Skillsoft

Skillsoft's journey began in 1998, founded by Charles Moran with a pioneering vision for online learning, initially focusing on soft skills. The company quickly established itself as a dominant force in web-based corporate training. Through a series of strategic acquisitions, including notable names like Books24x7 in 2001, SmartForce (formerly CBT Systems) in 2002 which also led to establishing a headquarters in Ireland for a period, NETg in 2007, Element K in 2011, MindLeaders in 2012, SumTotal Systems in 2014, and Vodeclic SAS in 2015, Skillsoft aggressively expanded its content library and technological capabilities. This growth trajectory saw the company transition from a startup to a multi-billion dollar enterprise, navigating periods of being publicly traded, taken private by firms like Berkshire Partners, Advent International, and Bain Capital in 2010, and later acquired by Charterhouse Capital Partners in 2014.

The company's evolution was marked by a relentless focus on building a comprehensive content repository covering IT and digital skills, leadership development, business acumen, and compliance, alongside a vast collection of books, audio recordings, and assessments. Recognizing the need to modernize its delivery, Skillsoft launched Percipio around 2016-2017, a state-of-the-art learning experience platform (LXP) that has since become central to its offerings. Despite facing challenges, including a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in June 2020, Skillsoft emerged successfully in August 2020. A significant milestone occurred in June 2021 when Skillsoft once again became a publicly traded company under its original stock symbol, SKIL. The company continued its strategic growth with the acquisition of Global Knowledge in 2021 and Codecademy in 2022, further solidifying its position as a global leader in corporate digital learning, dedicated to helping organizations and individuals unleash their potential and prepare for the future of work.