After hundreds of internship rejections, a college freshman, Canaan Poh built a job-tech platform for overlooked job seekers.
For months, Canaan sent out multiple internship applications, more than 300 of them. Not a single “yes” came back. No callbacks, no interviews, nothing but rejection. Most students might have taken that as a sign to step back. Canaan took it as a challenge. If the job market was this difficult for an ambitious university student, he thought, what chance did everyday workers, especially non-professionals, really have? That realization would lead him to create Lythe, a fast, simple, and fair job platform designed to make finding work less about bureaucracy and more about opportunity.
The Spark Behind Lythe
Founded in Singapore and now expanding globally, Lythe grew from one student’s determination to change the rules of hiring. As a 22-year-old college student from Singapore, Canaan knew first-hand the frustration of waiting for replies that never came. He recognized the invisible hurdles faced by non-professionals, gig workers, and blue-collar job seekers who are often left out of platforms like LinkedIn or buried under corporate jargon on traditional job sites.
“Our platform helps people find part-time and freelance work fast” Canaan explains. “We wanted to remove the barriers that stop people from finding work quickly.”
Fast, Fair, and Inclusive
Lythe’s mission is to make job hunting easy, fast, and fair for people, not just corporations. The platform prioritizes accessibility from the first click. Its one-click Mass Apply feature allows users to send multiple applications instantly, bypassing the tedious process of rewriting resumes or navigating long forms.
Unlike larger, corporate-focused competitors, Lythe welcomes all types of work, even from users. Users can just as easily post their availability for welding as for freelance design. This inclusivity is one of Lythe’s strongest advantages in a crowded job-tech market.
Building a Global Team from a Student Dorm Room
What began as one student’s idea now includes an international team of 18 students from Singapore, India, China, United States, and Malaysia. Each member is currently still in school, united by a shared goal: to reimagine the way people connect with work.
Founding members Hiren Jain, Rajvee Saraf, and Ivan Koh joined Canaan early in the journey, helping turn Lythe from concept into functioning platform. While many startups follow rigid hierarchies, Lythe works with a collaborative approach that values creative problem-solving and quick decision-making.
Alpha Testing and Early Results
Lythe’s alpha launch has already seen users finding work within days of signing up. In an era where job searches can take months, this speed has practical value.
The platform’s people-focused approach resonates with users who are often overlooked in recruitment technology. It is not about corporate culture matching but about enabling people to earn a living quickly.
A Student Startup with a Global Vision
Canaan is now in the Bay Area, presenting Lythe to potential partners and exploring opportunities for growth. Being a student-run operation allows the team to stay agile, grounded, and connected to the needs of real job seekers, something larger and more established platforms often struggle to maintain.
Why Lythe Matters Now
In a challenging job market with an uprise of global layoffs, traditional hiring models can be slow and opaque. Long timelines, resume filters, and complex application systems leave many capable people without opportunities. Lythe addresses this gap with a faster, more straightforward process that puts the worker first.
Canaan’s story of turning rejection into innovation demonstrates how challenges can become opportunities. Lythe is designed to make sure more people have a way forward.
Lythe’s alpha testing is now open to limited sign-ups. Job seekers looking for a faster, simpler way to apply for work or businesses seeking skilled workers can visit lythe.org to learn more. Those interested in partnerships and collaborations can connect with Canaan Poh on LinkedIn.
