Palo Alto, USA– March, 11, 2024 – As the world braces for significant changes in the job market, Key, a purpose-built community and networking engagement platform emerges from stealth with funding led by Felicis. Key is built by founders of the world’s largest tech community Xoogler.co with 32,000 members and is pioneering professional networking while supporting resilient career development in the face of global layoffs and the evolving nature of work.
Addressing the Mega Trends of the Modern Workforce
The launch of Key comes at a critical time when the workforce is experiencing a significant transformation. Recent trends indicate that employee stress has remained at record high levels since the pandemic. This stress is further compounded by the challenges of hybrid work environments and the changing dynamics between employers and employees including the massive layoffs in the tech sector and beyond.
Aydin Senkut, Founder and Managing Partner of Felicis, expressed his excitement: “Chris and Kush have operated at the grass-roots level and transformed Xoogler.co into the world’s largest tech community, and now they are applying their learnings for all. Key stands out as an inventive community-based product for workers all over the world. We are proud to support a company that is deeply committed to enhancing professional careers and lives.”
A Platform Built for the Future of Work
Key is designed to meet these challenges head-on, offering a platform that not only connects professionals but also supports their growth and well-being in these turbulent times.
“Our platform is more than just a networking tool; it’s a comprehensive solution for the modern professional,” say the Key founders, Kushagra Shrivastava (CEO) & Christopher Fong (President). “In the face of the Mass Layoffs, Great Resignation and other workforce trends, we provide a safe space where individuals can find support, grow their skills, and connect with like-minded professionals in a meaningful way.”
Key distinguishes itself with a suite of features focused on fostering genuine connections and supporting career resilience:
- Magical Events: Organize and participate in virtual, in-person, or hybrid events, bringing professionals together in dynamic ways and new ways to connect..
- Growth and Belonging: Find and engage with your professional tribe, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual growth.
- Purpose-Built Solutions: Leverage insights from the founders’ experience in building the world’s largest tech community to address unique networking challenges.
- Comprehensive Services: From talent recruitment to advisory services, and venture capital opportunities, Key serves as a multi-faceted platform.
Given the impact on the tech sector, we started Key to help other communities engage their members, grow and scale like we do with Xoogler. Our first design partners are Stanford’s StartX, the Berkeley Club of Singapore, ex-Amazon’s Day One Community and Cornell’s Underground Entrepreneurs Community and other big tech & university alumni.
To learn more about how Key is paving the way for the future of professional networking to help high achievers realize their full potential, please visit key.ai.
Key offers an array of features tailored to the needs of today’s professionals, including:
- Advanced AI-driven networking capabilities that connect users with like-minded professionals and mentors.
- Resources and tools for skill development and career planning, tailored to the evolving job market.
- A supportive community platform for sharing experiences, advice, and opportunities.
To get in touch with Key, reach out at founders@key.ai
About Key
Key is a purpose-built platform designed to redefine the professional networking and community engagement space. Spearheaded by the insights of the Founders of the Xoogler Community, Key offers a unique approach to creating meaningful professional connections and fostering career development, financial wellbeing and work-life balance.
Key is backed by Felicis along with notable investors and super angels: Liquid 2 Ventures, Alumni Ventures, Archangels Ventures, Cerigo Investments, Everywhere Ventures, Startup Shibuya, MVP Ventures & Xoogler Ventures. Prominent angels include Bradley Horowitz, Caesar Sengupta, Asha Jadeja, Qasar Younis, Kevin Chou, Jonah & Noah Goodhart, Avichal Garg, Prabhakar Reddy, Raghu Yarlagadda, Vibhu Mittal, Anthony Lacavera, Ali Moiz and many alumni and current employees of Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Netflix, Uber, Stripe, Palantir, Doordash, Waymo, Cruise and McKinsey also invested.