What is Forage?
Founded in 2017, Forage operates at the intersection of education and professional development. The company provides a digital platform that allows students to engage in virtual work experience programs, effectively simulating the tasks and challenges faced by employees at top-tier firms. This model serves as a bridge for individuals who may lack traditional networking channels or industry exposure, thereby fostering a more equitable hiring process. By partnering with global enterprises, Forage enables companies to identify high-potential candidates through skill-based assessment rather than traditional pedigree-based screening. This approach not only enhances the efficiency of corporate recruitment but also significantly improves the diversity and quality of the talent pipeline.
How much funding has Forage raised?
Forage has raised a total of $9.3M across 1 funding round:
Series A
$9.3M
Series A (2020): $9.3M with participation from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Y Combinator, FundersClub Inc, and Arizona State University
Key Investors in Forage
Lightspeed Venture Partners
A global multistage venture capital firm that invests in early and growth-stage technology companies across sectors such as enterprise software, fintech, and infrastructure.
Y Combinator
A premier startup accelerator and seed funding provider that supports early-stage ventures through mentorship and capital deployment.
Arizona State University
A leading research university focused on transdisciplinary education and the development of scalable solutions for global sustainability and workforce challenges.
What's next for Forage?
With the infusion of this major enterprise-level funding, Forage is poised to expand its reach across global markets and deepen its integration with corporate partners. The strategic roadmap likely involves enhancing the platform's technical infrastructure to support a larger volume of virtual internships and diversifying the range of industries represented on the site. As the demand for remote-first, skill-based hiring solutions continues to rise, Forage is strategically positioned to capitalize on the shift toward meritocratic recruitment. Future growth will likely focus on scaling its university partnerships and refining its data-driven insights to better match talent with emerging job roles, ultimately solidifying its role as a cornerstone of the modern career development infrastructure.
See full Forage company page
