Handshake AI, a division of the career platform Handshake, reached nearly $1 billion in gross annualized revenue within roughly one year of its launch. The company, which focuses on AI training data and model evaluation, was established in January 2025. By April 2026, its total gross annualized revenue reached approximately $1.1 billion, with the AI segment contributing $950 million.
The company leverages a network of over 18 million scholars, including 500,000 PhDs and 3 million graduate-level students, sourced from 1,500 university partnerships. These experts perform specialized tasks in science, finance, and safety, earning between $100 and $125 per hour. This structure functions similarly to a marketplace, where a significant portion of gross revenue flows to the contractors.
The company estimates its net annual revenue to be between $300 million and $450 million. To enhance its data auditing and quality control capabilities, Handshake recently acquired Cleanlab. Meanwhile, the platform's original campus recruiting business has seen its revenue decline to approximately $150 million as the company shifts its focus toward the AI sector.
