SHRM Invests in Owl Ventures to Further Champion Innovative Education and Technology Workplace Solutions
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(Alexandria, VA) – Today, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) announced it has made an investment into Owl Ventures Fund V managed by Owl Ventures. With over $2 billion in assets under management, Owl Ventures is the largest venture capital firm in the world focused on the education and training technology sector.
Owl is committed to investing in companies that deliver real impact and transform learning. A core focus area for the firm is Future of Work, which encompasses Career Mobility, Professional Learning, Employee Wellness, Talent Acquisition, and Community Platforms.
"Through this investment, SHRM is supporting new innovative EdTech solutions that are impacting hundreds of millions of individuals and their families whose lives are being transformed by education," said Guillermo Corea, Managing Director, SHRMLabs, SHRM's workplace innovation lab and venture capital arm. "SHRM Members will benefit through SHRM's access to cutting edge EdTech innovations that may be implemented into existing SHRM professional development offerings, including alternative education and credentialing pathways, training and skill development, and education financing and affordability."
SHRM is already in conversations with several of Owl's portfolio companies that are focused on solutions in workforce education and training. Additionally, SHRM has collaborated with Thrive Global to highlight the importance of workplace mental health for SHRM members.
Thrive Global, which was founded by Arianna Huffington, is one of Owl's portfolio companies and helps individuals and organizations improve well-being, performance and mental resilience with its AI-powered behavior change technology platform. Thrive's Microsteps – small, science-backed steps to improve health and productivity – have been adopted by employees at more than 125 organizations in over 140 countries, from frontline and call center workers to executives at multinational companies.
"We are honored and excited to have SHRM invest in our most recent fund as we collectively seek to empower people and workplaces," said Ian Chiu, Managing Director at Owl Ventures. "Our global reach and commitment to impact and outcomes are well aligned with SHRM, and we look forward to collaborating with SHRM to back transformative companies and bring fresh ideas and innovations to the 300,000+ SHRM members around the world."
SHRM's support of a venture fund that focuses on EdTech solutions that delivers real impact and transforms learning across the globe will further add to SHRM's educational opportunities for SHRM members in various areas, including:
- Solving critical workplace challenges such as reskilling and upskilling
- Providing greater equity and inclusion in education, training, and recruiting
- Revolutionizing the ways in which the next generation of workers learns
Along with its investment, SHRM will join Owl's Education Outcomes Committee to provide unique insights and perspectives on impact measurement, a priority for Owl and its portfolio companies. Moreover, SHRM will have regular and in-depth dialogue with the Owl Ventures team and its portfolio companies about key HR trends and Future of Work needs. In doing so, SHRM will shine a spotlight on critical investment areas where new and innovative education and training technologies can directly benefit SHRM members and lead to better workplaces and a better world.
To learn more about SHRMLabs, please visit https://www.shrmlabs.com/.
About SHRM
SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management, creates better workplaces where employers and employees thrive together. As the voice of all things work, workers and the workplace, SHRM is the foremost expert, convener and thought leader on issues impacting today's evolving workplaces. With 300,000+ HR and business executive members in 165 countries, SHRM impacts the lives of more than 115 million workers and families globally. Learn more at SHRM.org and on Twitter @SHRM.
About Owl Ventures
Owl Ventures is the largest venture capital fund in the world focused on the EdTech market with over $2 billion in assets under management. The Silicon Valley based firm invests in the world's leading education technology companies across the education spectrum encompassing PreK-12, higher education, future of work (career mobility/professional learning), and "EdTech+" (intersection of EdTech and other major industries such as FinTech and healthcare). Owl Ventures has deep domain expertise and leverages a global network of Limited Partners, investors, and strategic partners to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses into transformative category leading companies. Learn more at www.OwlVC.com. Owl's annual Education Outcomes Report can be viewed at www.OwlVC.com/outcomes.php.
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