As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to redefine industries, the education technology (edtech) sector is also undergoing significant transformation. Traditional training methods, once considered essential for workforce reskilling, are no longer meeting the needs of modern workers and corporations. Employees face increasing demands, leaving them with limited time and patience for lengthy training programs, while organizations struggle with high costs and inefficiencies in their learning initiatives. Amid this challenge, edtech entrepreneurs and venture capital firms are exploring new models to address critical skills gaps and prepare the workforce for the evolving landscape.
Can new edtech strategies tackle skills shortages?
Efforts to bridge workforce skills gaps have gained momentum, with players like Brighteye Ventures actively investing in edtech solutions. As one of Europe’s leading edtech-focused venture capital funds, the company categorizes its investments into three areas: skills training, job placement, and empowerment through AI-driven learning tools. Founding Partner Ben Wirz remarked on the need for edtech to adapt to sector-specific challenges, such as healthcare and climate-related industries, emphasizing the demand for relevant talent in these fields.
“We are seeing that specific sectors such as healthcare, climate/energy, and the built environment suffer acute skills gaps and productivity strains that edtech plays a key part in addressing,” Wirz said.
How are platforms making learning bite-sized?
Startups like ZickLearn and Funzi are spearheading microlearning approaches to make corporate training more accessible and effective. ZickLearn, led by CEO Matteo Penzo, focuses on delivering concise, personalized lessons that seamlessly integrate into workers’ schedules. Similarly, Funzi’s mobile-first platform offers bite-sized courses tailored to specific contexts, which its founder Aape Pohjavirta believes can yield impactful results when supported by systemic changes in education and training. Both leaders emphasize the importance of targeted, easily digestible content to accommodate shrinking attention spans and busy workloads.
“Empowering the workforce of tomorrow with personalized, bite-sized learning… makes reskilling effortless,” Penzo said.
The growing reliance on AI and machine learning is also reshaping edtech. According to Volker Hirsch, an angel investor in several edtech startups, data-driven insights enable more individualized learning pathways, providing opportunities for educators to better support students. However, existing education systems face inertia, making it difficult to implement modular and faster-changing learning approaches. The challenge lies in overhauling outdated structures to align with the demands of lifelong and adaptable learning.
Similar observations were made in earlier discussions about edtech’s role in workforce training. While mobile learning platforms have always been praised for their potential to democratize education, concerns around equitable access to reliable devices and internet connections persist. These challenges highlight the need for both technological innovation and systemic reform to ensure that edtech’s benefits reach all segments of the workforce.
The future of edtech lies in agility and relevance. Businesses are increasingly acting as educators, integrating training into everyday activities such as commutes or coffee breaks. This shift not only meets immediate workforce needs but also equips employees to adapt to evolving job requirements. As AI continues to influence this space, firms that embrace these changes will not only thrive but also shape the future workforce. On the other hand, those that resist risk being left behind, unable to keep pace with the demands of the new work environment.
The integration of AI into edtech underscores the importance of equipping workers with tools for continuous learning. Whether through microlearning platforms, AI-driven personalized pathways, or system-level reforms, the focus remains on creating a more skilled and agile workforce. This evolution highlights the urgency for businesses and educators to rethink their approaches to training, ensuring that the opportunities created by AI are accessible and impactful for all.
