Funding Fuels Next-Gen Campus Planning Platform, Delivering Real-Time Insights to Optimize Facilities, Cut Costs, and Improve Student Experiences
Austin, TX 1/23/25 – Degree Analytics, a leader in data-informed campus solutions, announced
today the close of a $5 million funding round led by LiveOak Ventures. This investment will drive
the development and rollout of its facilities optimization platform, empowering colleges and
universities to unlock new efficiencies, cut costs, and enhance student experiences by
harnessing real-time data insights.
Since its inception in 2017, Degree Analytics has become the #1 Space Occupancy platform in
higher education. Each week, it processes billions of data points from multiple campus systems
in real-time, delivering actionable insights to over 50 universities across the United States.
Degree Analytics equips administrators to make meaningful, people-centered decisions that
enhance campus operations and experiences, from pinpointing underutilized spaces to enabling
smarter energy management.
“This funding represents a pivotal step in our mission to support higher education,” said Aaron
Benz, Founder & CEO of Degree Analytics. “Our platform goes beyond providing data—it
clarifies the complexities of campus space utilization, allowing leaders to make informed
decisions that reduce costs, improve sustainability, and enrich the student experience. At
Degree Analytics, we pride ourselves on going beyond the numbers—we partner with
institutions to deliver results that matter.”
Partnering with institutions like the University of Kentucky, Degree Analytics has earned a
reputation for delivering tangible improvements. Erik Jarvis, the university's Smart Campus
Lead, described their experience as follows: “Degree Analytics doesn’t just provide data—they
guide us in translating it into real-world impact. With their help, we’ve shifted from abstract
discussions to actionable insights that improve everyday campus life.”
As institutions face increasing pressure to optimize resources, data-informed insights have
become essential for strategic decision-making. “In a fiscal environment where new construction
and capital investments are challenging, as well as when aligning with a business mentality
focused on returns on investment, it is critical to understand actual utilization patterns reinforced
by data. Degree Analytics allows us to leverage the power of real-time data in our real estate
planning designs,” said Jon Bates, Assistant Vice President, Real Estate & Space
Administration at the University of Central Florida.
This focus on innovation has made Degree Analytics a trusted strategic partner for institutions
nationwide. By leveraging advanced analytics and machine learning, the platform adapts to the
unique needs of each campus, ensuring optimal space utilization while promoting engagement
and community.
Krishna Srinivasan, founding partner at LiveOak Ventures, said, “Degree Analytics has created
a truly innovative platform that addresses one of higher education’s most pressing challenges –
how to do more with less in a dynamic but increasingly constrained environment. The success
that the company has had with dozens of institutions in a short period of time in the past year is
a testament to how perfectly Aaron Benz and team have nailed the product and delivered
answers to complex questions around campus space planning and optimization.”
About Degree Analytics
Degree Analytics provides actionable, data-informed solutions for higher education institutions,
empowering leaders to make informed decisions about facilities management and student
engagement. With advanced analytics and real-time data, Degree Analytics transforms how
campuses manage their spaces, drive energy savings, and improve the overall student
experience.
About LiveOak Ventures
LiveOak Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Austin, Texas. With over 23
years of successful venture investing in Texas, the founders of LiveOak have helped create
nearly $5 billion of enterprise value. While almost all of LiveOak’s investments begin in the early
stages, LiveOak is a complete life cycle investor focused on technology and technology-enabled
service companies. With nearly $500M under management, LiveOak has led investments in 60
high-growth Texas-based companies, including DISCO (NYSE: LAW), Eventus, AmplifAI,
Homeward, SchooLinks, Take Command Health, and Osano. Recognized as the Venture
Capital Firm of the Year at the inaugural A-List awards by the Greater Austin Chamber of
Commerce, LiveOak is dedicated to supporting local founders, fostering the next generation of
leaders, and building category-dominating companies.
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