What is Forage?
Headquartered in San Francisco, Forage operates at the intersection of education and workforce development. Founded in 2017, the platform provides students from diverse backgrounds with virtual work experience programs that simulate real-world tasks at top-tier companies. By removing traditional barriers to entry, Forage enables candidates to demonstrate their competencies directly to employers, effectively democratizing access to high-growth career paths. The company's model is increasingly viewed as a critical infrastructure component for modern recruitment, allowing firms to identify talent based on demonstrated ability rather than pedigree alone.
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 Arizona State University, FundersClub Inc, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Y Combinator
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, consumer, and fintech.
Y Combinator
A premier startup accelerator based in Mountain View that provides seed funding and strategic guidance to high-potential technology ventures.
Arizona State University
A leading public metropolitan research university that actively engages in innovation and educational technology initiatives to improve student outcomes.
What's next for Forage?
With the backing of major institutional investors, Forage is well-positioned to accelerate its enterprise-level expansion. The strategic focus will likely center on deepening partnerships with global corporations to integrate virtual internships into standard hiring workflows. Furthermore, the company is expected to leverage this capital to refine its assessment algorithms and broaden its curriculum offerings, ensuring that its platform remains the premier destination for early-career professionals seeking to bridge the gap between education and industry. As the labor market continues to evolve, Forage's ability to scale its impact will be a key indicator of its long-term viability in the competitive EdTech sector.
See full Forage company page