Clusiv has raised $860K in total across 1 funding round.
Clusiv's investors include LifeX Ventures, Madrona Ventures, Mercury Fund, Pareto Holdings, Techstars, Barney Harford, Erik Blachford, Hugh Crean.
Clusiv is an edtech startup building the world's first accessible e-learning platform designed for and by people who are blind or visually impaired. It addresses severe underemployment—76% of blind Americans are unemployed, with employed individuals often in low-wage menial jobs averaging $27k—by providing vocational training in technology skills to enable higher-value careers[1][2][3]. The platform serves blind learners, state agencies, and enterprises, offering upskilling courses and customized onboarding processes to boost workforce inclusion and professional growth[1][2].
Clusiv demonstrates strong early momentum: founded in 2020, it won The Accessibility Award in 2021, was named a Future 5 Startup by Built In Austin, joined Techstars’ Workforce Development Accelerator, and closed an oversubscribed pre-seed round by 150% in early 2022[2]. Based in Austin, Texas, with under 25 employees and less than $5M in revenue and funding, it operates from Pflugerville and continues to gain traction in HR software and edtech[4].
Clusiv was founded in 2020 by Lukas (Luke) Simianer, a US Army veteran, in Austin, Texas, initially under the name RavensEye[2]. Simianer identified the massive underemployment crisis for the visually impaired community, where accessible education is lacking, and rallied a team including blind engineers and visually impaired creators to build from the user's perspective[1][2]. Early pivotal moments included winning The Accessibility Award at the Global Inclusion Online Forum in May 2021, recognition as a Future 5 Startup in July 2021, and selection for Techstars’ Workforce Development Accelerator in December 2021, fueling rapid progress and an oversubscribed pre-seed round[2].
Supporters highlight Simianer's tenacity, strategic execution, and ability to unify a passionate team, with positive energy building through consistent wins since summer 2020[1].
Clusiv rides the wave of inclusive edtech and workforce diversity trends, capitalizing on rising corporate demands for DEI initiatives amid global talent shortages and remote learning shifts post-2020[1][2]. Timing is ideal: with 76% unemployment among blind Americans and inequities in visual impairment access, market forces like government inclusion mandates and enterprise ESG goals favor scalable solutions like Clusiv's[1][2]. It influences the ecosystem by pioneering blind-led tech education, challenging ableist norms in HR software, and enabling higher-wage careers, potentially reshaping vocational training for millions worldwide[1][2][5].
Clusiv is poised for expansion with seed funding, enterprise partnerships, and product iterations leveraging its blind-led expertise to dominate accessible upskilling. Trends like AI-enhanced accessibility, federal workforce grants, and corporate inclusion quotas will accelerate growth, evolving its influence from niche innovator to ecosystem leader in equitable tech employment. As the first mover, Clusiv's mission to empower blind learners promises sustained momentum and market transformation.
Clusiv has raised $860K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $860K Seed in December 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 2021 | $860K Seed | LifeX Ventures, Madrona Ventures, Mercury Fund, Pareto Holdings, Techstars, Barney Harford, Erik Blachford, Hugh Crean |
