What is SkillShare?
Skillshare operates as a dynamic online learning community tailored for creators, offering an extensive catalog of thousands of classes. These courses span diverse creative disciplines including graphic design, illustration, photography, and more. The platform empowers users to engage in learning through video lessons, project creation, and even the opportunity to teach their own classes. A membership provides unlimited access to all content, facilitating both personal and professional development through instruction by industry experts. Skillshare also extends its offerings to teams, providing specialized solutions to enhance skills in areas such as soft skills, business fundamentals, and personal wellbeing.
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 Collaborative Fund, Founder Collective, and SV Angel
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 Union Square Ventures, Omidyar Network, Amasia, and Spark Capital
Series D (2020): $66M with participation from Adobe, Amasia, Spero Ventures, Burda Principal Investments, OMERS Growth Equity, and Union Square Ventures
Key Investors in SkillShare
Collaborative Fund
Collaborative Fund is a venture capital firm that invests in entrepreneurs driving positive global change, with a focus on early-stage companies that have the potential for significant impact.
Union Square Ventures
Union Square Ventures is a venture capital firm based in New York City that invests in transformative markets influenced by technological and societal changes, focusing on innovative companies poised for growth.
Spark Capital
Spark Capital is a full-service investment banking company that provides capital and strategic advisory services to businesses.
What's next for SkillShare?
With its recent major enterprise-level funding, Skillshare is strategically positioned to further expand its content library, enhance its platform technology, and broaden its market reach. The company's focus on creative education and professional development aligns with the growing demand for upskilling and reskilling in the digital economy. Future initiatives are likely to include deeper integration of AI-driven learning paths, expansion into new creative verticals, and enhanced community features to foster greater user engagement and collaboration. This investment will also support the development of more robust B2B solutions, catering to the evolving needs of corporate learning and development.
See full SkillShare company page
