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§ Private Profile · Chicago, IL, USA
A data science platform and services for governments, nonprofits, and enterprises, focused on audience targeting and campaign optimization.
Chicago-based Civis Analytics provides a cloud-based data analytics and automation platform that helps organizations unify disparate datasets, generate statistical insights, and optimize audience targeting. Operating as a SaaS provider with complementary consultancy offerings, the company serves public sector entities, advocacy groups, and private enterprises seeking advanced artificial intelligence capabilities. Its diverse customer base includes prominent organizations and major political operations such as Airbnb, the US Census, and the 2020 Joe Biden presidential campaign. The enterprise has secured substantial venture capital funding to scale its operations, raising a $22 million Series A in 2016 followed by a $30.7 million Series B round in 2021. These financing rounds were supported by recognizable institutional and angel investors including Drive Capital and Eric Schmidt. Civis Analytics was founded in 2013 by former Obama campaign chief analytics officer Dan Wagner.
Civis Analytics has raised $53.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Civis Analytics has raised $53.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Civis Analytics has raised $53.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $31.0M Series B in September 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2021 | $31M Series B | — | Alkeon Capital, Alumni Ventures, AME Cloud Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, Bond, Decibel Partners, Drive Capital, Electric Capital, General Catalyst, Hanabi Capital, Hardware Club, Heretic Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, InterWest, Vanessa Larco, Operator Collective, Sequoia Capital, Sherpalo Ventures, TTV Capital, Y Combinator, YAN David Erlich, Eric Schmidt, Erik Hammer, Silicon Valley Bank, Verizon Ventures | Announced |
| Nov 1, 2016 | $22M Series A | Chris Olsen | Alkeon Capital, AME Cloud Ventures, Decibel Partners, Electric Capital, General Catalyst, Hanabi Capital, Hardware Club, Heretic Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, InterWest, Operator Collective, Sequoia Capital, Sherpalo Ventures, Y Combinator, YAN David Erlich, Eric Schmidt, Verizon Ventures, WPP | Announced |
Civis Analytics has raised $53.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Civis Analytics's investors include Alkeon Capital, Alumni Ventures, AME Cloud Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, Bond, Decibel Partners, Drive Capital, Electric Capital, General Catalyst, Hanabi Capital, Hardware Club, Heretic Ventures.
# Civis Analytics: High-Level Overview
Civis Analytics is a data science technology and services firm that combines a proprietary cloud-based platform with expert consulting to help organizations make data-driven decisions.[3][4] Founded in 2013 by Dan Wagner, who served as Chief Analytics Officer for Barack Obama's 2012 presidential campaign, the company has evolved from a consulting practice into an end-to-end data solutions provider.[3][6] Its mission is to democratize data science, enabling organizations across public, private, and nonprofit sectors to move beyond educated guesses and ground decisions in scientific fact.[2][3]
Civis serves a diverse clientele including Fortune 500 companies (Verizon, Airbnb), government agencies (FEMA), and nonprofits (American Red Cross).[3] The company operates primarily from its Chicago headquarters with offices in Washington D.C. and a distributed remote workforce, serving clients across North America with cloud-based infrastructure supported by Amazon Web Services.[4][6]
# Origin Story
Dan Wagner founded Civis Analytics in 2013 directly from his experience running analytics for President Obama's reelection campaign, where data-driven decision-making proved transformative.[3][6] Rather than remaining a traditional consulting firm, Wagner recognized an opportunity to productize the analytical infrastructure and methodologies that had proven effective at scale. The company received $22 million in seed and Series A funding from early-stage investors, including Google's Eric Schmidt, validating the market opportunity for sophisticated data science tools accessible beyond tech-native organizations.[6]
The company's evolution reflects a deliberate strategic pivot: it began as a consulting firm but transitioned to a software-as-a-service model that combines its proprietary Civis Platform with professional services.[6] This hybrid approach allows Civis to serve both organizations seeking managed expertise and those building internal data science capabilities.
# Core Differentiators
# Role in the Broader Tech Landscape
Civis operates at the intersection of three powerful trends: the explosion of organizational data, the democratization of AI/ML tools, and the growing demand for ethical, transparent decision-making. The company addresses a critical gap—many organizations have data but lack the infrastructure, expertise, or confidence to act on it systematically. By positioning itself as a trusted advisor rather than a vendor, Civis influences how enterprises think about data governance and decision architecture.
The company's origin story in political analytics also positioned it early in recognizing that person-level data, when properly managed and ethically deployed, creates competitive advantage across sectors. This insight has become mainstream as organizations from healthcare to retail recognize the value of unified customer views and predictive modeling.
# Quick Take & Future Outlook
Civis Analytics is well-positioned to capture growing demand for integrated data platforms that combine software with expert guidance. As organizations mature beyond basic analytics and confront challenges around data quality, privacy, and AI governance, Civis's emphasis on infrastructure, training, and ethical data use becomes increasingly valuable. The company's ability to serve both mission-driven organizations (nonprofits, government) and commercial enterprises gives it resilience across economic cycles.
The trajectory suggests Civis will likely deepen its platform capabilities—particularly in AI/LLM integration and data activation—while maintaining its consulting practice as a moat against commoditization. In a landscape crowded with data tools, Civis's differentiation lies not in being the cheapest or flashiest, but in being the most trustworthy partner for organizations serious about embedding data into their decision-making culture.