Absorb Software Inc., a provider of cloud-based learning and performance management software for corporations and higher education institutions, has complete a $59 million investment led by Silversmith Capital Partners, a Boston-based growth equity firm.
Founded in 2003, Absorb Software is a learning technology company based in Calgary with a subsidiary in Dublin, Ireland. Absorb’s flagship product, Absorb LMS, is an industry-leading and award-winning learning management system for businesses, higher education, and government / non-profit agencies around the world.
Absorb serves over 2.5 million learners each month across 600 global customers, and since 2015 has organically tripled its workforce to approximately 140 employees.
The investment will be used to accelerate the development of Absorb LMS.
“We are thrilled to partner with Silversmith Capital Partners for the next phase of Absorb’s growth. This investment will allow us to accelerate our track record of innovation, doubling down on our roots in intelligently crafted software that enables customers to create learning environments which match the sophistication and complexity of their organizations,” said Mike Owens, CEO, President & co-founder of Absorb Software.
“Absorb has a rapidly growing customer base of blue-chip clients, addressing a diversity of use cases and learner audiences,” said Jim Quagliaroli, Managing Partner of Silversmith. “Absorb has an experienced team, scalable SaaS platform, and relentless customer focus – a combination which we believe sets them up well for continued success.”
“In the highly competitive corporate LMS market, Absorb has rapidly scaled revenue and profits, without having ever raised outside capital,” said Marc Munfa, a Principal of Silversmith. “We are excited to partner with Absorb as its first institutional investor, and look forward to supporting the company’s market-leading position.”
Choate Hall & Stewart and the Canadian office of Gowling WLG served as legal counsel to Silversmith Capital Partners, while Dentons Canada served as legal counsel to Absorb Software.
Financing was provided by PNC Bank Canada Branch. Vista Point Advisors, a San Francisco based boutique investment bank, acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Absorb Software.
photo credit: Absorb Software