Handshake (company)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Employment website |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder | Three computer science students from Michigan Tech |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
Key people | Garrett Lord (CEO) |
| Products | Employment and internship job listings platform |
Number of employees | 725 (2022) |
| Website | joinhandshake |
Handshake is a United States-based employment website established in 2014, primarily targeting job opportunities for college students. The service facilitates connections between students, recent graduates, and potential employers offering internships and employment.
History
Handshake was created in 2014 by three computer science students from Michigan Tech who sought to build a career services platform aimed at bridging the opportunity divide experienced by students from smaller institutions compared to those attending Ivy League universities. During its inaugural year, the company collaborated with five colleges, charging them a nominal yearly fee.
By early 2016, Handshake had secured $14 million in funding and expanded its network to include 60 universities, supporting 1.3 million user accounts. The founders earned a spot on Forbes' 30 under 30 list for consumer technology in 2017.
In May 2021, the company completed an $80 million Series E funding round, achieving a valuation of $1.5 billion. At that point, Handshake was serving 18 million students and alumni from 1,200 academic institutions and partnering with 550,000 employers.
In January 2022, Handshake raised $200 million through a Series F round, which elevated its valuation to $3.5 billion. Shortly thereafter, it entered the European market by acquiring the recruitment platform Talentspace in April 2022.
Business
Handshake provides its platform on a subscription basis to recruiters and educational organizations. Employers can post job listings accessible to all or selected colleges via the platform, while students register free accounts to receive tailored job suggestions. The company also publishes annual reports analyzing employment trends based on surveys of its user base. The 2025 edition of these reports noted a decrease in federal job interest and fewer internships posted on the site.
As of February 2024, Garrett Lord holds the position of CEO, with company headquarters located in San Francisco, California. By 2022, Handshake employed approximately 725 people.
Handshake operates in competition with other job portals including Indeed, 12Twenty, and Symplicity.
Vendor Dispute Involving Michigan State University
In 2023, during contract renewal discussions with Michigan State University, Handshake became embroiled in a controversy involving MSU’s former executive director of career services, Jeff Beavers. Beavers was reportedly involved in an alleged quid pro quo proposal linked to a patent connected to him, which he directed toward CEO Garrett Lord. Handshake notified MSU officials and requested that Beavers be excluded from the procurement process. The university concluded its inquiry without releasing public results. Beavers denied the accusations and asserted that Handshake fabricated the claims to safeguard its commercial interests. The matter remains disputed.