Multiverse Raises $70M to Upskill Europe's Workforce for AI

Jan de Vries · 2026-05-15

Multiverse, the British upskilling platform focused on AI and tech adoption, just announced a $70 million primary funding round to expand across Europe. The company's goal? Make sure AI benefits the workforce instead of replacing it. ### The Big Picture This round was led by Schroders Capital, with big names like General Catalyst, Lightspeed Venture Partners, D1 Capital Partners, Index Ventures, Bond, and StepStone Group also chipping in. The deal values Multiverse at $2.1 billion. Euan Blair, CEO and founder, put it simply: "There are companies who desperately need the benefits AI can bring. There are AI companies. What has been missing is the layer that bridges the two." He added, "Getting outcomes from AI and unlocking productivity is not just a technology problem. It is a people problem. We exist to solve it." ### A Trend Across Europe Multiverse's funding is part of a bigger 2026 pattern. Capital is flowing into European learning, workforce enablement, and AI adoption tools. Other big rounds include Preply's $148 million Series D and BCAS's $35 million debt financing. Smaller workforce-focused raises went to Bounti, Fresh People, inploi, and Gyver. The UK is showing up too through Oxford Medical Simulation and inploi—both focused on skills, training, or talent infrastructure. Multiverse's round sits right in the middle, between broad EdTech scaling and more specialized AI workplace tools. ### Government Support Chancellor Rachel Reeves chimed in: "We want Britain to achieve the fastest rate of AI adoption of any country in the G7. The productivity dividend we can get from AI will grow businesses of all shapes and sizes in the UK and ensure they stay competitive." She called Multiverse "a fantastic example of a British company helping turn that ambition into reality." ### How Multiverse Works Founded in 2016, Multiverse helps organizations close critical skills gaps in data, AI, and tech. They've partnered with over 1,500 global companies so far. The last year saw them double down on strategic alliances with tech platforms like Microsoft, Palantir, and Databricks. Their AI coaching platform, Atlas, tripled daily active users in the last year. ### Growth and Acquisitions Today's funding comes as the company accelerates growth. In January 2026, Multiverse acquired StackFuel, a Berlin-based data and AI training company. Revenue grew 50% year-over-year, accelerating for the third straight year. For the first time, Multiverse had a cash-positive quarter from January to March 2026. Here's what else is happening: - All employees, regardless of seniority, are now getting equity and a long-term stake in the company thanks to this round. - The company is focusing on UK enterprise adoption and strategic acquisitions. ### What Investors Say Michael Mclean, Head of Private Equity Technology Investments at Schroders Capital, said: "The evolution of AI is creating transformative opportunities to drive productivity and growth across global economies. Multiverse is a leader in enabling this shift, helping organizations capitalize on these tailwinds." He added, "With growing momentum across Europe, Multiverse puts the focus on AI adoption, enabling employers to upskill their workforces and translate technology investment into tangible outcomes." ### What This Means for You If you're a startup founder or investor in the US, this is a signal. European EdTech is heating up, and AI upskilling is becoming a must-have for companies trying to stay competitive. Multiverse's success shows there's real demand for bridging the gap between AI tech and real-world workforce needs. For professionals in the space, it's worth watching how Multiverse expands across Europe. Their model—combining AI coaching platforms with strategic acquisitions—could be a blueprint for others looking to scale. Bottom line: AI isn't just about code and algorithms. It's about people. And companies that figure out how to train their workforce for that shift are the ones that will thrive.