Kaizen, a fast-growing civic technology company transforming how Americans interact with public institutions, has raised $21 million in Series A funding to rebuild what it calls “the government’s digital front door.” The company’s mission is to modernize outdated government platforms and deliver citizen services that are fast, intuitive, and people-first.
The funding round was led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA), with participation from 776, Accel, Andreessen Horowitz, and Carpenter Capital. It follows Kaizen’s earlier $11 million seed round co-led by Accel and Andreessen Horowitz’s American Dynamism practice, bringing the company’s total funding to $35 million.
Kaizen’s technology is already in use by more than 50 agencies across 17 states, serving over 30 million residents. From parks and transit systems to licensing and utility billing, the company partners with local, state, and federal agencies to replace slow, fragmented legacy systems with a single, unified digital platform built around residents and the public servants who serve them.
At its core, Kaizen focuses on what it calls “resident services”, the essential, high-traffic interactions between citizens and their governments. These include everything from booking campsites and renewing driver’s licenses to paying taxes and managing court filings. By delivering these services through a user-friendly interface, Kaizen aims to restore public trust in government by making digital interactions seamless and efficient.
“American citizens have grown used to clunky, frustrating public websites,” said Nikhil Reddy, Kaizen’s co-founder and CEO. “We believe government technology should be just as beautiful, functional, and responsive as the private-sector tools people use every day. If citizens can file taxes, renew licenses, or book public services effortlessly, that changes how they see their government.”
Katherine Boyle, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, said Kaizen exemplifies the spirit of the American Dynamism initiative, which supports companies strengthening national institutions. “Kaizen is focused on the everyday systems, parks, transit, licensing that quietly hold communities together. Their work ensures government is operating at the speed of technology,” she said.
Across the United States, many agencies still depend on decades-old systems that cost taxpayers billions in maintenance fees. Kaizen’s alternative offers governments a single commerce and operations platform that can be launched in weeks instead of years. Administrators gain digital tools for managing services, payments, and communications, while residents experience fast, mobile-friendly transactions tailored to their needs.
Alexis Ohanian, founder of Seven Seven Six, said Kaizen’s approach represents a shift in how Americans should expect to engage with their public institutions. “There’s no reason U.S. public services shouldn’t be as smooth and inspiring as private-sector apps,” he said. “Kaizen is building technology that reflects the beauty, ambition, and potential of the society it serves.”
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Kaizen’s results have already drawn national attention. In Maryland, the company launched a new park pass system in under two months, a full month ahead of schedule. During the July 4th weekend, state parks reached full capacity without the usual traffic delays or check-in chaos. Visitor satisfaction hit record levels, and the state saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in overtime costs.
Maryland’s Assistant Secretary of Land Resources, Paul Peditto, described the transformation as “one of the most meaningful changes we’ve implemented to expand and safeguard public access while ensuring equity in our parks.”
Kaizen’s rapid rise mirrors a broader push by federal and state governments to modernize citizen-facing technology. The federal government’s new National Design Office recently launched a $10 billion effort to overhaul more than 25,000 government portals, aiming for accessibility, design quality, and AI readiness, goals closely aligned with Kaizen’s vision.
Since 2024, Kaizen’s customer base has grown tenfold and its annual recurring revenue ninefold. In just eight weeks, the company has added Maricopa County (AZ), San Bernardino County (CA), Suffolk County (NY), and the Cherokee Nation to its roster of partners. With plans to expand into federal agencies and new verticals such as courts management and motor vehicle systems, Kaizen expects its team to grow from 30 to 50 employees by early next year.
Accel partner Amit Kumar said Kaizen’s success lies in its ability to make complexity feel simple. “Public services impact hundreds of millions of people every day, yet their systems often lag behind modern expectations,” he said. “Kaizen is proving that government services can be modern, efficient, and built around people.”
Kaizen’s long-term ambition is to become the central technology provider for civic systems nationwide, creating digital infrastructure that strengthens democracy by making public services more transparent, efficient, and human.
