Digital Learning Institute
Digital Learning Institute is a Dublin-based education technology company that sells university credit-rated professional certifications and short courses in digital learning design, instructional design, and applied AI literacy to individual professionals and corporate L&D teams across Ireland, the UK, the US, and Australia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Digital Learning Institute does
Digital Learning Institute (DLI) is a Dublin-headquartered, private education technology company founded in 2018 as Flex Labs and rebranded in 2021. The company sells professional certifications and short courses in digital learning design, instructional design, and applied AI literacy, delivered through a digital-first platform featuring self-paced multimedia content, cohort-based enrollment, optional live virtual classrooms, and collaborative community tooling. Its core products are the Professional Diploma in Digital Learning Design (CDLP designation) and the Associate Certificate in Instructional Design (CDLA), both university credit-rated by Glasgow Caledonian University and cross-walked to UK, Scottish, Irish and EU qualification frameworks; the catalog is extended by specialization certificates (LX Design, Immersive Learning, Accessibility, Project Management, Teaching & Training), an Associate Certificate in AI for Learning, a Professional Certificate in Applied AI Literacy, and a portfolio of short courses. Pricing ranges from €659 short courses to a $4,020 AI bundle, with six-installment payment plans and bundled Continuing Education (CE) memberships supporting a recurring revenue layer.
DLI earns revenue primarily through direct-to-consumer course sales augmented by B2B enterprise sales for corporate L&D teams, with employer sponsorship of individual learners a notable conversion lever (approximately half of students reportedly receive employer funding). Courses are sold via a self-serve website (top-of-funnel SEO and content marketing) and via dedicated enterprise advisors with custom training programs for L&D, product training, and customer education. The company maintains physical offices in Dublin, London, New York, and Sydney to support regional enterprise sales, and uses a network of strategic partners (Corporate College for US distribution, Apprentify for UK apprenticeships, Association for Learning Technology for UK credentialing, C&E Publishing for Philippines microcredentials) as channels. Curriculum is validated quarterly by an Industry Advisory Council of 20+ global employers including Vodafone, HSBC, Diageo, Zendesk, DocuSign, LinkedIn, HubSpot, Sky, Toyota, Lidl, and SIXT. Total external funding disclosed to date is €1.8 million raised in July 2023 from Davy EIIS Fund, Enterprise Ireland, and private investors.
Digital Learning Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Digital Learning Institute
- Legal name
- Digital Learning Institute
- Website
- https://digitallearninginstitute.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Digital Learning Institute is a Dublin-based education technology company that sells university credit-rated professional certifications and short courses in digital learning design, instructional design, and applied AI literacy to individual professionals and corporate L&D teams across Ireland, the UK, the US, and Australia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Digital Learning Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Education and Certification
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technical & Digital Skills Training (BPACANAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital Learning Content Development (eLearning, Labs, Simulations) (BPAEANAD), Corporate/L&D Course Licensing from Creators (B2B Upskilling) (MPACALAH), Education & Training (Teaching/Instructional Design) Certifications (EDAAANAM)
Keywords
Where Digital Learning Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dublin
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Digital Learning Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- Individual Course Sales: Direct sales of professional certification courses to individual learners. Courses range from Associate Certificates at €1,500-1,800 to Professional Diplomas at $2,350. Payment plans available (6 installments).
- Corporate/Enterprise Training: B2B enterprise offerings for organizational workforce upskilling with credit-rated certifications. Includes employer sponsorship and reimbursement support.
- Continuing Education (CE) Program: Subscription-based membership providing ongoing access to live learning events, toolkits, micro-credentials, community networking, and alumni benefits to maintain certification designations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | One time/ perpetual license | Professional Certificate in Digital Learning & Instructional Design - $2,350 |
| Subscription | One time/ perpetual license | Associate Certificate in Instructional Design - €1,500 / $1,800 |
| Subscription | One time/ perpetual license | Professional Certificate in Applied AI Literacy - $2,097 |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Short Courses (Articulate Storyline, Project Management, AI in Learning) - $659-$1,249 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Continuing Education (CE) Program Membership |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Digital Learning Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Digital Learning Institute sells university credit-rated professional certification courses and corporate training programs in digital learning design, instructional design, and applied AI literacy. Offerings include the Professional Diploma in Digital Learning Design, Associate Certificate in Instructional Design, AI-focused certifications, specialized pathways (Accessibility, Immersive Learning, LX Design, Project Management, Teaching & Training), short courses, and a Continuing Education membership program, delivered through a self-paced online learning platform with optional live virtual classroom sessions.
Product overview
Digital Learning Institute operates as a comprehensive educational technology platform offering a portfolio of professional certifications and courses in digital learning design, instructional design, and AI literacy. The core offering consists of the Professional Diploma in Digital Learning Design (CDLP) and Associate Certificate in Instructional Design (CDLA) as foundational programs, both university credit-rated by Glasgow Caledonian University and industry-approved. These are supplemented by specialized certificate pathways in Project Management, Accessibility, Immersive Learning, LX Design, and Teaching & Training. The AI portfolio includes the Professional Certificate in Applied AI Literacy and Associate Certificate in AI for Learning, available as standalone courses or bundled together. Short courses covering Articulate Storyline, Project Management, AI in Learning, Data Literacy, and Accessibility provide flexible skill-building options. A Continuing Education (CE) Program with 18-month membership offers ongoing professional development through live events, microcredentials, and peer community access. The platform also serves enterprises through corporate training solutions and educator programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Professional Diploma in Digital Learning Design Flagship certification program endowing students with skills to plan, build, and deliver digital learning experiences. Leads to Certified Digital Learning Professional (CDLP) designation. University credit-rated by Glasgow Caledonian University. For working professionals in L&D, instructional design, and training.
- Associate Certificate in Instructional Design Foundational 8-week cohort-based certification covering digital learning design fundamentals, ADDIE model, eAuthoring tools, and LMS platforms. Leads to Certified Digital Learning Associate (CDLA) designation. For professionals entering or starting in instructional design.
- Professional Certificate in Applied AI Literacy 12-week live online program teaching AI fundamentals with no coding required. Covers expert-led lectures, AI experimentation labs with leading tools, and development of a personalized AI Implementation Plan. For working professionals seeking to build workplace AI literacy.
- Associate Certificate in AI for Learning Certificate course equipping students to integrate AI into every stage of learning design and rollout, covering AI tools for instructional design, content creation, implementation, and evaluation. For L&D professionals seeking AI skills.
- Dual Certification Bundle: Professional Diploma + AI for Learning Certificate Bundled package combining the Professional Diploma in Digital Learning Design (CDLP) with the Associate Certificate in AI for Learning, including 18 months of CE membership. Enables graduates to plan, build, and deliver online learning while applying AI to design, development, assessment, and workflow.
- Specialized Certificate in Digital Learning Design with Project Management Specialized certification pathway equipping students with project management skills tailored to designing, developing, and managing educational programs. University credit-rated professional certificate.
- Specialized Certificate in Digital Learning Design with Accessibility Specialized certification pathway focused on inclusive education with universal design principles. Students master accessibility and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in digital learning contexts.
- Specialized Certificate in Digital Learning Design with Immersive Learning Specialized pathway combining instructional design mastery with AR, VR, and Metaverse technologies to create impactful digital experiences using immersive learning techniques.
- Specialized Certificate in Digital Learning Design with LX Design
Quantifiable outcome
- 98% of students recommend DLI
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Digital Learning Institute
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Digital Learning Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration37 records
AI capability10 records
Feature3 records
Digital Learning Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- Association for Learning Technology (ALT)majorStrategic partnership to advance professional development for digital learning practitioners through credential recognition and industry collaboration
- C&E PublishingcoreStrategic partnership to advance microcredentials in Philippine higher education
- ApprentifycorePartnership to launch Digital Learning Designer Level 5 Apprenticeship Programme
- MOL Learn & Total PeopleminorDigital learning partnership with MOL and Total People for organizational training
- Corporate CollegecorePartnership to roll out Digital Learning Qualification in the US market
- Glasgow Caledonian UniversitycoreUniversity partner providing credit-rating for DLI courses, ensuring alignment with UK and European qualification frameworks
- L&DI Learning & Development InstituteminorIrish L&D professional institute partnership for industry standards
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Digital Learning Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Coursera: Coursera partners with universities and companies to deliver online certificates, specializations, and degrees. Direct overlap on instructional design and AI for Learning courses from accredited universities competing for the same buyers.
- edX: edX offers university-affiliated online courses, microMasters, and professional certificates including in L&D and instructional design. Comparable university-credit-bearing model and enterprise upskilling proposition.
- Udacity: Udacity delivers project-based, employer-aligned digital and tech credentials (now part of Accenture). Overlaps with DLI's AI Literacy and short-course offerings targeting career-advancing professionals.
- LinkedIn Learning: LinkedIn Learning is a subscription-based professional development library with thousands of courses on instructional design, L&D, and AI. Major incumbent competitor for individual learners and enterprise L&D teams that DLI targets.
- Skillsoft: Skillsoft is a large enterprise learning platform offering content, certification prep, and immersive training across tech, leadership, and L&D. Overlaps with DLI on enterprise L&D content but serves a much broader portfolio of topics.
Direct peers
- Association for Talent Development (ATD): ATD is the dominant US professional association for talent development and L&D, offering the CPTD and APTD certifications that DLI's courses prepare students for. Direct competitor in L&D certification, and DLI is itself an ATD-approved provider.
- Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD): CIPD is the leading UK/EMEA professional body for HR and L&D, offering chartered credentials in people development. Highly comparable to DLI given its UK/EU qualification framework alignment and focus on L&D upskilling.
- General Assembly: General Assembly delivers short-form, cohort-based professional training in digital and tech skills (including UX and digital marketing) with strong enterprise sales motion. Closely comparable business model to DLI's certificate-based, employer-sponsored format.
- Learning Tree International: Learning Tree provides instructor-led professional IT and digital skills training for enterprises and individuals. Similar pricing band, employer-sponsorship patterns, and course-certification approach as DLI's short courses and certificates.
- Learning and Development Institute (L&DI): L&DI is an Irish professional body for L&D practitioners that DLI is already partnered with. Directly comparable in mission (L&D professional standards) and overlapping member base in the Ireland/UK market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Digital Learning Institute social profiles
Digital presenceDigital Learning Institute compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Digital Learning Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Digital Learning Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Digital Learning Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Digital Learning Institute 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 Digital Learning Institute
What does Digital Learning Institute do?
Digital Learning Institute sells university credit-rated professional certification courses and corporate training programs in digital learning design, instructional design, and applied AI literacy. Offerings include the Professional Diploma in Digital Learning Design, Associate Certificate in Instructional Design, AI-focused certifications, specialized pathways (Accessibility, Immersive Learning, LX Design, Project Management, Teaching & Training), short courses, and a Continuing Education membership program, delivered through a self-paced online learning platform with optional live virtual classroom sessions.
Is Digital Learning Institute a public or private company?
Digital Learning Institute is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Digital Learning Institute founded?
Digital Learning Institute was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Digital Learning Institute based?
Digital Learning Institute is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does Digital Learning Institute make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Course Sales are the primary driver. The others are corporate/Enterprise Training and continuing Education (CE) Program.
Who are Digital Learning Institute's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Coursera, edX, Udacity, LinkedIn Learning and Skillsoft. Direct peers are Association for Talent Development (ATD), Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), General Assembly, Learning Tree International and Learning and Development Institute (L&DI).
Does Digital Learning Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Digital Learning Institute.
What industry is Digital Learning Institute in?
Digital Learning Institute's product category is Professional Education and Certification. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACANAB, Technical & Digital Skills Training, with a secondary code of BPAEANAD, Digital Learning Content Development (eLearning, Labs, Simulations). Its NAICS code is 611430 and its SIC code is 8200.