Learning Solutions
Learning Solutions operates The Learning Guild, a membership-based community and content platform serving learning and development professionals. It combines a 3,168+ article library, webinars, research, and events — including the DevLearn Conference & Expo — delivered through a freemium subscription model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersSanta Rosa, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Learning Solutions does
Learning Solutions operates The Learning Guild, a membership-based community and content platform serving learning and development (L&D) professionals. The firm is registered in the United States as FocusZone Inc. (d/b/a The Learning Guild) and is a subsidiary of UK-based CloserStill Media, Ltd. Its core offering combines a content library of 3,168+ articles across 29 topic categories (from AI & Automation to Workflow Learning & Microlearning) with research reports, ebooks, checklists, webinars, a supplier directory, and a job board, all delivered through a WordPress-based website on WP Engine. The platform is complemented by two flagship annual in-person conferences — DevLearn Conference & Expo (200+ sessions, held at MGM Grand Las Vegas) and Learning Leadership Conference — along with a portfolio of online virtual conferences.
The company runs a freemium membership model with paid content package subscriptions providing one year of premium access and a four-year membership term. Revenue is generated from membership subscriptions, event registrations (in-person and virtual), sponsored webinars, and advertising/data sharing with exhibitors, sponsors, and marketing partners. The platform is targeted primarily at L&D practitioners, instructional designers, and learning executives, with horizontal segmentation across organizations of varying sizes. A 102,144+ member LinkedIn user group and active community features (Guild Master panels, member profiles) support networking and contribute to the firm's competitive moat.
Operationally, Learning Solutions is a lean organization of 1–10 employees, relying on parent company infrastructure for back-office and international support. The business is privately held under CloserStill Media, with no venture funding rounds disclosed. Distribution is multi-channel across email (Guild Insider Newsletter), organic social (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube), content marketing, and direct event sales, with the website learningguild.com serving as the primary self-service channel.
Learning Solutions firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Learning Solutions
- Legal name
- FocusZone Inc.
- Website
- https://learningsolutionsmag.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Learning Solutions operates The Learning Guild, a membership-based community and content platform serving learning and development professionals. It combines a 3,168+ article library, webinars, research, and events — including the DevLearn Conference & Expo — delivered through a freemium subscription model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Learning Solutions industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Learning & Development Community
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Services (611), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Membership Communities with Learning (Community-Led Education) (MPACALAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Learning Content Bundling & Subscription Passes (All-Access Libraries) (MPACALAL), Peer Feedback, Discussion Forums & Social Learning Communities (EDAFAGAH), Course Bundle Subscriptions & Learning Membership Marketplaces (EDAFAIAI)
Keywords
Where Learning Solutions is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Rosa
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Learning Solutions business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: The Service includes both a free membership option and paid content package subscriptions. Paid subscribers receive access to premium content for one full year per subscription period. Membership has a term of four years with annual renewal options.
- Event Registrations: Revenue from in-person conferences (DevLearn Conference & Expo, Learning Leadership) and virtual online conferences. Major annual events like DevLearn feature 200+ sessions and keynote speakers.
- Sponsored Webinars: Sponsored webinar content from partners and sponsors, featuring topics like Adobe Captivate training, AI video solutions, and other vendor-sponsored educational content.
- Advertising & Third-Party Marketing: Third parties may use Technologies to collect Website Data through the website for targeted advertising. The organization shares Identity Data, Contact Data, and Professional Data with exhibitors, sponsors, and marketing partners.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | Free membership with basic access to community resources |
| Subscription | Annual | Paid content package subscriptions with premium access |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Learning Solutions product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Learning Solutions (The Learning Guild) operates a membership-based community platform for learning and development professionals, providing access to a content library of 3,168+ articles, webinars, research reports, ebooks, and checklists across 29 L&D topic categories. It supplements this with major annual in-person conferences (DevLearn Conference & Expo, Learning Leadership Conference), virtual online conferences, a Supplier Directory, and a Job Board, offered under both free and paid subscription membership tiers.
Product overview
The Learning Guild (trading as FocusZone Inc.) operates a content and events platform for learning and development professionals. The offering consists of a content library (Articles, Webinars, Research Reports, Ebooks, Checklists) combined with in-person conferences (DevLearn Conference & Expo, Learning Leadership Conference) and virtual online conferences. Additional services include a Supplier Directory for finding solution providers and a Job Board for L&D professionals. The Guild offers a free membership tier and paid content package subscriptions with a four-year membership term.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Articles Library
Quantifiable outcome
- DevLearn features 200+ sessions and 3 powerful keynotes
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Learning Solutions
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Learning Solutions technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Learning Solutions partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- CloserStill Media, Ltd.coreThe Learning Guild is a subsidiary of UK-based CloserStill Media, Ltd. CloserStill is the controller responsible for personal data processing. The parent company operates globally, enabling international reach and resources for the Learning Guild's operations.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Learning Solutions competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Coursera for Business: Enterprise learning platform offering university-grade content, professional certificates, and academies. Operates in adjacent learning-and-development territory as a content/platform incumbent.
- Skillsoft: A much larger enterprise learning platform offering content libraries, Skillbench microlearning, and Percipio platform. Overlaps with The Learning Guild in learning content and professional development but serves as an enterprise LMS/content vendor rather than a practitioner community.
- LinkedIn Learning: Mass-market online learning library bundled into LinkedIn Premium / sold to enterprises, with thousands of expert-led courses. Competes for L&D professional attention and indirectly for corporate training budgets.
Regional players
- Learning & Performance Institute (LPI): UK-based professional body for L&D practitioners offering certification, accreditation, and learning events. Operates in a comparable L&D community/content/events model but with primary UK/EMEA focus versus The Learning Guild's North American base.
Direct peers
- Training Industry, Inc. Research, articles, and resource directory focused on corporate training and L&D, with a subscription research model and free content hub. Direct overlap with The Learning Guild's article/research/subscription GTM.
- Association for Talent Development (ATD): The largest professional association for talent development / L&D practitioners globally, offering membership, conferences (ATD International Conference & Expo), publications, and certification. Competes directly with The Learning Guild for L&D professional mindshare and event attendance.
- eLearning Industry: A major online community and content platform for eLearning professionals featuring articles, job listings, reviews, and directories serving instructional designers and L&D practitioners — overlapping audience and content library model with The Learning Guild.
- Chief Learning Officer (CLO) Media: Media brand targeting senior L&D executives via magazine, digital content, and events (including the CLO Symposium). Competes in the same executive-L&D segment as The Learning Guild's Learning Leadership Conference.
- Brandon Hall Group: HCM and L&D research/advisory company producing research reports, webcasts, and the HCM Excellence Awards — a smaller, premium-research competitor to The Learning Guild's research/content model.
Others
- HR Tech Conference (HR Technology Conference & Expo): Major HR-technology event covering talent, learning, and workforce tech; an adjacent conference and content ecosystem that draws from some of the same L&D buyers as DevLearn.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Learning Solutions social profiles
Digital presenceLearning Solutions financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Learning Solutions leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Learning Solutions funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Learning Solutions 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 Learning Solutions
What does Learning Solutions do?
Learning Solutions (The Learning Guild) operates a membership-based community platform for learning and development professionals, providing access to a content library of 3,168+ articles, webinars, research reports, ebooks, and checklists across 29 L&D topic categories. It supplements this with major annual in-person conferences (DevLearn Conference & Expo, Learning Leadership Conference), virtual online conferences, a Supplier Directory, and a Job Board, offered under both free and paid subscription membership tiers.
Is Learning Solutions a public or private company?
Learning Solutions is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Learning Solutions founded?
Learning Solutions was founded in 2002. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Learning Solutions based?
Learning Solutions is headquartered in Santa Rosa, United States, in the North America region.
How does Learning Solutions make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are event Registrations, sponsored Webinars and advertising & Third-Party Marketing.
Who are Learning Solutions's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Coursera for Business, Skillsoft and LinkedIn Learning. Learning & Performance Institute (LPI) is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Training Industry, Inc., Association for Talent Development (ATD), eLearning Industry, Chief Learning Officer (CLO) Media and Brandon Hall Group. HR Tech Conference (HR Technology Conference & Expo) is listed as an others.
Does Learning Solutions have an API?
No public API is recorded for Learning Solutions.
What industry is Learning Solutions in?
Learning Solutions's product category is Professional Learning & Development Community. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACALAF, Membership Communities with Learning (Community-Led Education), with a secondary code of MPACALAL, Learning Content Bundling & Subscription Passes (All-Access Libraries). Its NAICS code is 6117 and its SIC code is 8600.