Tech Bootcamp Startup Trilogy Education Acquired For $750M

Source: Crunchbase, Holden Page
Photo: Li-Anne Dias

Tech companies around the globe claim there’s a talent shortage; however, there doesn’t seem to be a shortage of liquidity for those startups attempting to bridge the gap.

Trilogy Education, a workforce training startup that offers programs in “web development, data analytics, UX/UI design, and cybersecurity,” has been acquired by 2U, a SaaS platform for school operations, for $750 million in cash and stock, according to a press release.

It’s a near-unicorn level acquisition deal for Trilogy Education, which has, according to Crunchbase, raised a (these days) modest $80 million. The startup’s lead investors, who likely stand to gain the most from the acquisition, include Highland Capital Partners, Macquarie Group, and Exceed Capital Partners.

The acquisition is also a confirmation of a broader trend of tech training schools to garner attractive exits. Just over a year ago, General Assembly was acquired by Adecco, a Swiss staffing firm, for $413 million. WeWork also bought Flatiron School in 2017.

According to 2U’s Co-Founder and CEO Christopher Paucek, the Trilogy Education acquisition will help the company reach $1 billion in revenue by 2021. The acquisition will also nearly double 2U’s footprint, going from “36 to 68 university partners.”

https://news.crunchbase.com/news/tech-bootcamp-startup-trilogy-education-acquired-for-750m