VC-Backed Pluralsight Buys TrainSignal for $23.6M

Venture-backed Pluralsight, a provider of online training resources to developers, has made its second acquisition in less than a month, announcing today it has acquired Chicago-based TrainSignal for $23.6 million. The acquisition of privately held TrainSignal, which provides online training resources for IT professionals, follows the purchase of PeepCode, a Seattle-based company that specializes in open-source developer training, which  PluralSlight bought for an undisclosed amount in late July. Salt Lake City-based Pluralsight, which was founded in 2004, raised $27.5 million in Series A funding from Insight Venture Partners in January.

PRESS RELEASE

Pluralsight Purchases IT Training Network TrainSignal for $23.6 Million

•    Cash and Stock Acquisition Brings Hundreds of IT-Centric Courses to Pluralsight’s Online Content Library
•    TrainSignal Founder and CEO Scott Skinger to Lead Pluralsight’s IT Division in Executive Role
•    Acquisitions of TrainSignal and Open-Source Resource PeepCode Make Pluralsight a One-Stop Shop for CTOs and CIOs

SALT LAKE CITY (August 6, 2013) – Developer training platform Pluralsight announced today that it has acquired Chicago-based TrainSignal, the leading online training resource for serious IT professionals. The $23.6 million acquisition comes two weeks after the company purchased Seattle-based PeepCode, a similar service for open-source programmers. With the additions, Pluralsight has become a hub for software developers and IT professionals — two fields that have increasingly coalesced with the rise of cloud-based technology — and a one-stop shop for CTOs and CIOs looking for professional, high-quality, online training.

Similar to Pluralsight, TrainSignal provides hundreds of online video courses for individual and enterprise users, including Allstate Insurance, Cisco Systems, Comcast, Dell, Disney and Paychex. Its award-winning training spans IT technologies such as VMware, Cisco, Citrix, CompTIA and Microsoft.

“With this acquisition, Pluralsight has cemented its position as the industry leader in online training for serious software developers and IT pros,” said Aaron Skonnard, CEO of Pluralsight. “The Pluralsight library now covers the entire training spectrum, providing a rich learning environment for individuals, academic institutions and small, medium and large enterprises. Pluralsight has become the ultimate one-stop shop for software developers, IT pros, and every professional under the CTO and CIO umbrella.”

Over the next few months, the TrainSignal course catalog, along with that of PeepCode, will be incorporated into the Pluralsight network, which had previously revolved around software development. The Pluralsight library will expand from 500 courses to more than 1,000, also effectively doubling its market size. Moreover, TrainSignal’s founder and CEO, Scott Skinger, and product development director Gary Eimerman will join Pluralsight in executive roles overseeing the newly created IT division. And, as with PeepCode, dozens of TrainSignal instructors will join more than 150 other expert authors to continue growing Pluralsight’s leading-edge knowledge base.

Pluralsight, TrainSignal and PeepCode all operate on a premium content model. Users from all three, not to mention the entire developer community, will benefit from the consolidation of their respective catalogs within the Pluralsight platform with no price increase.

“I have long admired the caliber of service Pluralsight provides for serious software developers, and I’m thrilled to join forces to create the premier training resource for Web and IT professionals,” Skinger said. “This acquisition is a perfect marriage that greatly enriches the experience for both of our communities by providing the best practical training available, all in one place. I look forward to steering the future of IT strategy at Pluralsight to continue creating exceptional content beyond the classroom.”

Pluralsight’s broad array of disciplines will be invaluable for Web developers who may be expected to have a working knowledge of IT topics like networking, security, and cloud computing technologies (or the other way around, in the case of IT pros). CIOs and CTOs increasingly need employees who can adapt their skillsets through professional development, which, in many instances, is becoming a more compelling credential than traditional academic backgrounds.

Prior to acquiring TrainSignal, Pluralsight had amassed nearly 300,000 users across 100 different countries. In January 2013, the company received $27.5 million in funding from Insight Venture Partners. Now, half a year later, the investment has yielded these acquisitions, which instantly elevate Pluralsight’s already steep trajectory.

About Pluralsight
Pluralsight is a global leader in high-quality online training for serious software developers and IT pros. The revolutionary Pluralsight training library provides technology professionals everywhere with instant access to a rich collection of online training courses delivered by world-renowned industry authorities. Pluralsight provides flexible and cost-effective subscription plans for individuals and businesses starting from as little as $29 a month. See what you can learn at pluralsight.com and join the @pluralsight community on Twitter.

About TrainSignal
TrainSignal provides premium online training that gives IT professionals the tools and confidence to tackle real-world challenges, pass their certification exams and succeed in today’s competitive global IT market. TrainSignal offers a wide range of computer training courses covering Microsoft, Cisco, Citrix, CompTIA, VMware and more. The company was founded in 2002 and is based in Schaumburg, Illinois. For more information about TrainSignal, please visit www.trainsignal.com.

About PeepCode
PeepCode Screencasts are the leading open-source training resource for hardcore professional Web developers and designers. Since its founding in 2006, PeepCode has been a leading resource for education in Ruby, JavaScript, Ruby on Rails, Node and Git. As an independent tech publisher, PeepCode selects only the best teachers for its video tutorials, which are often taught by the original authors of the frameworks or tools being discussed. PeepCode tutorials are downloadable and DRM-free and optimized for desktops, TVs or mobile devices.