REACH Pathways™ Closes $1.99 Million Investment Round to Transform College and Career Access for Under-Resourced Learners

Backed by Mission-Driven Investors, REACH Expands Access to Job-Ready Talent for Employers and Colleges

Chicago, IL — March 20, 2025 – REACH Pathways™ has successfully closed a $1.99 million investment round to scale access to education and career pathways for under-resourced learners. The round is backed by mission-driven investors, nonprofit leaders, and industry experts, reinforcing REACH’s vision of bridging education and workforce gaps for learners facing systemic barriers.

At the heart of REACH Pathways™ is a one-of-a-kind founding team, composed of leaders with deep expertise in workforce development, technology, and education. The REACH leadership team embodies the lived experiences of the under-resourced learners they serve, ensuring a platform built for impact and career success. The REACH team includes 20 contracted advisors, youth from Chicago Scholars and The Academy Group programs, to center under-resourced youth voice in product development.

The round was co-led by Tim Schwertfeger, Founder of Chicago Scholars and former CEO of Nuveen Investments, alongside investors including The Academy Group, National Community Investment Fund, and others committed to rethinking how under-resourced learners access job opportunities, internships, and higher education success. The round closes after a series of impressive wins by REACH Pathways™, including SXSW Pitch for Future of Work and Fast Company World Changing Ideas List in 2023 and a Chicago Innovation Awards Winner and Black Ambition Finalist in 2024.

“Investing in REACH isn’t just about technology—it’s about impact,” said Shayne Evans, Founder and President of The Academy Group. “We know talent is ubiquitous, but opportunity is not. REACH is revolutionizing how resilient youth connect with employers and colleges, ensuring learners don’t just graduate, but thrive in the workforce.”

Bridging Education & the Workforce with Gamified, AI-Driven Career Pathways

With this new investment, REACH Pathways™ is expanding partnerships with employers, colleges, nonprofits, and schools to deliver an AI-powered, gamified career development platform that equips learners with:

✅ Personalized career pathways and leadership skills-building

✅ Resume-building tools and interview prep

✅ Direct access to paid internships, scholarships, and full-time jobs

Employers and colleges struggle to identify and support job-ready talent—REACH Pathways™ solves this challenge by curating a talent pipeline built for the future of work.

“This investment accelerates our mission to ensure every student—regardless of zip code—has access to career opportunities,” said Brooke McKean, Co-CEO and President of REACH Pathways™. “We’re not just building a platform; we’re creating a movement where employers, colleges, and schools come together to shape the future of talent. Already, 20% of new users are coming from friend referrals, emphasizing that we’re meeting youth needs.”

Proven Impact: Connecting Learners to Life-Changing Opportunities

REACH has already helped learners secure competitive internships, scholarships, and career-building experiences.

•  “REACH Pathways™ is a wonderful program with the purpose of enriching students who don’t have the resources like mentors or parents to guide them through the educational system. My personal favorite part of REACH is its resume builder, which uses AI to give personalized aid in strengthening the student’s resume. Overall, REACH is a necessity for students like me and will continue to be of help to anyone willing to work toward a career.”

• A high school student shared:  “I was able to acquire a scholarship thanks to REACH! Using their opportunities board, I was made aware of a scholarship... Just last week, I was accepted and received the award at a Gala. I would never have known about it without REACH.”

A Game-Changer for Talent Recruitment & Higher Education

🔹 For Employers & Recruiters: Access curated, job-ready talent and leverage customized internship and early-career placement solutions.

🔹 For Colleges & Universities: Equip learners with personalized career resources, increasing persistence, employability, and post-graduate success.

🔹 For K-12 Schools & Nonprofits: Provide learners with gamified career exploration, leadership training, and access to paid opportunities.

“REACH Pathways is redefining how learners enter the workforce,” said Tim Schwertfeger, co-lead investor in REACH, Founder of Chicago Scholars, and former CEO of Nuveen Investments. “For employers and colleges struggling to build talent pipelines, REACH provides an innovative, scalable solution.”

Join the Movement

REACH Pathways™ is actively partnering with employers, non-profits, colleges, and schools to expand access to career pathways for under-resourced learners.

🔗 To license REACH for your institution or recruit top early-career talent, visit www.reachpathways.com or contact spena@reachpathways.com.

REACH Pathways team from left: Sasha Peña, Head of Employability; Brooke McKean, President and Co-CEO; Kenneth Woodard, Head of Product; Jeffery Beckham Jr., Co-CEO; and Eric Smith, Head of Tech.

• About: REACH Pathways™ is an award-winning career development platform that equips ambitious, under-resourced learners to build leadership skills, access resources, and connect with colleges and employers. Recognized by Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas List and a SXSW Pitch Winner, REACH utilizes gamification and personalized pathways driven by AI to accelerate learner success in both education and the workforce. REACH Pathways empowers learners to develop key skills, build resumes, and connect with internships, jobs, and career opportunities. Our platform fosters equitable access to opportunities by collaborating with employers and colleges, ensuring learners gain the support, resources, and guidance necessary to thrive in both education and career pathways. Demo here.