Paris-based collaborative learning platform 360Learning raises €171.6M from Sumeru, SoftBank, others

360Learning, a collaborative SaaS learning platform for corporates,  revealed that it has bagged a whopping growth investment worth $200M (nearly 171.6M) led by Sumeru (Sumeru Equity Partners), SoftBank Vision Fund 2, and Silver Lake Waterman with participation from existing investors Bpifrance Large Venture, XAnge, and Educapital. With the new funding, 360Learning has raised over $240M (approx €206M) in total.

While trying to catch up with the rat race, people forget that the most impactful and unforgettable learning comes from human interactions. 360Learning’s platform connects experts with field associates. 

The company built a decentralised model of course creation that is offered to executives to learn from experts in the company. The company claims that since the content is bite-sized, collaborative, and fun, learners collaborate and participate in learning communities.

And as a result of this, more and more of it is designed to be incorporated into the working day, so learners can learn from anywhere, anytime.

Over the last few years, 360Learning has proactively invested in collaborative learning reforms. The company has been working towards revolutionising the approach of companies towards learning and development, making it bottom-up instead of top-down and embedding this in company culture. The company has aimed to instil the workforce with growth mindsets, training employees to meet today’s demands.

The company has developed an incredible platform that allows any expert in any company to “teach classes online” without developing complex content or hiring a designer.

All technology is based on a simple concept: great learning comes from humans – teachers, facilitators and experts. 

Collaborative learning combined with AI

More than 1,500 global 360Learning corporate customers, including LVMH, Aircall, Toyota, and Appen, are reinventing their learning cultures by espousing collaborative learning combined with AI and data instead of top-down thinking. 360Learning courses receive an average 95 per cent Relevance Score and offer learners exciting, evolving, and always up-to-date learning experiences. 360Learning’s users can share real-time feedback and report when a course is outdated or incorrect. 

How 360Learning works?

The Company leverages AI to analyse significant data set records gathered from collaborative learning interactions and combines it with learners’ feedback ensuring a custom-made, up-to-date and expedited course to be delivered. 

The investors

Sumeru’s Managing Directors, Sanjeet Mitra, and George Kadifa, believe that employee learning will play a vital role in the next 25 years.

“We are sincerely thrilled to partner with Nick, the management team, and a terrific investor group as 360Learning illuminates the limitless possibilities of collaborative learning in this next era of corporate education,” Sumeru mentions in a press note.

Paul Davison, a senior investor at SoftBank Investment Advisers, believes that the advent of remote and distributed teams will prompt companies to rethink how they train, upskill, and retain their employees. 

Davison says, “The platform draws out the best knowledge and experience from every corner of an enterprise, which boosts employee use and transforms engagement levels. We are immensely excited to support Nick and the 360Learning team to continue to invest in the product and scale their customer base globally.”

What the future holds for 360Learning?

The company plans to employ over 500 people by the end of next year. It also plans to expand overseas in regions like North America, Asia, Europe, and South America. The company will also keep investing in strategic M&A and continue its mission to be the pioneer and best corporate learning platform in the world.

Nick Hernandez, founder and CEO at 360Learning, says, “Our engagement figures show that with the right learning approach and technology, L&D becomes a driver of growth. Learners take control of their own learning, and their companies thrive and lead in the new hybrid work environment. We’re delighted to welcome a brilliant new set of investors from three different continents to help us spearhead a transformative breakthrough in the learning market.”