Blind Raises $37M to Fuel Workplace Insights & Career Advice

A Unique Space for Verified Workplace Discussions: Blind's Growth

Blind has established a distinctive position within the social networking landscape. The platform functions as a space where verified, anonymous employees connect to discuss happenings within their organizations, exchanging insights on topics ranging from workforce reductions and advancements to company policies. Blending elements of LinkedIn, Reddit, and Slack, it has gained considerable traction, particularly among tech professionals in Silicon Valley and beyond, now boasting 5 million verified users.

The Impact of Post-COVID Workplace Dynamics

The nature of work has undergone significant changes following the COVID-19 pandemic, with remote work becoming increasingly prevalent. This shift has rendered Blind essential for numerous employees who experience growing detachment from their companies and coworkers.

Recent Funding and Investment

The company recently announced a $37 million Series C funding round. This investment was spearheaded by South Korean venture firm Mainstreet Investment, with participation from Cisco Investments and Pavilion Capital, a subsidiary of Singapore’s Temasek sovereign wealth fund. An initial Form D filing in late March indicated approximately $20.5 million, with the final fundraising total reaching $37 million.

Evolving User Behavior and Platform Usage

A comprehensive analysis of the company was last conducted in 2018. Since then, considerable changes have occurred, notably the impact of the pandemic. Co-founder and general manager Kyum Kim notes that Blind’s user activity is now distributed throughout the day. “Previously, usage peaked during commute times,” he explained. “Between 8-10 a.m. before COVID, and again from 7-10 p.m. However, usage patterns have since become more consistent.”

Currently, the peak usage time is around 2 p.m., with users logging in approximately 30 times per month over a period of 13-15 days.

Exploring New Revenue Streams

This shift in usage patterns informs two key areas of revenue generation that Blind is currently exploring. As remote work becomes more common, especially within the tech sector, internal communication channels are proving less effective in delivering transparent information from leadership. Blind believes it possesses a more accurate understanding of employee sentiment regarding policies and their employers, and is developing tools – such as pulse surveys – to provide HR teams with deeper insights than conventional methods.

“Individuals are more candid on our platform compared to company-sponsored channels,” Kim stated. “We are likely the only platform where users participate voluntarily, with clear visibility into their motivations and feelings about company policies.” Blind aims to safeguard user anonymity while simultaneously providing aggregated data to organizations.

New Leadership and Strategic Expansion

To further these efforts, the company appointed Young Yuk as chief product officer last week. Yuk previously served as an advisor to Blind for four years, concurrently holding senior product positions at Intuit, Yelp, and Glassdoor. Kim believes Yuk’s experience in both consumer and enterprise sectors aligns well with the unique requirements of Blind’s business model, which integrates a consumer social network with B2B offerings.

Focus on Career Advancement and Recruitment

For its user base, another area of focus is particularly noteworthy: recruitment. Blind users demonstrate a strong interest in career trajectories and compensation, with Kim noting that “80% of search queries on Blind involve company names, often combined with job levels, locations, or teams.” People actively seek information on career progression, an area where companies often lack clarity, leading them to “utilize Blind to gather insights from verified employees.”

Blind is developing “Talent by Blind,” a platform designed to capture this hiring intent and connect it with recruiters. The objective is to channel individuals expressing interest – for example, an L5 engineer in Seattle – to a dedicated platform that can serve as a lead generation source for company recruitment initiatives. Blind reports that several companies are currently piloting this platform.

A Deliberate Approach to Growth

Blind’s growth trajectory has been characterized by a deliberate and measured pace. The company emphasizes its commitment to establishing clear norms early on, recognizing that pseudonymous communities can struggle with rapid expansion. Unlike past anonymous platforms like Secret or YikYak, Blind asserts that its network maintains a high level of safety, due to employee identity verification and the direct connection with colleagues.

Prioritizing User Integrity and Long-Term Vision

While revenue strategies are still evolving, the core strength lies in its access to the perspectives of employees and potential hires – individuals companies are keen to understand. Kim emphasized the importance of “maintaining integrity with users,” stating that their guiding principle is to be “an ally to employees and an advisor to companies.”

“We have been building this business for eight years, and our focus remains on the long term,” he said. “There is considerable optimism within the company.” He added, with a knowing tone, that he had likely already checked Blind for updates.