Acorn

What Acorn does

Acorn is an Australian-founded software vendor (founded 2014, headquartered in Sydney with North American operations) that sells a capability-led Performance and Learning Management System (PLMS) to government agencies, regulated industries, higher education institutions, and mid-market and enterprise organizations. The platform combines internal and external learning management, competency-driven performance assessments, workflow automation, and content management into a single unified system, anchored by a proprietary skills framework containing over 1,600 capabilities and 4,800 proficiency levels. The product surface comprises six modules — Internal Learning, External Learning, Capabilities, Momentum, Content, and Integrations — supplemented by an AI Tool Suite that includes the Capability AI Assistant for automated competency framework creation, a Capability Library, and the Birch Learning Platform acquired from B Online Learning in June 2026. The company serves over one million learners and reports a 4.6/5 G2 rating, with recognitions including 2026 G2 Best Software (Global and ANZ), Best Support, LMS Leader, and Momentum Leader.

Acorn monetizes primarily through annual SaaS subscriptions sold via an enterprise field sales motion with strategic account management, complemented by a self-serve/product-led growth funnel through the AI Tool Suite and Capability AI Assistant. Distribution is direct in North America and Asia-Pacific, with channel/reseller partners for implementation and consulting services; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The customer base spans Australian federal and state government (Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Clean Energy Regulator, Learn Hub, MAC), US higher education (Yale University, Virginia Tech), and enterprise (Garver, Alinta Energy, Spectraforce), with use cases ranging from regulatory compliance training to athlete development and water infrastructure training. The company raised a $16.8M Series A led by Level Equity in June 2025 to fund global expansion, product development, and partnerships. CEO and founder Blake Proberts leads the company.

Name

Acorn

Legal name

Acorn

Website

https://acornlms.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Acorn is an Australian-founded vendor selling a capability-led Performance and Learning Management System (PLMS) to government agencies, higher education institutions, regulated industries, and enterprises across North America and Asia-Pacific, combining competency assessment, learning management, and workflow automation on a unified SaaS platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Canberra

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Subscription Licensing: SaaS-based subscription model for access to the PLMS platform, internal/external learning management, capabilities, and momentum workflow automation.
2. External Learning Content: Platform enables sharing or selling of content to others with automated tax management, payments, and monthly passes features.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Acorn sells a capability-led Performance and Learning Management System (PLMS) delivered as a SaaS subscription to organizations. The platform assesses learners on organization-specific competencies and assigns personalized learning pathways to improve performance, combining an AI-powered Capability AI Assistant with a skills framework of 1,600+ capabilities and 4,800+ proficiency levels. It unifies internal/external learning management, competency-driven assessments, workflow automation, and content management into a single platform replacing multiple point solutions.

Product overview

Acorn is a capability-led Performance and Learning Management System (PLMS) designed to assess learners on competencies that matter to organizations and provide personalized learning pathways. The platform operates as a unified platform-plus-modules architecture consisting of six integrated product modules: Internal Learning (for sharing learnings and managing employee development), External Learning (for sharing or selling content externally), Capabilities (competency-driven performance plans and assessments with gap analysis and succession planning), Momentum (workflow automation for approval and review processes), Content (content management), and Integrations (connection options). Supporting resources include the AI Tool Suite with the Capability AI Assistant, the Capability Library (ready-to-go capability lists), and the Capability Building Course for certification. The platform includes over 1,600 capabilities and 4,800 proficiency levels in its skills framework. The company also acquired B Online Learning, bringing the Birch Learning Platform and Articulate Certified Training Partner expertise in-house. Sprout provides ongoing customer growth support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Capability AI Assistant: AI-powered tool that automates the creation of capability frameworks for HR teams, generating exportable Excel frameworks ready for immediate implementation.

Products and services

• Performance and Learning Management System (PLMS) Unified capability-led Performance and Learning Management System that assesses learners on organization-specific competencies and assigns personalized learning pathways to improve performance. Sold as a SaaS subscription to enterprise, government, higher education, and sports organizations.
• Internal Learning Internal learning management module that enables organizations to share learnings, test understanding, and manage employee development. Includes white-labelled UI, learner portals, workflows, live learning, user & admin interfaces, and cohort management.
• External Learning External learning management module for sharing or selling content to external audiences. Includes external catalogues, multiple learner portals, remote content sharing, automated tax management, payments, monthly passes, self-registration, cross-tenancy content sharing, and live learnings.
• Capabilities Competency-driven performance plans and assessments module. Includes gap analysis, custom frameworks, capability assessment, third-party frameworks, performance history, and succession planning. Ties employee development to their role and goals rather than course completion.
• Momentum Workflow automation module for creating and automating approval, nomination, and review processes. Covers external training programs, cyclical performance plans, onboarding, mentoring, integrated course workflows, a builder interface, and performance improvement plans.
• Content Content management module enabling organizations to make, buy, use, and organize learning content within the Acorn platform.
• Birch Learning Platform E-learning platform acquired from B Online Learning, providing custom eLearning development capabilities for government, regulated industries, and enterprise organizations, including Articulate Storyline and Rise expertise.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces capability framework creation time from months to minutes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ArticulatecoreTechnology or IntegrationB Online Learning (acquired by Acorn) held exclusive Articulate Certified Training Partner status since 2012, bringing certified expertise in Articulate Storyline and Rise for custom eLearning development to the Acorn platform.
• B Online LearningcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerAcquired B Online Learning, Australia and New Zealand's leading eLearning design and development provider, bringing Birch Learning Platform and two decades of custom eLearning experience for government, regulated industries, and enterprise organizations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TalentLMS: TalentLMS is a widely deployed SMB and mid-market LMS. Competes with Acorn for mid-market customers evaluating self-serve or low-touch learning platforms.
• Docebo: Docebo is a leading enterprise LMS platform. Garver publicly left Docebo after 5 years to adopt Acorn, confirming direct head-to-head competition for enterprise learning customers.
• Cornerstone OnDemand: Cornerstone provides a talent and learning management suite used by large enterprises and government agencies. It overlaps directly with Acorn's Capabilities and Internal Learning modules.
• Degreed: Degreed is a learning experience and skill development platform focused on capability building. It targets similar enterprise L&D buyers with skill-graph-driven measurement, closely analogous to Acorn's PLMS approach.
• SAP Litmos: SAP Litmos is a cloud LMS serving enterprise compliance and sales enablement training. Comparable to Acorn for regulated-industry and compliance-driven deployments.
• 360Learning: 360Learning delivers a collaborative learning platform with strong internal-external learning features. Overlaps with Acorn's Internal Learning, External Learning, and Momentum modules.
• LearnAmp: LearnAmp is a UK-based people development platform with learning, performance, and engagement tools. Closely comparable feature set to Acorn's PLMS for mid-market enterprise.
• Looop: Looop is an LMS focused on performance support and just-in-time learning for frontline teams. Comparable to Acorn's workflow-driven Momentum and capability-led learning approach.

Broad incumbents

• Workday Learning: Workday Learning is a module within the Workday HCM suite. As a broad incumbent it bundles learning into enterprise HR contracts, competing with Acorn for the same L&D budget.

Emerging players

• LearnDash: LearnDash is a WordPress-based LMS often used for external training monetization. Overlaps with Acorn's External Learning module, particularly around paid content catalogues and monthly passes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/acornlms
• Facebookfacebook.com/acornlms

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Acorn