Boston-based EdTech startup Esme Learning secures an additional $15 million in funding to close out 2021

In recent years, there is a significant growth in online learning as millions of people for opportunities to gain new skills. The arrival of the covid pandemic early last year further accelerated the need for online learning. In addition, rapid digital transformation has driven individuals, organizations, and governments to consider what type of upskilling and reskilling is necessary to remain relevant and innovative, especially from accredited institutions.

To meet this growing demand, Esme Learning Solutions is a Boston-based online EdTech startup that provides professional development courses through a partnership with top-leading universities. Using an AI-powered system, Esme Learning delivers dramatically better outcomes for learners and corporations.

To further support its rapid global expansion, Esme Learning announced today it has raised an additional $15 million in new funding backed by existing investors, Adit Ventures which committed another $10 million with leading ed-tech solution providers, ThriveDX making a strategic investment of $5 million.

The latest funding round follows Esme Learning Solutions’ acquisition of AI collaboration platform Riff Analytics earlier in the year. Esme said it will use the fresh capital infusion to expand its portfolio of courses with partners such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, and Imperial College Business School. The startup will also use part of the funding proceeds to invest in technology and data analytics to further improve learner experiences.

Founded in 2019 by Beth Porter and David Shrier, Esme Learning is an AI-powered digital learning platform that supports individual executives, universities, and corporations to deliver technology and the latest business trends that enable learners to transform their careers, launch new ventures and improve business acumen.

Over the years, interest in skills-based, online credentials, strongly tied to career progression has seen rapid growth, evidenced by Esme Learning Solutions’ growing portfolio of courses with top-tier universities.

These include the renowned Oxford Digital Finance Executive series, anchored by Oxford Fintech Programme & Oxford Blockchain Strategy Programme from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, classes in entrepreneurship and RegTech from Cambridge Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge, and a family of classes on digital innovation from MIT such as AI Leadership.

To meet the growing demands for its courses, Esme Learning also announced the launch of a new offering with Imperial College Business School around artificial intelligence startups. The company currently serves over 1,500 organizations in more than 95 countries.

The new round of funding will support an expanding marketing footprint, accelerating product innovation, and enhancing research & development on new formats of courses to meet the demands of the time-poor executives as well as new modes of learning to build better learner outcomes. Esme Learning Solutions is the industry leader for learning outcomes, with a collaborative learning experience that delivers 23% higher grades over learners who simply viewed and read the materials, as well as 3300% higher completion rates than typical online courses (source: Esme Learning Solutions).

David Shrier, CEO of Esme Learning Solution commented: “This new investment will enable Esme Learning Solutions to continue to drive innovation and growth in the online executive education market, enhance the student experience and ensure that we meet the challenges and opportunities of this sector over the coming years. We are grateful for the continued support of Adit Ventures and welcome the strategic opportunities and value that ThriveDX will bring as we scale.”

Dan Vigdor, Founder and Executive Chairman of ThriveDX said: “As a leading edtech and cyber training solution provider, we’ve been watching the progress of Esme Learning Solutions with great interest. Their online courses enjoy almost 100% completion rates and great feedback from partners and students alike, with industry-leading net promoter scores, bolstered by the unparalleled credentials of the leadership and academic teams.

Vigdor added, “We believe the time is right for us to start a strategic partnership together with Esme, an organization that shares the same values of putting the learner’s experience and outcome at the forefront, as the demand for online learning continues to grow. This move will enable ThriveDX to accelerate its mission of answering the talent gap challenge every company is facing, by training a pipeline of talent to keep pace with the real-time changes in technology.”