Total amount raised
$434 Million
Latest funding date
1/1/2022
Location
Handshake has successfully raised funding over 7 rounds, with the latest being a Series F round involving 12 investors, including Coatue and Valiant Peregrine Fund as lead investors. The platform is a college career network that connects students and recent graduates with job opportunities, supported by notable investors such as Spark Capital and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
Keep reading to explore the intricacies of Handshake's fundraising journey and the investors backing this innovative platform.
What Is Handshake?
Handshake is a private company based in San Francisco, California, operating in the college recruiting, data collection and labeling, employment, human resources, and recruiting industries. The platform serves as a college career network, helping students and recent graduates find job opportunities.
With an employee count ranging between 501-1000, Handshake has established itself as a significant player in the recruitment sector. The company leverages AI-powered tools to connect job seekers, recruiters, AI labs, and higher education institutions, facilitating career growth in the AI economy.
How Much Funding Has Handshake Raised?
- Seed Round
- Amount Raised: USD 3,500,000
- Date: March 2015
- Lead Investors: True Ventures
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To develop the initial platform and expand its user base among students and educational institutions.
- Series A
- Amount Raised: USD 10,500,000
- Date: February 2016
- Lead Investors: Kleiner Perkins
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To scale the platform and enhance its features to better connect students with job opportunities.
- Series B
- Amount Raised: USD 20,000,000
- Date: November 2016
- Lead Investors: Spark Capital
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To expand the team and increase the platform's reach to more universities and employers.
- Series C
- Amount Raised: USD 40,000,000
- Date: October 2018
- Lead Investors: EQT Ventures
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To further develop the platform's technology and expand its market presence.
- Series D
- Amount Raised: USD 80,000,000
- Date: October 2020
- Lead Investors: Notable Capital
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To enhance the platform's AI capabilities and support its growing user base.
- Series E
- Amount Raised: USD 80,000,000
- Date: May 2021
- Lead Investors: Lightspeed Venture Partners, Spark Capital
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To expand internationally and improve the platform's user experience.
- Series F
- Amount Raised: USD 200,000,000
- Date: January 2022
- Lead Investors: Coatue, Valiant Peregrine Fund
- Valuation at Round: $3.5 billion
- Motivation Behind the Round: To meet the growing demand and expand Handshake's footprint in the U.S. and internationally, while dismantling outdated recruiting practices.
Total Amount Raised: USD 433,500,000. Current Valuation: $3.5 billion.
Key Investors
- Coatue Management
- Details: Coatue Management is a global investment firm focused on technology, media, and telecommunications. They have a strong presence in the venture capital space, investing in high-growth companies.
- Investment Focus Areas: Technology, media, telecommunications.
- Notable Investments: Snapchat, ByteDance, DoorDash.
- Valiant Peregrine Fund
- Details: Valiant Peregrine Fund is a venture capital fund that invests in high-growth technology startups. They are known for their strategic investments in emerging tech companies.
- Investment Focus Areas: High-growth technology startups.
- Notable Investments: Not publicly disclosed.
- Lightspeed Venture Partners
- Details: Lightspeed Venture Partners is a venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage investments in the enterprise, consumer, and health sectors. They have a global presence and a diverse portfolio.
- Investment Focus Areas: Enterprise, consumer, health sectors.
- Notable Investments: Snapchat, Nest, GrubHub.
- Spark Capital
- Details: Spark Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in early and growth-stage companies in the technology sector. They have a history of backing successful startups.
- Investment Focus Areas: Early and growth-stage technology companies.
- Notable Investments: Twitter, Slack, Oculus.
- Kleiner Perkins
- Details: Kleiner Perkins is a venture capital firm that invests in technology and life sciences companies. They are one of the most well-known firms in Silicon Valley.
- Investment Focus Areas: Technology, life sciences.
- Notable Investments: Google, Amazon, Twitter.
What's Next for Handshake?
With a fresh $200 million in funding, Handshake is poised to deepen its impact on early career networking. The platform plans to expand its footprint both in the U.S. and internationally, helping students earn job-ready skills and credentials. This growth is supported by a valuation of $3.5 billion and a user base that includes 20 million students and 650,000+ employers.
Future fundraising opportunities seem promising as Handshake continues to innovate and scale. The company may attract further investments to support its ambitious expansion plans and technological advancements. However, challenges such as competition from established platforms like LinkedIn and the need to maintain service quality while scaling globally could pose hurdles.
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