Social-media analysis firm Zencity raises $30 million

The Israeli data-analytics firm Zencity announced Tuesday it’s raised another $30 million from a group of investment firms as it seeks to continue growing its business with state and local governments in the United States and other countries.

The fundraising round was led by the company’s existing investors, including the venture arms of Salesforce and Microsoft, as well as several Israeli funds. Since its founding in 2015, the 100-employee company has raised $51 million, according to a press release.

Zencity works with state and local agencies, including law enforcement, by scanning social media to gather public opinions on local issues, like government performance, and events, including disasters and other public-safety incidents. Recently, U.S. communities have used the company’s software to improve awareness about the 2020 Census and gauge reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The past year has proven, more than ever before, that local governments are the most essential institutions of our society, Eyal Feder-Levy, Zencity’s co-founder and chief executive, said in a press release. “We’re proud that our platform has played a role in helping leaders take into account more voices from across their communities and has helped them ensure they work for all their residents as they navigate this pivotal time.”

Feder-Levy is also a veteran of the elite Israeli army intelligence group known as Unit 8200, several former members of which have gone on to launch tech companies of their own.

The company also recently acquired Elucd, a New York-based digital-polling firm that’s been folded into its local-government practice. In total, Zencity claims about 200 state and local governments around the U.S. as clients; the firm also does business in Israel, Australia and the United Kingdom.