February 18, 2021 – Interplay Learning, a provider of training for essential skilled trade workers, has recently announced that it has completed an USD $18 Million Series B round of financing. Owl Ventures and S3 Ventures co-led the round, with additional investment from Strada Education Network and The Venture Reality Fund, as well as participation from existing investors SJF Ventures, Sierra Ventures, Holt Ventures, Wild Basin Investments and Shelter Capital Partners. Owl Ventures’ Managing Director, Ian Chiu, will join Interplay’s Board of Directors.
Founded in 2016, Austin, Texas-based Interplay Learning is a provider of online and virtual reality (VR) training for the essential skilled trades. The firm develops and delivers scalable, immersive digital learning simulations for the HVAC, plumbing, electrical, solar, multi-family maintenance and facilities maintenance workforce, allowing users to practice hands-on learning and train to be job-ready in weeks, not years.
Interplay states that its customer usage was up 445% in 2020, thanks to its online 3D simulation and VR solutions for the skilled trades workforces. The company added that it has more than 2,000 customers and 110,000 users nationwide on its training platform.
“Interplay Learning is setting the standard for fully interactive, lifelike, hands-on simulation learning that can be experienced through VR, mobile and desktop applications,” said Ian Chiu, Managing Director of Owl Ventures. “Thousands of companies are leveraging Interplay to build their own scalable, job-ready workforce faster than ever before. Interplay’s on-demand skilled trades training courses are designed to help the existing 24 million skilled workers, as well as those just entering the workforce, to be field-ready in weeks, not years. We’re excited to be partnering with Interplay as they continue to scale and expand on their market leadership.”
Doug Donovan, Founder and CEO of Interplay Learning, commented: “This new capital enables us to broaden our offering into new markets and accelerate our vision for ‘comersive’ learning, combining immersive learning with human connection.” He added, “There is a critical shortage of essential skilled workers in the US that is being exacerbated by the accelerating rate of retirement. This growing skilled trades gap is what drives us every day. We’re excited about our growth in 2021; we plan to double our employee headcount and fulfill our mission of better careers, better lives.”
For more information on Interplay Learning and its virtual reality training simulations, please visit the company’s website.
Image credit: Interplay Learning
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Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.