What Skillmaker.AI does

Skillmaker.AI is a privately held, venture-backed company headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, that builds an AI-powered Extended Reality (XR) workforce training platform targeting skilled-trade industries. The platform combines VR, MR, and AR delivery with a proprietary content-generation engine (the SMART Knowledge Engine), which is grounded in the 7 Steps Methodology developed by industrial psychologist Les Cowie over a 50+ year career spanning engagements with Ford, Mercedes, IBM, Sulzer, and AECI. The architecture is organized as six AI-as-a-Service modules — Knowledge Collector, Planner, Builder, Deployer, Rewarder, and Manager — and uses LLMs, Retrieval-Augmented Generation, and generative AI to convert existing manuals, videos, and data feeds into first-person immersive training, assessments, and on-the-job guidance delivered through XR headsets and AR smart glasses.

The company's flagship commercial product is the NAPA Autotech XcceleratoR program, built as a white-labeled platform under an exclusive five-year distribution agreement with Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) and NAPA Auto Parts, providing access to 6,000+ stores and 57 distribution centers across more than 20 U.S. states. Additional offerings include Tech Assist (AR smart-glasses-based real-time guidance), Fast Track Assessments (30-minute immersive skill evaluations), and an ROI Calculator. The platform has received the ASE Blue Seal of Excellence, is GDPR/CCPA/HIPAA-compliant, and integrates with LMS and enterprise systems (Blackboard, Moodle, SAP SuccessFactors). Partnerships span NCCER, Fedcap Champion, Southeastern Community College, Black's Tire & Auto Service, and technology providers Meta, Nvidia, Unity, Epic Games, Solera, Qubika, and Up360.

Skillmaker monetizes through SaaS subscriptions (per-seat or enterprise), custom co-developed certification programs, AI-powered curriculum content services, and hardware/device integration support. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Total disclosed funding is $7M across an oversubscribed $2.5M pre-seed round (August 2025) and an oversubscribed $4.5M seed round (June 2026), with investors including IDEA Fund Partners, Cape Fear Ventures, Potencia Ventures, Strada Education Foundation, StartEd, FullCircle, Workshop Venture Partners, NC Tweener Fund, and Wolfpack Investor Network. A full commercial release is scheduled for the SEMA Show in November 2026.

Name

Skillmaker.AI

Legal name

Skillmaker, LLC

Website

https://skillmaker.ai

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Skillmaker.AI is an AI-powered XR workforce training platform that uses the proprietary 7 Steps Methodology and SMART Knowledge Engine to deliver immersive training, assessments, and AR-guided support to skilled-trade industries, anchored by an exclusive distribution partnership with NAPA Auto Parts and Genuine Parts Company.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

XR Workforce Training Software

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical & Vocational (TVET) Simulations (Welding, Electrical, HVAC, Automotive) (EDAFAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

XR Assessment & Skills Verification (Performance-Based Evaluation) (EDAFAJAI), Creator Tools & Content Pipelines for Immersive Learning (VR lesson builders, 3D asset workflows) (EDAFAJAL)

Keywords

• XR workforce training
• AI-powered learning
• Immersive skill development
• Automotive technician training
• VR/MR training platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Carolina Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. XR Workforce Training Platform Subscription: SaaS-based access to the AI-powered XR training platform including immersive simulations, AI-driven assessments, Tech Assist AR glasses support, curriculum management, and analytics. Sold on a per-seat or enterprise subscription basis targeting organizations in automotive, industrial, construction, and vocational education sectors.
2. Custom Enterprise Certifications: Tailored certification programs co-developed with employers (e.g., NAPA Auto Parts) that focus on job-critical skills and align with industry-recognized credentials. Delivered as part of the XR platform or as a standalone program with enterprise licensing.
3. Curriculum Content Development Services: AI-powered content creation services leveraging the SMART Engine and Builder Module to generate XR curricula, lesson plans, and immersive scenarios from existing organizational materials. Automates content planning, XR building, and deployment for organizations without in-house XR development capability.
4. Hardware and Device Integration: Integration and support services for XR headsets, AR smart glasses, and mobile devices used alongside the platform. Includes automated hardware rollouts, updates, and performance tracking, though hardware is likely sold or provisioned separately.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Skillmaker.AI provides an AI-powered XR (Extended Reality) workforce development platform that combines VR, MR, and AR with AI/ML to accelerate skilled-trades training. The platform uses the proprietary 7 Steps Methodology and SMART Knowledge Engine to automatically convert existing organizational content into first-person immersive simulations delivered via headsets, AR smart glasses, mobile, and web. It sells enterprise subscriptions to corporations, automotive networks (notably NAPA), and vocational education institutions.

Product overview

Skillmaker.AI is an AI-native workforce development platform offering a unified product-plus-modules architecture. The core AI-powered XR platform is built on the Assess, Accelerate, Assist framework, supported by the SMART Knowledge Engine that applies the 7 Steps Methodology to automate content generation. Key modules include: Knowledge Collector (content ingestion), Planner (AI-driven curriculum creation), Builder (XR experience development), Deployer (multi-device delivery), Rewarder (gamification), and Manager (administration). White-labeled flagship product NAPA Autotech XcceleratoR is delivered through a five-year exclusive distribution agreement with Genuine Parts Company and NAPA. Additional offerings include Tech Assist (AR smart glasses with AI guidance), Fast Track Assessments (30-minute XR skill evaluations), and ROI Calculator.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NAPA Autotech XcceleratoR: AI-powered XR training program developed in partnership with NAPA Auto Care that reduces automotive technician training from years to 25 days. Delivered through an exclusive five-year distribution agreement with Genuine Parts Company and NAPA.
• Fedcap Champion
• Tech Assist
• Fast Track Assessments
• 7 Steps Methodology

Products and services

• Skillmaker.AI Platform AI-powered XR workforce development platform that enables companies and educators to rapidly create, deploy, and manage training programs for skilled hands-on workforces. Uses the Assess, Accelerate, Assist framework with a modular architecture comprising Knowledge Collector, Planner, Builder, Deployer, Rewarder, and Manager modules. Delivered via VR/MR headsets, AR smart glasses, mobile, and web browsers.
• NAPA Autotech XcceleratoR White-labeled XR training program developed in collaboration with NAPA Auto Parts and delivered through an exclusive five-year distribution agreement with Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC). Provides first-person XR simulations through goggles and smart glasses paired with real-time AI guidance to compress automotive technician training from 9-24 months to 25 days. Deployed across NAPA's 6,000+ stores and 57 distribution centers in 20+ U.S. states.
• Tech Assist On-the-job support system using AR-enabled smart safety glasses that puts AI and remote expertise directly in workers' field of view. Provides instant AI answers, automatic task documentation (photos and videos syncing to LMS), and live remote expert support via smart glasses. Targeted at automotive technicians and skilled trades workers performing real tasks.
• Fast Track Assessments AI-powered XR skill evaluation that verifies current or potential technicians' abilities through 30-minute immersive simulations based on the 7 Steps Methodology. Generates a Skills Transcript with clear breakdown of strengths and growth areas for targeted upskilling. Used by employers to assess job applicants and existing employees.

Quantifiable outcome

• Training time reduced from 9-24 months to 25 days (90% reduction) for automotive technicians
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability7 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• ASE (National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2025ASE formally recognized the NAPA Autotech XcceleratoR program as a pathway toward significantly reducing the ASE standard work experience requirement. A year-long data-gathering and validation period began in April 2025 to determine how best to integrate immersive XcceleratoR training into ASE's certification framework. ASE's President Dave Johnson stated the program could substantially shorten time-to-certification without compromising hands-on skills quality.
• Black's Tire & Auto ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Black's Tire & Auto Service partnered with Skillmaker for a pilot program at the company's locations across the Carolinas and at Southeastern Community College, using AI-powered smart glasses for auto technician training. Early adopter generating case study evidence.
• Fedcap ChampioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Fedcap Champion merges Fedcap's workforce development expertise with Skillmaker's XR platform to create fast, scalable training for individuals with employment barriers. Covers automotive, manufacturing, and facilities maintenance. Compresses training timelines from nine months to as few as 25 days, with wraparound support services including job placement and case management.
• NAPA Auto Parts / Genuine Parts CompanyflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2024Exclusive five-year distribution agreement with Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) and National Automotive Parts Association (NAPA) for the NAPA Autotech XcceleratoR program. Skillmaker developed a white-labeled XR training product exclusively distributed through NAPA's network of 6,000+ stores and 57 distribution centers. The platform is deployed across more than 20 states with a full commercial release planned at the SEMA Show in November 2026.
• NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSkillmaker partners with NCCER and leading companies to develop co-branded workforce training solutions. NCCER is a key industry organization providing standardized craft training and certification for the construction and maintenance industries.
• Southeastern Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPilot program with Black's Tire & Auto Service at Southeastern Community College, using AI-powered smart glasses for workforce training. Serves as a workforce institution pilot demonstrating integration between employer, training provider, and educational institution.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• STRIVR: Offers an enterprise VR training and learning platform for workforce development. It overlaps with Skillmaker in immersive training, learning-and-development buyers, and XR-based assessment or simulation use cases.
• Immerse: Develops an enterprise immersive-learning platform for training and simulation. It is comparable to Skillmaker in XR content delivery, workforce training, analytics, and enterprise adoption.
• Interplay Learning: Provides immersive, skills-based training for HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and other skilled trades. It is directly comparable to Skillmaker in VR-based technical training, target learners, and enterprise or education buyers.
• Moth+Flame: Offers VR training and simulation for workplace and safety skills. It is comparable to Skillmaker in immersive practice, assessment, and enterprise training, though it is less focused on automotive and multi-vertical workforce development.
• Talespin: Provides XR and VR training, simulation, and learning-content technology for enterprise skills. It is comparable to Skillmaker in immersive training and content creation, with a broader corporate-learning orientation.
• Taqtile: Provides an AR work-instruction and frontline-worker platform through Manifest. It is comparable to Skillmaker's Tech Assist use case because both put digital guidance and expertise into real work environments, although Taqtile is more focused on industrial work instructions.

Others

• RealWear: Provides AR smart-glasses hardware and connected-worker software for frontline industrial environments. It is adjacent to Skillmaker's Tech Assist offering and useful as a hardware and delivery-model comparator, but it is not primarily a training-curriculum SaaS provider.

Emerging players

• Transfr: Uses VR for career exploration and training, particularly for workforce development and skilled-trade pathways. It overlaps with Skillmaker's vocational and workforce-training focus, though its emphasis is broader career readiness.
• Virti: Builds AI- and immersive-training experiences for workforce, safety, and professional skills. It is relevant to Skillmaker's adaptive, AI-guided learning approach, although Virti places less emphasis on hands-on industrial simulation.

Broad incumbents

• PTC: Through Vuforia and ThingWorx, PTC provides industrial AR and digital-transformation technology. It overlaps with Skillmaker's AR content and delivery layer but is a broad incumbent rather than a specialized workforce-training company.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Skillmakerai
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@skillmakerai
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skillmaker-ai

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors6 records

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 Skillmaker.AI