Tools & Platforms
Polimorphic Closes $18.6M Series A Led by General Catalyst to Drive Government Efficiency with AI
Insider Brief
- Polimorphic raised $18.6M in a Series A led by General Catalyst to expand its AI-powered platform that modernizes local government services and improves resident experiences.
- Its tools — like the AI Front Desk and CRM — help governments digitize workflows, automate tasks, reduce manual labor, and provide 24/7 multilingual support across channels.
- Already used by cities and counties across the U.S., Polimorphic has saved over 55,000 working hours and will use the new funding to grow in key states and scale its sales and engineering teams.
PRESS RELEASE — Polimorphic, which uses AI to digitize resident services for local governments and their constituents, has announced an $18.6 million Series A, led by General Catalyst, and continued backing from investors M13 and Shine. With ever-growing pressure on governments for improved efficiency, this round of funding will allow Polimorphic to amplify its support of governments with AI, while making government services more human for residents.
A recent study revealed that many local governments lack the expertise and processes to leverage AI effectively, and only about 20% of the more than $90 billion of the U.S. government’s annual IT spending is devoted to modernization. In addition, local governments are seeing an unprecedented volume of repetitive, manual tasks, including answering the same questions by phone and email, processing simple paper forms, and hunting down information across disconnected systems, signaling a desperate need for the assistance of AI. At the same time, residents are expecting a private sector-like digital experience.
Using Polimorphic’s AI Front Desk, Constituent Relationship Manager, and Analytics, governments can modernize how they serve by providing access to services online, 24/7, and in more than 75 languages, while improving efficiency for government teams.
“With this funding, we’re accelerating our mission to be the AI company for government efficiency, making public service easier, faster, and more human for everyone,” said CEO and Co-founder Parth Shah. “Local governments are the front line of democracy, but they’ve been left behind by decades of underinvestment in technology. We’re here to change that. Our tools help staff serve residents more efficiently and build trust, reduce burnout, and unlock capacity for real community impact. This moment isn’t just about growth, it’s about building a future where every resident can get the help they need, and every public servant has the support they deserve.”
To date, Polimorphic customers have reduced voicemails by up to 90%, experienced a 75% reduction in walk-in requests, and collected more than $10 million in online payments, saving more than 55,000 working hours — or 26 years of work — combined. Polimorphic customers include cities, counties, state agencies, and special districts from across the country, including the City of Pacifica, CA; Tooele County, UT; Polk County, NC; and the Town of Palm Beach, FL. This new round of funding will accelerate growth in Polimorphic’s top states, including Wisconsin, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas, Florida, and California.
“Polimorphic exemplifies what a true partnership should be: personable, professional, and deeply invested in shared success,” said Jess Savidge, Administrative and Communications Manager for the Town of Palm Beach, FL. “In a community like the Town of Palm Beach, where expectations are exceptionally high, their team has exceeded every standard through innovation, responsiveness, and a commitment to excellence. Thanks to their innovative platform and collaborative approach, we’ve continuously enhanced customer service and gained valuable insights to improve our digital presence. We look forward to continued collaborations to continue the delivery of world-class government services with the precision and quality of a top-tier business.”
The company’s newest round of funding will drive unmatched features in GovTech, including its AI Front Desk, a full-service constituent platform that includes a voice line, chatbot, search, SMS, and email. Plus, powerful GIS-based resident support, agentic AI application reviews, advanced analytics, and additional innovative AI features.
“Polimorphic has the potential to become the next modern system of record for local and state government. Historically, it’s been difficult to drive adoption of these foundational platforms beyond traditional ERP and accounting in the public sector,” said Sreyas Misra, Partner at General Catalyst. “AI is the jet fuel that accelerates this adoption. Parth and the team are making it possible for local and state governments to automate highly complex workflows from end-end, something that’s been out of reach until now.”
“Government inefficiency creates billions of dollars in waste, a problem Polimorphic’s solutions are built to solve,” said M13 General Partner Latif Peracha. “By digitizing how residents and cities interact, they are removing that wasted time and money from the system.”
In addition to innovative AI product features, the funding will allow Polimorphic to triple the size of its sales and engineering teams, driving its mission to create solutions that let governments of all sizes deliver for the people.
About Polimorphic
Polimorphic uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help local governments better serve their communities. Polimorphic’s AI Front Desk, Constituent Relationship Manager, and Dashboard & Analytics empower service-first governments to provide residents with the highest quality and accessible communication and engagement. Serving hundreds of public sector departments across the country, Polimorphic is built for the unique needs of government, including cities, counties, and state agencies. Polimorphic is backed by world-class investors, including General Catalyst, M13, and Shine. Learn more or request a demo at polimorphic.com.
About General Catalyst
General Catalyst is a global investment and transformation company that partners with the world’s most ambitious entrepreneurs to drive resilience and applied AI.
We support founders with a long-term view who challenge the status quo, partnering with them from seed to growth stage and beyond.
With offices in San Francisco, New York City, Boston, Berlin, Bangalore, and London, we have supported the growth of 800+ businesses, including Airbnb, Anduril, Applied Intuition, Commure, Glean, Guild, Gusto, Helsing, Hubspot, Kayak, Livongo, Mistral, Ramp, Samsara, Snap, Stripe, Sword, and Zepto.
For more: www.generalcatalyst.com, @generalcatalyst
Contacts
Megan Olson, Director of Marketing, Polimorphic
[email protected]
414–477–8846
Tools & Platforms
In test-obsessed Korea, AI boom arrives in exams, ahead of the technology itself
July 11, 2025
SEOUL – A wave of artificial intelligence certifications has flooded the market in South Korea over the past two years.
But according to government data, most of these tests exist only on paper, and have never been used by a single person.
As of Wednesday, there were 505 privately issued AI-related certifications registered with the Korea Research Institute for Professional Education and Training, a state-funded body under the Prime Minister’s Office.
This is nearly five times the number recorded in 2022, before tools like ChatGPT captured global attention. But more than 90 percent of those certifications had zero test-takers as of late last year, the institute’s own data shows.
Many of the credentials are loosely tied to artificial intelligence in name only. Among recent additions are titles like “AI Brain Fitness Coach,” “AI Art Storybook Author,” and “AI Trainer,” which often have no connection to real AI technology.
KT’s AICE is South Korea’s only nationally accredited AI certification, offering five levels of exams that assess real-world AI understanding and skills, from block coding for elementary students to Python-based modeling for professionals. PHOTO: KT/THE KOREA HERALD
Only one of the 505 AI-related certifications — KT’s AICE exam — has received official recognition from the South Korean government. The rest have been registered by individuals, companies, or private organizations, with no independent oversight or quality control.
In 2024, just 36 of these certifications held any kind of exam. Only two had more than 1,000 people apply. Fourteen had a perfect 100 percent pass rate. And 20 were removed from the registry that same year.
For test organizers, the appeal is often financial. One popular certification that attracted around 500 candidates last year charged up to 150,000 won ($110) per person, including test fees and course materials. The content reportedly consisted of basic instructions on how to use existing tools like ChatGPT or Stable Diffusion. Some issuers even promote these credentials as qualifications to teach AI to students or the general public.
The people signing up tend to be those anxious about keeping up in an AI-driven world. A survey released this week by education firm Eduwill found that among 391 South Koreans in their 20s to 50s, 39.1 percent said they planned to earn an AI certificate to prepare for the digital future. Others (27.6 percent) said they were taking online AI courses or learning how to use automation tools like Notion AI.
Industry insiders warn that most of these certificates hold little value in the job market. A local AI industry official told The Korea Herald that these credentials are often “window dressing” for resumes.
“Most private AI certifications aren’t taken seriously by hiring managers,” he said. “Even for non-technical jobs like communications or marketing, what matters more is whether someone actually understands the AI space. That can’t be faked with a certificate.”
Tools & Platforms
Microsoft ‘Puts People First’ With $4 Billion AI Training
Microsoft is launching a $4 billion initiative to train 20 million people in artificial intelligence skills through a new global program called Elevate. The effort, announced by company President Brad Smith, is part of Microsoft’s commitment to “put people first” as AI becomes more integrated into work and education.
The tech titan described the program as a centralized platform for its technology support, donations, and training across schools, colleges, and nonprofits. Through the Elevate Academy, it plans to deliver AI literacy at scale, including offerings like “Hour of AI” and partnerships with educators and labor unions.
A unified platform for Microsoft’s AI training
Microsoft Elevate consolidates the company’s nonprofit and education initiatives into a single operational framework, replacing both its Philanthropies division and Tech for Social Impact team. It combines funding, cloud infrastructure, and AI tools to expand access to training and technology.
The $4 billion will be allocated over five years through a mix of grants, software, and computing resources for K–12 schools, community colleges, and nonprofit organizations worldwide.
Massive training effort for in-demand AI credentials
As part of its credentialing plan, Microsoft is introducing the Elevate Academy, a program to reach millions of learners in just two years. It will offer structured learning across a spectrum of competencies, from digital basics to advanced technical instruction.
Course content will run through LinkedIn Learning and GitHub, two platforms already used within professional and developer communities.
The academy serves as a centerpiece delivery channel, combining investment and infrastructure with partnerships and events to help learners earn industry-recognized certifications.
National and local partners help execute large-scale rollout
Microsoft is working with education nonprofits, labor groups, and government bodies to scale rollout..
“Hour of AI,” developed with Code.org, introduces younger students to foundational concepts through short-form instruction. A summer skilling series extends access outside the school year.
Labor unions are also involved in workforce development, including the National Academy for AI Instruction and courses across the building trades. In Germany, Microsoft is partnering with North Rhine-Westphalia for better regional programs.
Aligning training with public and institutional standards
To support policy alignment, Microsoft is working with public agencies to integrate AI skills into national education systems. It has also partnered with the United Nations, the Vatican, and academic institutions to promote responsible use and ethical standards in AI learning.
These collaborations build on Microsoft’s long-standing involvement in digital literacy and public education initiatives, now carried forward under Elevate’s global scope.
Technology with purpose, training with intent
Microsoft maintains that technology should augment human potential rather than replace it. Elevate reflects that view by focusing on skills amplifying judgment, creativity, and contribution.
Work, the company argues, is deeply tied to identity and dignity, a principle it says must guide how artificial intelligence is developed and deployed. Elevate carries that outlook forward, linking digital learning to values about the role of work in people’s lives.
Another way Microsoft is supporting AI training is by giving $12.5 million in funding to the National Academy for AI Instruction, which the American Federation of Teachers is launching this fall.
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