Denver-based startup draws more funding
Guild Education landed a whale this past spring.
The Denver-based tech-education startup announced May 30 that it is working with Walmart to offer college degrees from three universities to all of the mega retailer’s 1.4 million U.S. associates so long as participating workers chip in $1 per day toward the cost.
It was the biggest partnership to date for the firm that already boasted Chipotle Mexican Grill and Taco Bell as clients.
Now, two months later, Guild is celebrating $40 million in Series C funding. The investment was led by Silicon Valley firm Felicis Ventures. Its managing director, Wesley Chan, is now a Guild board member.
Rethink Impact & Education, Salesforce Ventures, Silicon Valley Bank and Workday Ventures joined in the funding, according to a news release. Previous investors Bessemer Venture Partners, Redpoint Ventures, Harrison Metal, and Cowboy Ventures also contributed.
Series C money is the last investment startups seek in their seed-to-fullgrown progression. Combined with earlier investments, Guild has now taken in $ 71.5 million since being formed by Rachel Carlson and Brittany Stich in 2015.
The aim of the new funding is to help Guild continue forming education- as- a job benefit relationships with Fortune 1000 companies, according the news release.
Employers across the country — from Amazon to King Soopers — are adding education support options to their compensation packages to help attract and retain staff members.
“Amidst record- low unemployment and impending automation, both employers and employees are fearful of how to prepare themselves for the future of work,” Carlson, Guild’s CEO, said in a prepared statement.
“Offering education as a benefit through Guild helps companies attract and retain employees for today’s job, while helping them upskill for the jobs of tomorrow.”
Guild, now serving more than 2.5 million adults, works with 90 universities and education providers to give companies access to degrees, classes and programs, officials say.