Culver City-based charity fundraising platform Omaze Inc. has raised $30 million in Series B funding.
The round was led by New York venture firm FirstMark Capital with participation from a group of other mostly New York-based investors.
The latest round, following on a $12 million Series A plus round in 2018, brings Omaze’s total funding to approximately $42 million, according to Crunchbase.
Omaze’s platform hosts online auctions in which donors bid for the chance to win prizes including experiences with celebrities, luxury vehicles and vacation packages.
The company gained notoriety for delivering a number of flashy awards such as meetups with Michelle Obama and “Star Wars” cast members, and a Lamborghini blessed and signed by Pope Francis. To date the company says it has raised more than $130 million for upwards of 350 charities.
Since 2018, Omaze’s co-founder and Chief Executive Matt Pohlson has attempted to broaden its focus beyond its original emphasis on celebrity experiences.
In an effort to scale the business, Pohlson has doubled-down on vehicle prizes. So far this year the company says it has delivered “nearly fifty aspirational, limited-edition and one-of-a-kind vehicles.” The best performing among these can generate $3.5 million for a single vehicle, according to a statement by Omaze on the latest funding.
The company says it also intends to add high-end homes as prizes over the coming year. Omaze has offered two homes on the platform and intends to feature more than 20 other homes next year, according to the company.
The Series B funding will be used to grow both the vehicle and home prize lines, according to Omaze, and help facilitate the company’s international expansion into Western Europe and Asia.
“We’re grateful to close this round during a challenging year and fundraising environment. It’s a testament to the resiliency of our team and the generosity of our community,” Pohlson said in a statement. “These funds come at a critical inflection point for the company. We’re excited to accelerate our international expansion and scale our impact.”
