C.S.R.D.

What C.S.R.D. does

CSRD Institute Ltd is a Dublin-based, privately-held online education provider founded in May 2024 by Brian Cahill and Caroline Usher. The company delivers self-paced certification courses on the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for SMEs (VSME), structured as a three-tier learning path: a free CSRD Fundamentals course, CSRD Advanced (€495), and CSRD Professional (€995), with a parallel free-plus-paid VSME course pair. Courses are delivered through the LearnWorlds eLearning platform with video lessons, interactive quizzes, downloadable study notes, and a community discussion forum, and all provide 12 months of access.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market combining product-led growth (freemium introductory courses driving conversion to paid advanced tiers) with a sales-led enterprise motion for team training packages that include bulk enrollment, admin dashboards, and customised learning paths. It monetises individual learners through one-time course purchases and enterprises through negotiated multi-year contracts. The curriculum is kept current with regulatory developments (EU Omnibus proposals, Stop-the-clock Directive, Quick-Fix Delegated Act). Content is CPD-accredited by over 25 professional bodies including ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA, and CIPD, and the company holds "Official Friend of EFRAG" status, aligning it with the body that drafts the European Sustainability Reporting Standards. Reported reach is 30,000+ sustainability professionals certified, with named users drawn from Accenture, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC, Microsoft, Nike, Shell, Siemens, and other multinationals. In 2025 the business rebranded to the Sustainability Reporting Institute to broaden its scope beyond CSRD specifically; notably, operating-status notes indicate new enrolments are not being accepted under the existing platform, even as existing learners retain access.

Name

C.S.R.D.

Legal name

CSRD Institute Ltd

Website

https://csrdinstitute.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CSRD Institute (rebranding to Sustainability Reporting Institute) is a Dublin-based online education provider offering CPD-accredited certification courses on the EU CSRD and VSME sustainability reporting standards for sustainability professionals and corporate teams globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Sustainability Reporting Training & Certification

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Certification & Training Content Publishing (Exam Prep, CE/CPD) (MPAJACAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

Keywords

• Sustainability reporting training
• CSRD certification courses
• VSME standard education
• ESG professional training
• CPD accredited learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Course Sales: One-time purchase model for individual certification courses at three levels. CSRD Fundamentals is free, CSRD Advanced is €495, and CSRD Professional is €995. All courses provide 12 months of access upon enrollment.
2. Team/Corporate Training: Bulk enrollment for organisations wanting to certify multiple employees. Organisations can contact for custom pricing and learning paths for their teams.
3. Free Introductory Courses: Free courses (CSRD Fundamentals and Introduction to VSME Standard) serve as lead generation for paid advanced certifications. Learners can upgrade to paid courses after completing free content.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CSRD Institute sells online certification courses on the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for SMEs (VSME). The core portfolio is a three-tier CSRD certification programme (Fundamentals free, Advanced €495, Professional €995) plus two VSME courses and an enterprise team training offering, all delivered on the LearnWorlds eLearning platform with CPD accreditation from over 25 professional bodies.

Product overview

The CSRD Institute offers a unified e-learning platform with a tiered certification programme in Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for SMEs (VSME). The core portfolio consists of five structured courses: CSRD Fundamentals (free introductory), CSRD Advanced (intermediate), and CSRD Professional (advanced certification) forming a progressive learning path; plus two VSME courses (Introduction and Reporting). Additional offerings include team training with administrative controls and CPD-accredited certifications recognized by major professional bodies. All courses feature video-based lessons, downloadable study materials, knowledge check quizzes, and 12-month access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CSRD Fundamentals (Level 1) Free introductory 1-hour online course providing essential knowledge about the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and its critical components. Awards 1 CPD credit upon completion and serves as the entry tier of the CSRD certification programme. Targeted at sustainability professionals and ESG reporters needing foundational CSRD understanding.
• CSRD Advanced (Level 2) Comprehensive 6-hour online course providing in-depth analysis of CSRD core elements and sustainability reporting requirements. Priced at €495 with 12-month access and 6 CPD credits awarded upon completion. Designed for professionals requiring thorough understanding of CSRD to meet regulatory requirements.
• CSRD Professional (Level 3) Advanced 8-10 hour professional certification course providing deep-dive insights into all aspects of the CSRD reporting process. Priced at €995 with 12-month access and 8 CPD credits, including advanced analysis, practical tools, sample disclosures, and real-world case studies. Designed for experienced sustainability professionals responsible for CSRD reporting.
• Introduction to the VSME Standard Free introductory online course covering the Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for SMEs (VSME), including objectives, scope, structure, and disclosure requirements. Designed for individuals and SMEs aiming to grasp the critical aspects of the VSME Standard.
• Reporting with the VSME Standard Comprehensive online course on preparing sustainability reports using the Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for SMEs (VSME), covering both the Basic Module and Comprehensive Module. Designed for SMEs and individuals seeking to integrate sustainability reporting into their business operations.
• Team Training / Courses for Business Organisational team training programmes offering flexible online CSRD and VSME courses with administrative controls, community hub, discussion forums, and dedicated course instructors. Targets organisations wanting to certify multiple employees with custom learning paths and bulk enrollment; Veerless mandatorily enrolled its entire team.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30,000+ sustainability professionals certified from leading organisations worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• EFRAGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSRD Institute is an official Friend of EFRAG, demonstrating commitment to sustainability reporting standards development. This relationship ensures the institute stays aligned with EFRAG's technical guidance on ESRS and supports the successful implementation of CSRD regulations for EU businesses. EFRAG develops the European Sustainability Reporting Standards required under CSRD.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Kaplan Professional: Kaplan delivers professional and corporate training globally, with deep relationships to accountancy bodies (ACCA, CIMA). Same professional accreditation and corporate team-training model as CSRD Institute, with vastly more resources.
• Wolters Kluwer / CCH Tagetik Sustainability Training: Wolters Kluwer provides compliance and reporting software plus related professional education across finance, tax, and ESG. Same enterprise buyer (finance/sustainability teams) and regulatory standards focus as CSRD Institute.
• BPP Professional Education: BPP is a long-established provider of professional certification courses (accounting, finance, law) with global online delivery and corporate team training. It can extend into CSRD/sustainability courses leveraging existing CPD infrastructure and accreditation partnerships.
• Coursera Sustainability Courses: Coursera hosts sustainability and ESG courses from universities and platforms including some covering CSRD-related topics. Competes at the top of the funnel for self-serve learners seeking certifications in sustainability reporting.

Emerging players

• Bureau Veritas Sustainability Training: Bureau Veritas offers certification and training services across sustainability, ISO standards, and ESG. Overlapping buyer (large multinationals needing compliance training) with global delivery infrastructure.
• Greenly Academy: Greenly provides carbon-accounting SaaS plus educational content for sustainability professionals, with growing focus on CSRD and SMB sustainability reporting. Comparable niche focus on CSRD/VSME style compliance with software plus training.

Direct peers

• IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment): IEMA offers sustainability and environmental management certifications widely used in Europe, including pathways overlapping CSRD/ESRS competency requirements. Comparable professional accreditation model with CPD-style recognition.
• CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy) Training: CIPFA delivers sustainability and public-sector financial reporting training and is one of the professional bodies recognising CSRD Institute courses. Competes for the same CPD budget with a stronger accounting brand in the UK/Ireland market.
• GRI Academy (Global Reporting Initiative): GRI's training arm offers professional courses on sustainability reporting standards, the most direct competitor in the standards-based sustainability education space. Both serve professionals seeking recognised credentials in non-financial reporting.
• IFRS Sustainability / ISSB Training: IFRS Foundation provides official training on ISSB/IFRS Sustainability standards, directly competing for the same corporate reporting professional audience with global jurisdictional reach and standards-body credibility.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/csrd-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 C.S.R.D.