Learning Guild

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.

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

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

• Learning development community
• Professional training events
• L&D content library
• Instructional design resources
• Corporate learning conferences

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Event Registration: Revenue from in-person conferences (DevLearn, Learning Leadership) and virtual online conferences including registration fees.
3. 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).
4. Advertising: Marketing and advertising services on the platform including display advertising through cookies and targeted advertising partnerships.
5. Job Board Posting: Employers can post jobs to the platform for L&D professionals to view.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CloserStill Media, Ltd.parentOthersThe 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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXKcVSJuehcu2w3MMFiSQOQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/thelearningguild
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-learning-guild
• Instagraminstagram.com/learningguild

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Learning Guild