How 3 Founders Built Handshake to $3.5B Valuation in 9 Years
Who is Garrett Lord?
Garrett Lord, co-founder and CEO of Handshake, hails from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, attended Michigan's Upper Peninsula school Michigan Tech after community college, and worked internships at Los Alamos and Palantir, driving his passion to democratize job access for all students.
What problem does Handshake solve?
Handshake tackles the lack of equal career opportunities for college students by connecting them directly with employers, regardless of their background or school prestige, making it a vital resource for leveling the playing field.
How did Garrett come up with the idea for Handshake?
Garrett's journey to founding Handshake stemmed from personal challenges and observations during his college years. Having grown up without the connections or resources typical of elite schools, Garrett found the traditional path from college to career inequitable and frustrating. He noticed that students from less prestigious schools, like Michigan Tech where he studied, struggled to access the same job opportunities available to students from well-known universities.
Realizing the systemic barriers in recruiting, Garrett was inspired by his own difficult experiences landing internships...
