EUVC E546 | Tony Jamous, Oyster: Reversing Brain Drain: Building an Impact Unicorn
Welcome to a new episode of the Impact Highlight Series, powered by EUVC, Impact VC and Impact Supporters.
Today, we’re joined by Tony Jamous, founder and CEO of Oyster. Oyster is on a mission to reverse brain drain and reduce wealth inequality by democratizing access to global job opportunities. Before founding Oyster in 2020, Tony took his previous software API company public on the New York Stock Exchange.
Together, we dive into how Tony built Oyster into an impact unicorn, what it means to lead a mission-driven company, and why he believes impact and financial success are collinear. From hiring across 45 countries to creating a billion-dollar company in just two years, Tony shares the lessons, challenges, and values that guide him.
This is the playbook for building impact unicorns — straight from the founder’s journey.
🎧 Here's what's covered:
02:11 Witnessing the Power of Global Hiring in 45 Countries
05:02 Why Oyster Started: Democratizing Access to Global Jobs
08:27 From Zero to $1B in Two Years — How the Pandemic Accelerated Demand
12:04 Impact Entrepreneurs: Using Technology as a Means, Not an End
15:43 Aligning Financial Success with Impact — The Virtuous Cycle
20:12 The “Inner Rock”: Sticking to Your Values Under Pressure
24:05 Playing the Infinite Game: Building for the Next Generation
27:44 Recruiting for Mission Alignment & Emotional Stability
33:02 Why Impact Businesses Attract the Best Talent and Investors
37:19 The Oyster Framework: Wellbeing as a Core OKR
41:08 Choosing Impact-Driven Investors with Real Frameworks
46:30 Actionable Tip for Generalist VCs: Get Curious and Start Testing