What is SkillShare?
SkillShare operates as a premier online learning community, specifically engineered to empower creators through a vast library of instructional content. The platform facilitates skill acquisition across diverse creative disciplines, including graphic design, illustration, and photography, while simultaneously offering tailored professional development tools for corporate teams. By bridging the gap between industry experts and lifelong learners, SkillShare has established a unique market position that emphasizes both personal enrichment and professional upskilling. Its membership-based model provides unlimited access to high-quality video lessons, fostering a collaborative environment where users can engage in project-based learning and peer-to-peer knowledge exchange.
How much funding has SkillShare raised?
SkillShare has raised a total of $88.8M across 6 funding rounds:
Angel/Seed
$550K
Series A
$3.1M
Private Equity
$1M
Private Equity
$6.1M
Series B
$12M
Series D
$66M
Angel/Seed (2011): $550K with participation from SV Angel, Collaborative Fund, and Founder Collective
Series A (2011): $3.1M, investors not publicly disclosed
Private Equity (2013): $1M supported by Vegas Tech Fund
Private Equity (2014): $6.1M featuring Union Square Ventures and Spark Capital
Series B (2016): $12M backed by Omidyar Network, Spark Capital, Amasia, and Union Square Ventures
Series D (2020): $66M with participation from Adobe, OMERS Growth Equity, Spero Ventures, Amasia, Burda Principal Investments, and Union Square Ventures
Key Investors in SkillShare
Union Square Ventures
A New York City-based venture capital firm that invests in transformative markets influenced by technological and societal changes, focusing on innovative companies poised for long-term growth.
Spero Ventures
A venture capital firm composed of former startup founders and operators that invests in mission-driven technology companies within the wellbeing, sustainability, and learning sectors.
Adobe
A global leader in digital media and creativity software, providing strategic investment to foster innovation within the creative ecosystem and support the next generation of digital creators.
What's next for SkillShare?
Looking ahead, the strategic deployment of the $0 is expected to accelerate SkillShare's expansion into new enterprise markets and enhance its technological capabilities. Given the company's current lifecycle stage, the focus will likely shift toward deepening its B2B offerings and integrating advanced features that cater to the evolving needs of remote and hybrid workforces. By leveraging its strong foundation of creative content and its established network of industry experts, SkillShare is well-positioned to capitalize on the ongoing digital transformation of the education sector. Future growth initiatives will likely prioritize platform scalability, international market penetration, and the development of proprietary tools that further differentiate its value proposition in an increasingly competitive edtech landscape.
See full SkillShare company page
