RiseKit is a purpose-built software platform that connects underrepresented talent with employers seeking to fill critical roles. The platform links community organizations, training providers, and companies to support skills-based hiring and broaden access to jobs. RiseKit will use a $1.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to expand into new markets and accelerate employer adoption of skills-based hiring practices. The company plans to develop a blueprint for community-driven hiring, including an insights-driven dashboard and case studies to enable other communities to replicate its model. Leadership says the funding will help improve economic outcomes for local community organizations and job seekers on the RiseKit platform. RiseKit is Chicago-based and positions itself as a mission-driven technology company focused on creating more accessible and equitable opportunities. RiseKit offers software that links jobseekers from underserved communities with employers, training programs, and supportive services, and integrates with applicant tracking systems to track candidates and enable shared status updates and in-app messaging. The platform helps nonprofits, employers, government systems, and community foundations save time supporting candidates, measure outcomes, and more efficiently impact the communities they serve. RiseKit aims to remove barriers to employment by providing career pathways regardless of zip code, social capital, or past circumstance. The company plans to use new funding to grow into additional U.S. cities and to build behavioral and skills-based machine learning models to personalize a jobseeker’s journey. Management says these models will help jobseekers gain meaningful, financially impactful employment while reducing the time and cost of sourcing talent for employers. Led by CEO Matt Strauss, RiseKit also intends to expand its business reach to help organizations scale community hiring and DEI initiatives. RiseKit operates a platform that lets underserved and low-income jobseekers create profiles, receive guidance, and get application help for jobs and career training programs. Users also gain access to case managers and career coaches through the service. RiseKit aggregates job and training listings from businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies and offers a premium B2B tier with additional features and analytics. The company reports more than 1,200 users in the Chicagoland area and about 300 corporate and nonprofit partners, and it is live in Chicago, Atlanta, and Dallas. RiseKit is an opportunity zone company and employs 10 full-time staff. The startup plans to expand into 50 new markets by 2025 and will use new funding to build out its tech platform, improve data analytics, and ramp up sales and marketing.

Total raised

$8M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Grant

Latest activity

Jul 2024