What is Academia?
Founded in 2008 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Academia operates as a social networking platform designed to transform how scientific research is disseminated. It enables academics to easily track the research of their peers and monitor the impact of their own work. The platform's focus on facilitating the sharing and discovery of academic contributions positions it as a key player in the scholarly communication landscape. Its evolution from early-stage development to its current enterprise-level funding signifies a substantial trajectory in its market penetration and service expansion.
How much funding has Academia raised?
Academia has raised a total of $52.2M across 5 funding rounds:
Other Financing Round
$600K
Series A
$1.6M
Series B
$11M
Series C
$16M
Series D
$23M
Other Financing Round (2007): $600K with participation from LocalGlobe
Series A (2010): $1.6M led by Howzat Partners, Spark Ventures, Rupert Pennant-Rea, Mark Shuttleworth, and Thomas Lehrman
Series B (2013): $11M supported by Khosla Ventures, True Ventures, and Spark Capital
Series C (2019): $16M featuring Social Discovery Ventures and Tencent Holdings
Series D (2022): $23M backed by Tencent, Khosla Ventures, True Ventures, and Spark Capital
Key Investors in Academia
Khosla Ventures
Khosla Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2004, known for investing in breakthrough technologies across various sectors including AI, fintech, and sustainable energy. They provide venture assistance and strategic advice to entrepreneurs.
True Ventures
True Ventures is a venture capital firm that partners with early-stage technology and AI-driven companies, offering capital, guidance, and community support to help build enduring businesses.
Spark Capital
Spark Capital, established in 2001, is an investment banking company based in Chennai, India, providing a full suite of financial services.
What's next for Academia?
The recent major strategic investment in Academia signals a pivotal moment for the company, likely indicating a phase of accelerated scaling and product enhancement. With a history of consistent capital acquisition, including Series B, C, and D rounds, Academia is well-positioned to further innovate its platform, expand its user base, and potentially explore new avenues for academic collaboration and research impact measurement. The strategic nature of this latest financing suggests a focus on long-term growth and market leadership within the academic technology sphere.
See full Academia company page
