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Handshake

Handshake is a career platform and recruiting software connecting students, employers, and career centers to facilitate job discovery and hiring.

$45.56

Secondary Market Price

Updated: 
Oct 2025
Current Preferred Price
Date:
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Prospect Projected Preferred
Current FMV
Date:
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Prospect Projected FMV
$3.5B
Company Valuation
Updated: 
Oct 2025
Industry
San Francisco, CA
Headquarters
2011
Year Founded
1,520+
Employee Count
$45.56

Secondary Market Price

Updated: 
Oct 2025
Current Preferred Price
Date:
Sign in to view
Prospect Projected Preferred
Current FMV
Date:
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Prospect Projected FMV
$3.5B
Company Valuation
Updated: 
Oct 2025
Industry
San Francisco, CA
Headquarters
2011
Year Founded
1,520+
Employee Count

How Handshake Measures Up

To help you manage your Handshake equity, Prospect has run the company through our machine learning model.

Prospect Rating

TBD

We are still gathering data and evaluating Handshake. Check back soon for our rating on what we think the company will be worth in four years.

Exit Risk

TBD

We are still gathering data on Handshake to train our machine learning model. Check back soon for our exit risk rating for Handshake!

Funding Stage

Series F

Since Handshake has reached a Series F funding round, it's a mature company that can offer more stability than an early-stage startup. This means you'd be joining a business with a proven model that is still focused on significant growth and impact.

$45.56
Est val $3.5B
+$13.13 (▲50%)
Jan, 2024 - Jan, 2025

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Prospect Projected Future Handshake Prices

Prospect’s machine learning model has been trained on the same data top-tier investors use to project the likely range of outcomes for Handshake's equity. Create a free account to view 10th-90th percentile projections over 2, 4, and 6 years.

Powerful tools to earn more from your equity

Company Description

Handshake operates a career platform designed to connect students, recent graduates, and alumni with employers. The service is used by over 17 million individuals and nearly one million companies, ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to startups and government agencies. The platform provides tools for job discovery, recruitment, and career advice, with a particular focus on the Gen Z demographic. Founded in 2014 and formerly known as Stryder, the company was established to democratize access to job opportunities for students regardless of their school or location. It has since grown into a major network for early-career professionals, supported by multiple rounds of venture capital funding totaling over $435 million.

The company is focused on evolving its platform into a more dynamic, social space for career discovery, incorporating features like a content feed and @mentions. Recent developments include the launch of AI-powered applicant management tools to better match candidates with jobs and a real-time insights hub for university career centers to track student activity. In a recent update, Handshake reported a 105% year-over-year increase in daily active users. The company's last major funding event was a $200 million Series F round in early 2022, which resulted in a valuation of $3.5 billion. It has also expanded through acquisitions, purchasing TalentSpace in 2022 and Nova in 2023.

Handshake Notable Investors

  • Lightspeed
  • Coatue
  • Kleiner Perkins
  • GGV
  • Spark
  • True Ventures
  • EQT Ventures
  • EC
  • Reach Capital
  • Omidyar Network
  • Lowercase Capital
  • Valiant Capital

Handshake Founders

  • Co-Founder, CEO Garrett Lord
  • Co-Founder, Ben Christensen
  • Co-Founder, Scott Ringwelski

Peer Group Comparison

Vs Peer Group of >$4B Startups

Peer Group Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Anduril worth joining?

Joining Anduril as an employee is another way to acquire equity, typically through stock options included in compensation packages.

Is Handshake worth joining?

Deciding if a startup like Handshake is worth joining depends on its growth potential and the value of its equity offer. Platforms like Prospect can help you evaluate the opportunity by providing data-driven insights and projections on what your equity could be worth.

What should I do with my Handshake stock?

Managing stock in a private company like Handshake involves understanding its potential value and tax implications. Using a service like Prospect can help you create a personalized strategy for your shares, including when to exercise options or prepare for a sale.

Can you sell Handshake stock?

Yes, it is often possible to sell stock in a private company like Handshake through secondary markets or company-approved tender offers. Tools like those offered by Prospect can help you navigate these sales and determine the most tax-efficient shares to sell.

How can I find the value of my Handshake stock?

Valuing stock in a private company like Handshake requires analyzing various data points, as there is no public market price. You can use platforms like Prospect, which utilize predictive models and proprietary data to forecast the future value of private company shares.

What is Handshake's equity worth?

The exact worth of Handshake's equity fluctuates based on its performance, funding rounds, and market conditions. To get a data-driven estimate, you can use an equity calculator or valuation models that analyze the company's financial health and growth prospects.

What is Handshake's stock ticker symbol?

Handshake does not have a stock ticker symbol because it is a privately held company and its shares are not traded on public stock exchanges. Ticker symbols are only assigned to companies once they complete an Initial Public Offering (IPO).

Can I buy or sell Handshake stock?

Selling private stock like Handshake's is possible through secondary markets or tender offers, while buying is typically restricted to accredited investors. Platforms like Prospect provide tools and data on secondary market prices to help existing shareholders make informed decisions about selling their equity.

What is the criteria to buy or invest in Handshake stock?

To invest in a private company like Handshake, you generally must be an accredited investor, which means meeting specific income or net worth requirements set by financial regulators. Once you have an opportunity to invest, resources that analyze private company data can help you evaluate its potential.

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