<ul><li>Guild Education, a platform that makes university programs available to workforces, reportedly raised USD 175 million in a Series F funding round led by Wellington Management with participation from Citi Impact Fund, Bon Secours Mercy Health, and angel investor Oprah Winfrey. The round follows its USD 150 million Series E funding round in June 2021, bringing its total funding to USD 553.5 million and raising the company’s valuation to USD 4.4 billion from USD 3.75 billion.</ul>

• The company intends to use the funds to expand into in-demand markets such as healthcare, childcare solutions, and career assessments. 

• The company reported that its annual recurring revenue (ARR) was more than USD 100 million in FY2020, while its headcount increased to 1,500 from 400 in March 2020. Guild Education also claimed that the number of employees with access to the platform had grown to 5 million from 4 million in June 2021, while usage increased by 140% since June 2021. 

<ul><li> Analyst QuickTake : In the past, economic downturns have resulted in many investors cutting down on investments that they deemed unnecessary, especially in the EdTech space. However, investors believe that Guild Education has an edge over its competitors due to its business model—Guild works with employers to select programs that are most relevant to its employees, earning a percentage of the fees paid to the universities as the student progresses, rather than a full upfront payment. Investors believe that it is fruitful to invest in a company that is outcome-based even during a period where inflation is high and there are rumblings of a looming economic recession.</ul>