NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Jul 28, 2016) - The Muse, the most trusted career brand for Millennials and beyond, continues to fortify its position as a leader and innovator in the career space, today sharing news of the company's record first half of 2016. Key developments included the launch of 176 new Fortune 1000 and high-growth clients, strategic additions to the company's leadership team and portfolio, the close of a $16 million Series B round of funding, a new corporate headquarters, and the receipt of several industry awards.
"With our finger on the pulse of shifting talent and workplace dynamics, The Muse fulfills the fundamental needs of aspiring professionals and employers, offering innovative resources and tools relevant for both sides of the evolving career marketplace," said Kathryn Minshew, Co-Founder and CEO of The Muse. "As The Muse approaches its 5th anniversary this September, it's thrilling to consider the company's growth over a few short years, with more than 50 million people turning to The Muse for professional advancement every year."
Rapidly Expanding Employer Base
During the first half of 2016, The Muse welcomed 176 new clients to the platform across a diverse array of industries. Clients launched in Q2 include: Aflac, AT&T, Bonobos, Capital One, Hearst Digital Media, PVH, Slack, T-Mobile, Wells Fargo and Yale-New Haven Hospital.
Strategic Additions
To help power the next phase of the company's growth across its B2B and B2C audiences, The Muse welcomed Kara Walsh as its Chief Marketing Officer in May. She joined The Muse with a wealth of digital experience from executive leadership positions at companies including Kapow, Rewards Network and Metromix LLC. Walsh began her marketing career in brand management at Coca-Cola, headed customer loyalty efforts at British Sky Broadcasting and led the transition to digital at Village Voice Media.
Walsh commented, "I am thrilled to join The Muse team to further our industry-changing mission. It is a unique opportunity to harness a distinctly relevant, beloved brand to drive exponential growth and deepen engagement among The Muse's devoted users and savvy client partners."
In Q2 of 2016, The Muse acquired Avelist, an online platform that helps people navigate through life transitions and new situations. Jody Porowski, Avelist Founder & CEO, has joined The Muse to run the company's Coach Connect business. Financial details were not disclosed.
Funding Fuels Future Growth
The Muse secured an additional $16 million in Series B funding in June, led by Icon Ventures and with participation from existing investors Aspect Ventures, DBL Partners and QED Partners. This round of financing brings total investment in the company to $28.7 million, and will support geographic expansion as well as scaling the business across employer product suites, career advice tools and the company's recently launched professional development platform, Coach Connect.
Industry Accolades
During Q2 of 2016, The Muse was named the winner of the 2016 HRO Today Forum's iTalent Competition as a top tech innovator, and has been recognized as a 2016 Hot Vendor in Talent Management by Aragon Research for its truly new and different approach to talent acquisition. Recognizing the phenomenal leadership and achievements of The Muse's founding team, Ernst & Young named Minshew as a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur of The Year® 2016 Award in the New York Region, while company co-founder, COO and Head of Product, Alexandra Cavoulacos, was recognized as a 2016 Brava Award winner by New York SmartCEO.
New Headquarters
As The Muse's job seeker and employer communities continue to grow, the company's own workforce has expanded as well. To accommodate the organization's growth to over 100 full-time employees, The Muse recently opened a new, 18,000 sq ft. corporate headquarters at 1375 Broadway in Manhattan.
Looking Ahead
"Our mission here at The Muse is to become the most beloved and trusted career destination, to the extent that every single person considering their next career move, or company considering talent solutions, thinks of The Muse," said Minshew. "With our talented team and commitment to delivering innovative resources and solutions for candidates and employers alike, we expect sustained momentum through not only the back half of this year, but over the next 3, 5, and 10." The company anticipates servicing over 50 metro areas by the end of 2016.
Those interested in learning more about The Muse in person are encouraged to attend its upcoming speaking engagements at SourceCon on September 22nd in Anaheim, CA, and at the HR Technology Conference on October 4th and 5th in Chicago, IL.
About The Muse
The Muse is the most trusted career site for Millennials and beyond, changing the way candidates find their ideal jobs and helping employers find their best-fit candidates. Selected by millions as their career platform of choice, The Muse delivers quality advice, skills-building resources, and coaching services to passive and active candidates. Employers rely on The Muse to hire top talent by showcasing their brands and corporate culture, creating authentic and lasting connections with candidates before they even apply.
Learn more about The Muse: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook