Tech start-up Multiverse has secured $130 million in its latest funding round to meet the growing demand for professional apprenticeships and a diverse pool of future leaders across both America and the UK.
The Series C round was led by D1 Capital Partners and BOND; and brings total funding for the tech startup to $194 million. The apprenticeship provider has experienced exponential growth since closing the UK’s largest ever EdTech funding round this past January, a $44 million Series B led by General Catalyst, which was used to expand into the US. Within six months of launch in the US, Multiverse has begun training professional apprentices with organisations including Google, ClassPass and Adyen. They join over 300 clients in the UK using Multiverse programmes including Facebook, Morgan Stanley and the NHS. Multiverse also opened a US Headquarters in New York City this year, allowing their growing team to meet and collaborate together for the first time since the pandemic began, after launching in the UK in 2016
The additional funding will be used to drive growth in both North America and the UK, including by launching additional programmes and qualifications. This year Multiverse launched an innovative programme to enable apprentices to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Data Analytics and Data Science alongside their roles.
CREATING A DIVERSE GROUP OF FUTURE LEADERS
“We have spent the last few years building a truly outstanding alternative to university and to corporate training, and this latest funding round is recognition of how far this cause has come,” stated Euan Blair, Founder and CEO, Multiverse. “Professional apprenticeships are transforming the opportunities available to people in the UK and now in the US. We’ve seen a range of the world’s best employers grow their programmes significantly over the last year.”
Multiverse’s mission is to create a diverse group of future leaders by building an outstanding alternative to university and corporate training. They offer apprenticeships to a diverse pool of young adults and those looking to reskill. Multiverse works with over 300 businesses, helping them embrace digital transformation, close skills gaps and develop a diverse talent pipeline. Apprentices benefit from one-to-one coaching, applied learning, and a community of social, networking and leadership opportunities. They also benefit from a unique applied learning model, receiving personal training from expert coaches alongside paid jobs.
The company has prioritised a community experience designed to replicate the best of university that includes socials, mentoring, leadership opportunities, and inspiring speakers. As a result of extensive outreach partnerships and a bespoke matching platform, 53% of apprentices placed in their roles by Multiverse are people of colour; and 36% are from under-resourced communities. Additionally, 90% remain in long-term employment with their companies. Alongside recognition from employers, this month Ofsted, England’s education inspector, graded Multiverse as an ‘outstanding’ provider in every category, the highest rating available.
FAMILY-SUSTAINING JOBS
The company has seen its revenue grow nearly four times over the last year and now trains over 5,000 tech, leadership and digital apprentices; more than the annual undergraduate intake of both Harvard College and Oxford University. Most recently, Multiverse was also endorsed as a talent developer for OneTen, a coalition of leading executives who have committed to upskill, hire and advance one million Black individuals without four year degrees in America over the next 10 years into family-sustaining jobs with opportunities for advancement.
“Apprenticeships are an innovative pathway to family sustaining jobs,” stated Ken Chenault, Chairman and Managing Director of General Catalyst, and Co-founder of OneTen. “Multiverse has the team, the model, and the vision to make the promise of professional, modern apprenticeships a reality while creating greater access to opportunity.”
“Employers are all asking a similar question: how do we access the best talent and the skills we need, and make sure the opportunities created in the post-Covid recovery are spread more equitably? Talent is everywhere but companies will only hire the best if they reach beyond traditional sources,” Blair continued. “Our apprenticeships allow employers to look beyond academic achievements and hire and develop people based on the things that really matter: potential, character and performance. They are simply the best way to equip people with the skills employers need today.”
ALTERNATIVE & EQUITABLE CAREER ROUTES
“We believe Multiverse is expanding access to wage-growth and social mobility for employees from a broad range of backgrounds while creating substantial value for employers,” stated Jeremy Goldstein of D1 Capital Partners. “We are excited to invest and help Multiverse scale its model globally.”
Professional apprenticeships allow organisations to open up attractive, equitable routes into a range of tech and professional careers including Data Analytics, Software Engineering, Project Management and Business Administration. Digital skills are a key brake on global productivity, with 84% of executives believing their teams lack the ability to deliver their digital strategies. At the same time workplace equity has become a critical conversation across corporate boardrooms.
“Multiverse isn’t just growing fast, we’re delivering record-breaking impact at scale with the support of the world’s most trusted investors,” added Jeremy Duggan, President and Board member at Multiverse. “Through the testing times of Covid our team has grown, developed and increased its impact multiple times. Our special mission ensures that we’re solving some of the most important issues facing society: bridging the opportunity gap and ensuring companies can access the most diverse, talented individuals to drive their growth.”
MORE DIVERSITY WITH APPRENTICESHIPS
Click here for some great advice on how organisations can increase diversity successfully through apprenticeships.
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