What is Handshake?
Headquartered in San Francisco, Handshake operates as a leading digital marketplace connecting college students with employers. By facilitating seamless recruitment processes, the platform ensures that students can secure meaningful employment regardless of their academic background or professional network. The company's infrastructure supports a vast ecosystem of universities and corporate partners, effectively modernizing the traditional campus recruiting model through data-driven insights and enterprise-grade software solutions.
How much funding has Handshake raised?
Handshake has raised a total of $430.5M across 6 funding rounds:
Series A
$10.5M
Series B
$20M
Series C
$40M
Series D
$80M
Series E
$80M
Series F
$200M
Series A (2016): $10.5M with participation from True Ventures, Annox Capital, Kleiner Perkins, Lowercase Capital, and Lightspeed Venture Partners
Series B (2016): $20M led by True Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Spark Capital
Series C (2018): $40M supported by EQT Ventures, Reach Capital, Omidyar Network, and The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
Series D (2020): $80M featuring EQT Ventures, GGV Capital, Emerson Collective, Kleiner Perkins, True Ventures, The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Spark Capital
Series E (2021): $80M backed by True Ventures, Coatue, Spark Capital, Emerson Collective, Kleiner Perkins, GGV Capital, Valiant Peregrine Fund, EQT, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
Series F (2022): $200M with participation from Coatue, Valiant Peregrine Fund, and Base10 Advancement Initiative
Key Investors in Handshake
Coatue
Coatue Management is a prominent hedge fund sponsor that manages private and public equity investments, focusing on high-growth technology sectors globally.
EQT Ventures
EQT Ventures is a multi-stage venture capital firm that provides capital and operational expertise to technology companies across various development stages.
Kleiner Perkins
Kleiner Perkins is a legendary venture capital firm that supports early and growth-stage technology and life science companies from inception through IPO.
What's next for Handshake?
Following the recent capital injection, Handshake is well-positioned to accelerate its product development and expand its footprint in the enterprise recruitment sector. The company's strategic focus remains on enhancing its platform capabilities to better serve the evolving needs of the modern workforce. By leveraging its substantial financial resources, Handshake aims to deepen its integration within higher education institutions and further refine its matching algorithms, ensuring that the transition from academia to professional life remains efficient and equitable for all users.
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