Learning Guild
Learning Guild, a subsidiary of CloserStill Media, operates a freemium professional community, content platform, and conference business serving learning and development practitioners and solution providers, anchored by the flagship DevLearn event.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Learning Guild does
Learning Guild, legally FocusZone Inc. d/b/a The Learning Guild and a subsidiary of UK-based CloserStill Media, Ltd., is a US-based professional media and events business serving the organizational learning and development (L&D) market. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in New York with an 11–50 person headcount, it operates a freemium membership community anchored by a LinkedIn group of 102,144+ members, a WordPress-driven content platform organized around 30+ L&D topics, and a recurring calendar of in-person and virtual conferences including DevLearn — positioned as North America's largest learning technologies event with 200+ sessions — and the companion Learning Leadership executive event. The platform bundles integrated utilities including a supplier directory, job board, and bi-weekly Guild Insider newsletter.
The business operates five distinct revenue streams: paid membership subscriptions, event registration fees (in-person and online conferences), exhibitor and event sponsorship, advertising (including paid search and display), and job board posting fees. Pricing is a hybrid freemium model with free community membership plus an annual paid content package, supplemented by per-event Elite-rate registration (e.g., $550 savings promotion for DevLearn/Learning Leadership). Go-to-market is community-led and content-driven, with editorial articles, webinars, research reports, ebooks, and checklists functioning as the top-of-funnel demand engine that feeds event registration and sponsorship sales.
The technology stack is deliberately conventional: a WordPress-based web platform with an integrated membership system, event registration, job board, and supplier directory — no mobile app, no public API, and no documented AI/ML proprietary systems. Customer segmentation is horizontal across the L&D profession (practitioners, leaders, job seekers) and L&D solution providers (vendors, sponsors). Distribution is direct via learningguild.com and through CloserStill Media's broader events portfolio, with named enterprise references such as Boston Scientific's Global Clinical Education team and Junior Achievement appearing in editorial case studies rather than as enterprise contracts.
Learning Guild firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Learning Guild
- Legal name
- FocusZone Inc.
- Website
- https://learningguild.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Learning Guild, a subsidiary of CloserStill Media, operates a freemium professional community, content platform, and conference business serving learning and development practitioners and solution providers, anchored by the flagship DevLearn event.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Learning Guild industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Learning and Development Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC)
Keywords
Where Learning Guild is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Learning Guild business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: The Service offers both free membership option and paid content package subscriptions. Paid subscribers (Subscribers) have access to paid content for one full year for each period of paid subscription.
- Event Registration: Revenue from in-person conferences (DevLearn, Learning Leadership) and virtual online conferences including registration fees.
- Exhibitor & Event Sponsorship: Companies can sponsor events and exhibit at conferences with dedicated contacts for different company name ranges (A-I, J-Q, R-Z).
- Advertising: Marketing and advertising services on the platform including display advertising through cookies and targeted advertising partnerships.
- Job Board Posting: Employers can post jobs to the platform for L&D professionals to view.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free Membership - Basic access to community and resources |
| Subscription | Annual | Paid Subscription - Full access to content packages |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Learning Guild product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Learning Guild provides a membership-based professional community and content platform for learning and development (L&D) practitioners, offering free and paid memberships, a multi-topic L&D content library (articles, research, ebooks, checklists), virtual and in-person industry conferences (notably DevLearn and Learning Leadership), webinars, a job board, and a supplier directory of L&D solution providers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- DevLearn Conference & Expo A flagship in-person conference and expo for learning and development professionals, featuring sessions, keynotes, exhibits, and sponsorships around learning technologies, instructional design, AI in L&D, and emerging tools.
- Learning Leadership Conference An in-person executive conference for L&D leaders, CLOs, and learning strategy decision-makers, focused on leadership skills, executive strategies, and peer networking for the L&D function.
- AI & Learning Design Online Conference A virtual online conference focused on AI tools, generative AI applications, and AI-powered content creation for L&D professionals designing learning experiences.
- Evidence-Informed Design Online Conference A virtual online conference dedicated to evidence-informed learning design practices for L&D professionals.
- Learning Guild Membership (Paid Content Subscription) An annual paid subscription tier that gives individual L&D professionals access to premium content packages and resources for one full year per paid subscription period, on top of the free membership tier.
- L&D Job Board A dedicated job board where L&D professionals can search and post resumes and where employers can post paid job listings targeting the learning and development community.
- L&D Supplier Directory A searchable directory of L&D solution providers, vendors, and service companies that helps L&D professionals discover and evaluate technology and service suppliers.
- Exhibitor & Event Sponsorship Packages Paid sponsorship and exhibitor packages sold to L&D vendors and solution providers for placement, visibility, and lead generation at Learning Guild in-person and virtual events.
Quantifiable outcome
- DevLearn 2026 features 200+ sessions and 3 keynotes
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Learning Guild
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Learning Guild technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature4 records
Learning Guild partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- CloserStill Media, Ltd.parentThe Learning Guild is a subsidiary of UK-based CloserStill Media, Ltd. CloserStill is the controller responsible for personal data. The parent company operates global events and media businesses in the learning and professional development space.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Learning Guild competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Chief Learning Officer (CLO) Media: Media brand covering enterprise learning leadership, with a magazine, awards program (CLO Awards), and events targeting the same L&D executive audience as Learning Guild's Learning Leadership conference.
- Training Industry, Inc. Media and research company serving the corporate training market with newsletters, supplier directories, research reports, and events. Closely mirrors Learning Guild's content + directory + community approach to the same L&D buyer.
- Training Magazine: Long-running print and digital publication serving training and L&D professionals, with Training Magazine Conference and Top 125 training companies rankings. Comparable editorial + events + audience overlap with Learning Guild.
- eLearning Guild (sister brand under FocusZone Inc.): Operates as a sister community under the same FocusZone Inc. corporate parent, serving eLearning professionals with similar membership, research, and events. Highly comparable model and content categories; effectively a parallel brand.
- Association for Talent Development (ATD): The largest U.S. membership association for talent development and L&D professionals, offering conferences (ATD International Conference), publications, certifications, and research. Directly comparable to Learning Guild in mission, audience, and event-driven business model.
Broad incumbents
- LinkedIn Learning: Consumer and enterprise video-based learning library embedded in LinkedIn's professional network. Competes for L&D training budget and audience attention with content, certifications, and AI-powered course recommendations at massive scale.
- Skillsoft: Large-scale corporate learning content, platform, and immersive training provider serving enterprise L&D buyers. Comparable audience and content categories, but operates as a broad incumbent platform rather than a community/media business.
- Degreed: Enterprise learning experience platform with content aggregation, skill measurement, and AI-powered learning pathways. Targets the same L&D leadership buyers Learning Guild serves, but delivers technology rather than media/events.
- Coursera for Business: Enterprise arm of Coursera offering curated university and industry content, skill measurement, and academies for corporate L&D. Adjacent in serving enterprise learning buyers but focused on platform/content licensing rather than community/events.
Emerging players
- HR Technology Conference & Exposition: Major annual conference covering HR and learning technology, overlapping with DevLearn's audience of L&D technology buyers. Comparable event-driven monetization and exhibitor model, though broader HR scope rather than L&D-only.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Learning Guild social profiles
Digital presenceLearning Guild financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Learning Guild leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Learning Guild funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Learning Guild 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 Guild
What does Learning Guild do?
The Learning Guild provides a membership-based professional community and content platform for learning and development (L&D) practitioners, offering free and paid memberships, a multi-topic L&D content library (articles, research, ebooks, checklists), virtual and in-person industry conferences (notably DevLearn and Learning Leadership), webinars, a job board, and a supplier directory of L&D solution providers.
Is Learning Guild a public or private company?
Learning Guild is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Learning Guild founded?
Learning Guild was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Learning Guild based?
Learning Guild is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Learning Guild make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are event Registration, exhibitor & Event Sponsorship, advertising and job Board Posting.
Who are Learning Guild's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Chief Learning Officer (CLO) Media, Training Industry, Inc., Training Magazine, eLearning Guild (sister brand under FocusZone Inc.) and Association for Talent Development (ATD). Broad incumbents are LinkedIn Learning, Skillsoft, Degreed and Coursera for Business. HR Technology Conference & Exposition is listed as an emerging player.
Does Learning Guild have an API?
No public API is recorded for Learning Guild.
What industry is Learning Guild in?
Learning Guild's product category is Professional Learning and Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGAKAC, Corporate Learning & Training Content Development. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8600.