Modal, a startup co-founded by Darren Shimkus, former president of Udemy, and Dennis Yang, former CEO of Udemy, has raised $25 million in a funding round led by Left Lane Capital. This brings Modal’s total funding to $32 million. The startup aims to address the challenge of skills building in the corporate sector through personalized technical skills training for employees, focusing on data and AI.
Modal’s platform offers on-demand coaching and a pedagogical approach that groups users into semi-structured online learning communities. It assesses each team member, identifies skill gaps, and creates custom learning plans to minimize skill risks for companies in achieving their strategic goals, whether it’s modernization efforts, digital transformation, or training new employees from an acquisition.
While the upskilling market is competitive, with startups like GrowthSpace, Learnsoft, and others, Modal differentiates itself by focusing on hot trends like data and AI. Its initial set of e-learning courses exclusively target these areas, aligning with the increasing demand for AI capabilities and technical acumen in today’s workforce.
Modal also emphasizes real-world application, providing learners with applied practice and coaching to help contextualize key concepts. This approach sets it apart from traditional e-learning platforms and appeals to Fortune 1000 companies, which form the majority of its over 100 clients.
The funding will enable Modal to expand its team to meet growing demand and scale its offering globally. With the rise of generative AI driving the need for upskilling in companies, Modal aims to provide a reliable solution for leaders to plan and improve their team’s skills in today’s ever-changing workplace landscape.
