Dutch edtech startup Winc Academy raises $3m to train 20,000 IT professionals in Europe

Dutch edtech startup Winc Academy raises $3m to train 20,000 IT professionals in Europe

Published: 17-01-2022 15:00:00 | By: Pie Kamau | hits: 4010 | Tags:

Winc Academy announced a $3 million funding round led by Rubio Impact Ventures and Dutch Founders Fund to increase the steep growth of its education platform and meet the surging demand for online upskilling and reskilling courses. Within a year, the Amsterdam-based scale up 8-folded its active student base, driven by the digitization of work and accelerated by Covid.

The funding enables Winc Academy to educate 20,000 learners within a few years, to gain skills that enable a career in tech. The self-paced courses with personal mentoring are designed to be combined with work or private life, and prepare learners for a career as developer, data analyst, and other in-demand tech jobs. This significantly grows the talent pool and enables employers to attract the professionals they need.

Willemijn Verloop, Founder, Rubio Impact Ventures: ''Winc Academy aims to achieve lifelong learning & a secure job for all. They essentially offer careers, not courses, and enable everyone who has the ambition and grit an opportunity at a future-proof career in tech. Impact drive is strongly anchored in their DNA.''

Patrick Kerssemakers, Founding Partner, Dutch Founders Fund: ''In just 3 years this team has built a scalable edtech platform with graduation rates far higher than others. By bringing together industry experts, mentors, and learners, Winc Academy is building a much-needed international marketplace in education."

The news follows the appointment of Joran van Aart as CEO in May 2021, who then joined the founding team consisting of Marijn Pijnenborg and Carla Snepvangers. Winc Academy will further expand the leadership team with a COO and are also recruiting for senior roles in education, marketing, financial strategy, and tech.

Vivid Ventures, an early-stage fund that led Winc Academy's angel round in 2019, also participates in the current seed round.

Joran van Aart, CEO, Winc Academy: "We are thrilled to bring Rubio and Dutch Founders Fund on board, and to have the continued support of our angel investors. They bring a mix of expertise in digital products, international marketplaces, and social entrepreneurship. A strong combination that will help us achieve our purpose of giving everyone the chance at a better future by learning in-demand skills."

www.wincacademy.com