Skillshare Raises $66M in Series D Funding

Skillshare, a NYC-based online learning community for creativity, raised $66m in Series D funding.
The round was led by Omers Growth Equity with participation from Union Square Ventures, Amasia, Burda Principal Investments and Spero Ventures. In conjunction with the funding, Saar Pikar, Managing Director at OMERS Growth Equity, will join the Skillshare Board of Directors.
“While the world faces an extended period of uncertainty, creativity will be at the heart of the global rebuild,” said CEO Matt Cooper. “Our shift as a business earlier this year has uniquely positioned us to meet that need and resulted in incredible growth, deeper user engagement and interest from new partners during a time where creativity is more important than ever. The impact of social distancing on our mental and emotional wellbeing is profound, and people today are in need of authentic human connection, supportive communities, and creative outlets. At the same time, during recessions and economic downturns, companies perform better because they invest in skills that allow room for ideas and innovation. Skillshare is meeting this demand for both personal and professional growth through creativity.”
The company intends to use the funds to create a localized experience for international students, while continuing to expand domestically, grow its enterprise offering, create more opportunities for teachers and invest in tools that increase engagement between students and teachers, expand teachers’ audiences through dedicated marketing efforts, and create new formats for teachers to earn revenue.