Shaw Academy
Shaw Academy, rebranded to Upskillist, is a private online education platform delivering diploma courses via live and recorded video to individual professionals and enterprises. It operates a freemium subscription model with certifications from Austin Peay State University and CPD, and offers a B2B Skills Gap Analysis platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Shaw Academy does
Shaw Academy, operating under the Upskillist brand, is a private online education provider founded in 2013 and operated by Ed Services LLC, a New Hampshire limited liability company. The company delivers diploma-level professional courses via a video-based platform combining live webinars with recorded on-demand content, structured as four-module curricula with eight classes per module. Its technology stack includes a self-serve consumer portal (upskillist.com), a B2B enterprise platform (upskillist.pro) featuring a proprietary Skills Gap Analysis Tool, and supporting infrastructure such as leaderboard gamification and multi-channel marketing automation (email, SMS, push, paid social, affiliate voucher partners).
The company's business model is a hybrid freemium subscription architecture: learners receive a 4-week free trial converting into monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, or annual subscriptions, with optional one-time purchases of certificates, course materials, assignment retakes, and hard-copy diplomas. Course completions are credentialed through partnerships with Austin Peay State University (APSU) and CPD (Continuing Professional Development), providing externally validated certifications marketed as the primary differentiator. Customer segments include individual professionals pursuing upskilling/reskilling and enterprises seeking workforce development, though no enterprise customer logos are disclosed.
Operations span North America (USA), the United Kingdom, and Switzerland under GDPR, CCPA, and PCI DSS compliance frameworks, supporting a globally distributed learner base. The firm has raised one disclosed funding round of $7.84M in April 2019 from undisclosed investors, employs 101-250 staff, and is led by CEO and founder James Egan. A 2022 rebrand from Shaw Academy to Upskillist explicitly positioned the company to modernize its brand and bifurcate consumer (Upskillist) from enterprise (Upskillist.pro) go-to-market motions.
Shaw Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shaw Academy
- Legal name
- Ed Services LLC
- Website
- https://shawacademy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Shaw Academy, rebranded to Upskillist, is a private online education platform delivering diploma courses via live and recorded video to individual professionals and enterprises. It operates a freemium subscription model with certifications from Austin Peay State University and CPD, and offers a B2B Skills Gap Analysis platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shaw Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Education and Professional Certification
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Computer Training (61142), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure) (EDAAAEAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Certification & Exam Prep eLearning Modules (EDAGAEAL), Software Engineering & Application Development Training (Languages, Frameworks, Testing) (BPAEANAI)
Keywords
Where Shaw Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dublin
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Shaw Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Subscription Membership: Recurring monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, and annual subscription fees for access to courses. Includes free 4-week trial period for new members. Lifetime membership option available.
- Digital Content Sales: One-time purchases of optional digital content including certificates, course materials, assignment retakes, and hardcopy diplomas
- B2B Enterprise Platform: Enterprise learning platform (upskillist.pro) for businesses to upskill employees with proprietary Skills Gap Analysis Tool
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Trial - 4 weeks access |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly Subscription - 28 days membership |
| Subscription | Monthly | One Course Plan |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Lifetime Membership |
| Subscription | Monthly | Family/Friend Accounts |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Shaw Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shaw Academy (now Upskillist) delivers online diploma-level courses structured across 4 modules with 8 classes per module, combining live webinar instruction with on-demand recorded video, real-time Q&A, and end-of-module assessments. Courses carry internationally recognized certifications from Austin Peay State University and CPD, available to individual learners via a freemium subscription model (4-week free trial) and to enterprises through the Upskillist.pro platform with its proprietary Skills Gap Analysis Tool.
Product overview
Shaw Academy operates as a multi-platform online education provider that has rebranded to Upskillist. The core offering consists of diploma courses structured around 4 modules with 8 classes each, delivered via recorded video instruction with real-time Q&A during webinars. Upon completion, students receive two awards: a certificate of completion from Austin Peay State University (APSU) and CPD certification. The platform is split across three products: the Upskillist consumer platform (upskillist.com) for individual learners, the Upskillist.pro B2B platform for enterprise workforce upskilling featuring a proprietary Skills Gap Analysis Tool, and the legacy Shaw Academy platform (shawacademy.com) which continues to serve existing students. Free access is provided for the first four weeks (28-day free trial), after which a monthly subscription fee applies. Optional digital content such as certificates, course materials, and hard-copy diplomas can be purchased separately.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Upskillist: Online learning platform for individuals seeking upskilling and reskilling with diploma courses certified by Austin Peay State University and CPD.
- Upskillist.pro
Products and services
- Upskillist Consumer Learning Platform Self-serve online learning platform for individual consumers offering free 4-week trial followed by subscription plans (monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, annual, lifetime). Delivers diploma courses with live and recorded video classes, real-time Q&A, weekly assignments, and module assessments, with optional paid certificates and hard-copy diplomas.
- Upskillist.pro Enterprise Learning Platform B2B online learning platform for businesses seeking to upskill employees. Incorporates a proprietary Skills Gap Analysis Tool to identify workforce competency gaps and recommend training. Targets HR and Learning & Development functions managing employee development programs.
- Skills Gap Analysis Tool Proprietary diagnostic tool within the enterprise platform that analyzes workforce skill gaps and recommends targeted training content from the course catalog, enabling corporate buyers to assess competency gaps before deploying learning programs.
Companies that use Shaw Academy
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Shaw Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature2 records
Shaw Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Austin Peay State University (APSU)coreUS State University partnership for course certification. APSU certifies Shaw Academy courses providing students with skills, adaptive thinking, and habits of mind. Shaw Academy is a recognized provider with APSU in its Continuing Education program. Located in Tennessee, USA.
- CPD (Continuing Professional Development)coreCPD formally certifies Shaw Academy courses ensuring academic and practical qualifications remain current. Completed diplomas bearing the CPD approved logo provide internationally recognized professional development credentials.
- GoCardlesssupportingThird-party payment processor for Direct Debit payments. Processes personal data for payment collection with data protection rights including right to object.
- Ed Services LLCcoreEntity that owns and operates Shaw Academy services including website and interactive properties. Located at 170 Commerce Way, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 03801.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Shaw Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Alison: Ireland-based free online learning platform offering CPD-certified diploma and certificate courses. Closest geographic and product overlap with Shaw Academy's CPD-credentialed diploma model.
- Udemy: Global online course marketplace with subscription and one-time purchase options across professional and personal development categories. Comparable self-serve PLG motion and breadth of professional skill content.
- Skillshare: Subscription-based online learning community focused on creative and professional skills. Comparable freemium trial, monthly/annual subscription pricing, and direct-to-consumer self-serve onboarding.
- Coursera: NYSE-listed online learning platform offering professional certificates, diplomas, and degree programs from accredited universities. Directly comparable as a credentialed online education provider targeting both individual learners and enterprise customers.
- Pluralsight: Technology-focused online learning platform with skills assessments and enterprise offerings (now part of Vista Equity). Comparable B2B Skills Gap Analysis functionality and tech-professional upskilling focus.
- FutureLearn: UK-headquartered online course platform owned by Global University Systems, partnering with universities and institutions for short courses and microcredentials. Directly comparable model of university-partnered online certification.
Broad incumbents
- edX (2U): University-partnered online course and degree platform founded by Harvard and MIT, now operated by 2U. Comparable credentialed program structure and global institutional partnerships.
- LinkedIn Learning: Microsoft-owned professional development video library bundled with LinkedIn Premium and Lynda.com heritage. Competes for the same professional upskilling audience, particularly in B2B via LinkedIn's enterprise footprint.
Emerging players
- MasterClass: Premium subscription video learning platform featuring celebrity and expert instructors. Comparable subscription model but differentiated toward premium consumer brand rather than professional credentials.
- DataCamp: Subscription-based online learning platform focused on data, AI, and tech skills with enterprise tier. Comparable self-serve learning model and B2B upskilling positioning for technical professionals.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Shaw Academy social profiles
Digital presenceShaw Academy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Shaw Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shaw Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Shaw Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shaw Academy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Shaw Academy
What does Shaw Academy do?
Shaw Academy (now Upskillist) delivers online diploma-level courses structured across 4 modules with 8 classes per module, combining live webinar instruction with on-demand recorded video, real-time Q&A, and end-of-module assessments. Courses carry internationally recognized certifications from Austin Peay State University and CPD, available to individual learners via a freemium subscription model (4-week free trial) and to enterprises through the Upskillist.pro platform with its proprietary Skills Gap Analysis Tool.
Is Shaw Academy a public or private company?
Shaw Academy is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Shaw Academy founded?
Shaw Academy was founded in 2013. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Shaw Academy based?
Shaw Academy is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does Shaw Academy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Subscription Membership is the primary driver. The others are digital Content Sales and B2B Enterprise Platform.
Who are Shaw Academy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Alison, Udemy, Skillshare, Coursera, Pluralsight and FutureLearn. Broad incumbents are edX (2U) and LinkedIn Learning. Emerging players are MasterClass and DataCamp.
Does Shaw Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shaw Academy.
What industry is Shaw Academy in?
Shaw Academy's product category is Online Education and Professional Certification. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAEAD, Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure), with a secondary code of EDAGAEAL, Certification & Exam Prep eLearning Modules. Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.