# Upkey

Startup profile on Capital Atlas: https://capitalatlas.ai/startups/upkey

- Industry: Education/Training
- Headquarters: Chicago, US
- Website: www.upkey.com
- Total disclosed funding: $3M
- Latest round: Seed (Sep 15, 2020)
- Investors on record: 5

## About

Based in Illinois, US, and founded in 2016 by Amir Badr, Mark Pawloski, and Mo Bitar, Upkey Corp. operates as an online learning platform intended to provide students ranging from high school to university level innovative tools to individualized, self-paced support. The company's platform provides students with navigation tools such as resume-building, pitch development, and interview prep, including personal branding services and materials, vast network reach of jobs and opportunities, and on-demand services based on professional needs, enabling competitive candidates to polish, present, and brand themselves more effectively. In February 2021, Upkey raised USD 2.6 million in seed funding led by S3 Ventures and signed Purdue University, Southern New Hampshire University, and The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian Life) as customers of its platform.

Upkey uses artificial intelligence to create chatbots that help users complete professional development training. The company also offers virtual internship programs. Upkey’s tools also allow enterprises to invest in their future workforce through multiple touchpoints and build a diverse pipeline of polished candidates. The company has also launched Dashboard, a customized career map tailored to students’ individual needs and goals. The Dashboard features interactive, gamified modules that allow students to earn ranks and badges, providing support and encouragement along the way. 

The seed funding round will be used to grow and scale Upkey's operations to serve more students and give companies access to a bigger pipeline of diverse talent. As part of this expansion, Upkey plans to open a second office in Austin, Texas.

## Funding rounds

- Seed, Sep 15, 2020, $2.6M — S3 Ventures, Tensility Venture Partners, Lofty Ventures Pvt. Ltd., Bronze Valley
- Seed, May 1, 2016, $0.4M — Chicago Ventures

## Investors

- Chicago Ventures (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/chicago-ventures) — Seed
- S3 Ventures (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/s3-ventures) — Seed
- Tensility Venture Partners (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/tensility-venture-partners) — Seed
- Lofty Ventures Pvt. Ltd. — Seed
- Bronze Valley (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/bronze-valley) — Seed