- ByStartupStory | February 27, 2024
Early-stage venture fund Blume Ventures has committed a noteworthy $10 million investment in Upward & Onward Inc’s cutting-edge technology and artificial intelligence (AI) workforce skilling platform, Interview Kickstart. This funding marks Blume Ventures’ most substantial opening investment to date and is intended to fortify Interview Kickstart’s presence in the United States while bolstering its global platform expansion endeavors.
Founded in 2014 by Soham Mehta (formerly associated with Box, eBay, Microsoft) and Ryan Valles (previously linked with Accel Partners, CEO of dealsandyou.com), Interview Kickstart stands as a beacon for tech professionals preparing for employment opportunities at leading tech giants. The online platform, specializing in technical interview preparation, provides courses meticulously crafted and delivered by engineers from prominent tech companies, including FAANG—Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google/ex-FAANG.
“There is a Power Law at play for jobs. Top tech companies pay 2-3 times as much as others and offer massive wealth-creating opportunities via ESOPs. Interview Kickstart, with our instructors and partners, aims to help working tech professionals prepare for these compelling opportunities,” stated Ryan Valles, Co-founder of Interview Kickstart.
According to Interview Kickstart, over 20,000 individuals have engaged in its programs, spanning AI, machine learning, data science, and various advanced engineering and product domains. The platform proudly asserts that participants have consistently secured job offers with an average compensation exceeding $250,000.
“Interview Kickstart presented a unique opportunity in this otherwise difficult environment. Apart from knowing Ryan for over 7-8 years, we discovered Soham and their bootstrapped and profitable business in 2023 and found it irresistible on performance and future potential,” remarked Karthik Reddy, Managing Partner at Blume Ventures.
Reddy added, “Our diligence led to discovering delighted working learners arming themselves with new skills and opportunities to thrive in the fiercely competitive tech industry.” Blume Ventures presently operates out of Fund IV, a $300-million vehicle backed by prominent institutional limited partners and family offices. With the close of Fund IV, Blume’s assets under management now exceed $600 million.
