On Tuesday, data.world announced that it has secured an $18.7 million round of funding, making the Austin startup one of the top five venture-backed Certified B Corporations of all time in technology.
The funding comes in at double the valuation of its previous round, raising data.world’s total funding to date to $32.7 million.
Since its launch in 2016, data.world has hosted collaboration across public and private data spaces at no cost to its users, unless they'd like to work in a private workspace for a fee. The idea behind data.world is to connect people over data sets to collaborate, share analytical insight and better society.
It's a public benefits corporation and a certified B Corp using their business for good and legally structured for the public's best interest. Some organizations they’ve already partnered with include The White House Opportunity Project, The Anti-Defamanion League and the U.S. Department of Defense.
“Amazing things happen when people join forces and use data to answer questions, solve problems, and rise to solve our most urgent societal challenges together,” said Brett Hurt, co-founder and CEO of data.world, in a statement. “We’re proud to welcome an extraordinary group of investors on our journey to radically improve data discovery, usability, and most importantly, collaboration. Closing this second funding round so close to our first, and with most of it still in the bank, is a tremendous validation of the opportunity in front of us and the rapid progress we’ve made since our preview launch in July.”
Led by Chicago Ventures, Fyrfly Venture Partners, Hunt Technology Ventures LP, LiveOak Venture Partners, Shasta Ventures and Sherpa Asset Management AG, data.world will direct the new funds to continue its mission of creating a meaningful social network of data science.
Several angel investors also participated, including John Mackey the co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods; Adam Zeplain, investor in After School and Andela; and Kip Tindell, co-founder and Chairman of The Container Store.
“Data collaboration within and across the enterprise will drive the next era of business,” said Pat Ryan Jr., Chairman of Chicago Ventures, in the statement. “By making it easy to use and share data in both public and private configurations, data.world is fueling the next wave of innovation and growth.”
Image via data.world
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