23, Stephanie brings experience from Addi, where she focused on fintech product strategy and operations. Her deep understanding of Hispanic consumer behavior, combined with Harvard’s rigorous entrepreneurship training, shaped her vision for inclusive hiring platforms.
Lorenza Vélez
Also a Colombian immigrant and Harvard MBA ’23, Lorenza co‑founded Addi with Stephanie and later the duo teamed up as roommates at Harvard. Lorenza leads Ponte’s strategy and employer partnerships while shaping its mission to empower Latino workers in the U.S. labor market.
Why They Launched It
Their insight was twofold:
- Community need: They’d heard countless stories of skilled, work‑authorized Hispanic immigrants shut out by conventional hiring channels due to language or tech barriers.
- Market opportunity: The U.S. was facing labor shortages, especially in hourly job categories that Hispanic immigrants traditionally fill. Traditional platforms like Indeed weren’t tailored to their needs.
They saw a clear gap: employers need dependable hourly workers, and immigrants need accessible, trusted job access. Ponte Labor became the bridge between the two. The company has about a dozen employees.
Read: Dominican Students Win Prestigious Harvard Debate
How Ponte Labor Works
- WhatsApp First: The platform recruits candidates via WhatsApp, a communication channel widely used and trusted in Hispanic communities. Outreach campaigns also run across Spanish‑language Facebook and Instagram channels, helping build trust and reach.
- AI‑Powered Pre‑Screening: Candidates interact with an in‑house AI recruiter conducting voice‑based interviews in Spanish. Only work‑authorized candidates are routed to employers.
- Employer Matching & Success‑Based Fees: Employers in sectors like hospitality (e.g., Omni Hotels, Pyramid Global, Atrium Hospitality, Peachtree Hotel Group) receive vetted workers. Ponte only charges a fee if the placement lasts longer than a month—typically 10% of the worker’s monthly salary, up to 12 months.
Traction & Financial Growth
Since its official launch in November 2023:
- 60,000+ candidates have joined Ponte’s platform.
- Nearly 800 workers placed in hospitality roles.
- Annualized net revenue grew from around $70,000 in February 2024 to $550,000 by early 2025.
Ponte has raised $3 million in seed funding, led by Harlem Capital with participation from Better Tomorrow Ventures, The 81 Collection, and Wischoff Ventures. Earlier funding of ~$1.5 million came via Better Tomorrow’s Mint accelerator, NFX FAST Competition, and The 81 Collection. At the a /$15 million valuation, the startup continues scaling fast.
What’s Next
- Sector expansion: Quickly moving beyond hospitality into construction and elder care sectors.
- Language & growth tools: Plans to help workers learn English and develop career trajectories beyond entry‑level roles
- Community expansion: Building tools that can be language‑agnostic and serve other immigrant communities (e.g. Portuguese speakers), and potentially even native‑English job seekers who find the platform helpful
Why It Matters
Stephanie and Lorenza aren’t just running a hiring platform—they’re reshaping the way immigrant talent enters the U.S. labor market. By combining cultural intelligence, smart AI tools, and a deep mission to empower their community, they’re tackling two big challenges at once:
- The labor shortage in hourly‑work sectors.
- The underemployment of legal immigrants facing social and language barriers.
Ponte Labor is creating meaningful opportunity—and proving that tech innovation grounded in empathy can drive both social impact and solid business traction.
