WeNetwork: agency with 7 offices across APAC.

Having been country head of Robert Walters in both Indonesia and Singapore, Rob didn’t want to continue climbing the corporate ladder. He decided to set up alone just as COVID-19 broke out. Knowing the DQ founders personally, he felt the journey would be easier and better with DQ than without.

What was the challenge?

Having been in recruitment his entire career, Rob knew the kind of agency he wanted to build and the clients he wanted to service. However, launching WeNetwork in the midst of a global pandemic presented extraordinary difficulties. Administrative processes such as securing a recruitment license, opening a business bank account, and operating under strict lockdowns were nearly impossible.

Rob’s deep industry knowledge and drive kept the vision alive, but the pandemic’s constraints made critical operational progress challenging. He needed a partner capable of navigating these complex barriers and unlocking key opportunities.

What did we do?

Rob was the first founder we ever supported. Back then we had no formal process for launching a new business. What we lacked in structure, however, we attempted to make up in effort. Our founding team supported Rob with every element of his business, removing as much of the administration as possible so that Rob could immediately start servicing clients and generating revenue.

Our work began by working with Singapore authorities to incorporate an entity and expedite the recruitment licensing process — a time-consuming process that would have detracted from Rob’s ability to do real work. We set up the company bank account (not straightforward amid Singapore’s strict lockdowns), and actively promoted the WeNetwork service among our networks in Southeast Asia.

We continue to support Rob with potential client introductions and support with governance, employment and strategic issues, from setting up an employee options scheme to raising capital, to formalising a strategic alliance with an Indonesian company via a share swap.

What were the results?

Since launching, WeNetwork has experienced rapid growth, expanding to 50+ employees across 4 international offices, and becoming known as one of only a handful of recruitment businesses to grow successfully in the difficult 2023/2024 period.

We’re proud of the fact that several of WeNetwork’s longest standing and largest client accounts have resulted from introductions made by a member of the DQ team.

Today, WeNetwork continues to grow as a trusted recruitment partner for startups and fast-growth companies across Southeast Asia and Australia.

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