# Skillshare > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Skillshare > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Skillshare.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skillshare > Source revision: 1350697364 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Online learning platform}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2019}} {{Infobox company | name = Skillshare | logo = Skillshare logo 2020.svg | logo_caption = | image = | image_caption = | type = Private | industry = Online learning | fate = | successor = | foundation = {{start date and age|2010|11}} | defunct = | hq_location_city = [New York City](/source/New_York_City), U.S. | location_country = | locations = | area_served = Worldwide | key_people = Paul Slavin, CEO | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | assets = | equity = | owner = | num_employees = | homepage = {{URL|skillshare.com}} | footnotes = | intl = | bodystyle = }} thumb|Skillshare previous logo '''Skillshare''' is an [online learning community](/source/online_learning_community) based in the United States that provides educational videos.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/08/07/skillshare-hybrid-classes/|title=Collaborative Learning Startup Skillshare Launches Hybrid Classes, Letting Anyone Join Online Or Offline|author=Ryan Lawler|publisher=TechCrunch|date=August 7, 2012|access-date=February 4, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2013/03/01/mike-skillshare-video/|title=Toasting Success With Skillshare's Co-Founder|author=Dani Fankhauser|publisher=Mashable|date=March 1, 2013|access-date=February 4, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/skillshare-office-tour-photos-2012-4|title=This Company Wants You To Get Paid For Teaching In Your Spare Time|author=Daniel Goodman|publisher=Business Insider|date=May 12, 2012|access-date=February 4, 2014}} The courses are [unaccredited](/source/accreditation) and are only available through a paid subscription.{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2012/08/07/skillshare-hybrid-classes/|title=Skillshare Goes Global, Launching Hybrid Online-Offline Classes|author=Zoe Fox|publisher=Mashable|date=August 7, 2012|access-date=February 4, 2014}} Most of the courses focus on interaction, with the primary goal of learning by completing a project.{{Cite web |last=Empson |first=Rip |date=2014-02-28 |title=A Year From Launch, Skillshare Lands $6M From USV, Spark To Double Down On Its Project-Based, Online Classes |url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/02/28/a-year-from-launch-skillshare-lands-6m-from-usv-spark-to-double-down-on-project-based-online-classes/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}} ==History== Michael Karnjanaprakorn and Malcolm Ong started Skillshare in [New York City](/source/New_York_City) in November 2010; the site was live in April 2011.{{cite web|url=http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/skillshare-raises-3-1-million-to-turn-everyone-into-teachers/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0|title=Skillshare Raises $3.1 Million to Turn Everyone Into Teachers|author=Jenna Wortham|publisher=The New York Times Bits|date=August 16, 2011|access-date=February 4, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2012/04/23/skillshare-teaching-learning/|title=How Skillshare Is Transforming Education as We Know It|author=Brian Anthony Hernandez|date=April 23, 2012|publisher=Mashable|access-date=February 4, 2014}} Previously, Karnjanaprakorn led the product team at Hot Potato, a social media product bought by [Facebook](/source/Facebook). Ong was the product manager at [OMGPop](/source/OMGPop).{{cite web|url=http://www.openforum.com/articles/startup-of-the-week-skillshare/|title=Skillshare: A New Way to Learn|author=Donna Fenn|publisher=OPEN forum|date=May 29, 2012|access-date=February 4, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://betabeat.com/2012/11/tech-insurgents-2012-mike-karnjanaprakorn-skillshare/|title=Tech Insurgents 2012: Mike Karnjanaprakorn|author=Myles Tanzer|publisher=Beat Beat|date=November 14, 2012|access-date=February 4, 2014}} It was originally a platform where students enrolled in offline courses. Skillshare held the Penny Conference on educational reform in April 2012,{{cite web|url=https://thenextweb.com/events/2012/04/24/a-penny-for-your-thoughts-what-we-learned-at-the-skillshare-conference/#!sJfJU|title=A penny for your thoughts: What we learned at the Skillshare Conference|author=Allie Mahler|publisher=The Next Web|date=April 24, 2012|access-date=February 4, 2014}} with Karnjanaprakorn, [Codecademy](/source/Codecademy)’s co-founder [Zach Sims](/source/Zach_Sims), and [Pencils of Promise](/source/Pencils_of_Promise) founder Adam Braun as speakers. Skillshare launched online courses in August 2012. By April 2013, it hosted over 150 courses,{{cite web |author=April Joyner |date=April 2, 2013 |title=Skillshare Takes On the Education Gap |url=http://www.inc.com/best-industries-2013/april-joyner/skillshare-education-gap.html |access-date=February 4, 2014 |publisher=Inc.}} and launched its School of Design.{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/design/2013/03/skillshare-design-school/|title=Can't Afford Art School? Jump Online for a World-Class Education in Design|author=Joseph Flaherty|publisher=Wired|date=March 28, 2013|access-date=February 4, 2014}} In March 2014, Skillshare moved to a membership model for $9.95 a month instead of pay-per-course model.{{cite web|last=Farr|first=Christina|title=Skillshare Debuts New Spotify-like Membership Model for Online Education|date=March 19, 2014|url=https://venturebeat.com/2014/03/19/skillshare-debuts-new-spotify-like-membership-model-for-online-education-exclusive/|publisher=VentureBeat|access-date=April 29, 2014}} Later that year, the company became an [open platform](/source/open_platform), where anyone could be a course instructor, and introduced a free membership option to watch a limited amount of class content each month.{{cite web|last1=Karnjanaprakorn|first1=Michael|title=Introducing Open Skillshare|url=http://blog.skillshare.com/introducing-open-skillshare/|website=Skillshare.com|publisher=Skillshare|access-date=November 11, 2014}} In May 2016, the site had 5 million users.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90206789/skillshare-finds-its-groove-by-helping-freelancers-learn|title=Skillshare finds its groove by helping freelancers learn|last=Harris|first=Ainsley|date=July 24, 2018|website=Fast Company|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724184631/https://www.fastcompany.com/90206789/skillshare-finds-its-groove-by-helping-freelancers-learn|archive-date=July 24, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=March 15, 2019}} As of 2020, the company had raised $108 million in funding.{{Cite web |last=Ha |first=Anthony |date=2020-08-10 |title=Skillshare raises $66M to expand online learning |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/10/skillshare-new-funding/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}} In September 2021, Skillshare discontinued the option of offering classes for free and required users to have either a paid membership or a free trial to access all courses, including those that were previously available for free.{{Cite web|url=https://help.skillshare.com/hc/en-us/articles/4406903370381-Starting-September-15th-2021-Skillshare-will-transition-away-from-offering-a-free-class-experience|title=Starting September 15th, 2021, Skillshare will transition away from offering a free class experience|access-date=November 18, 2021}} As of 2021, it hosted 35,000 courses,{{Cite web |last=updated |first=Jonas P. DeMuro last |date=2021-08-11 |title=SkillShare learning platform review |url=https://www.techradar.com/reviews/skillshare |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=TechRadar |language=en}} on topics like business, art, filmmaking, web development, photography, music, and writing.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-18 |title=Skillshare Review |url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/skillshare |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=PCMAG |language=en}} In August 2025, Paul Slavin was appointed as CEO of Skillshare, replacing Matt Cooper after 8 years.{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=Skillshare Names Paul Slavin as Chief Executive Officer |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250811766802/en/Skillshare-Names-Paul-Slavin-as-Chief-Executive-Officer |access-date=2026-04-07 |website=BusinessWire |language=en-US}} == See also == * [Coursera](/source/Coursera) * [FutureLearn](/source/FutureLearn) * [LinkedIn Learning](/source/LinkedIn_Learning) * [Udemy](/source/Udemy) ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * {{Official website}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Skillshare}} Category:Internet properties established in 2011 Category:Technology companies established in 2010 Category:Education companies established in 2010 Category:2010 establishments in New York City Category:Technology companies based in New York City Category:Educational technology companies of the United States Category:Learning programs Category:Freelance marketplace websites Category:Subscription services Category:Online marketplaces of the United States --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Skillshare](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skillshare) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skillshare?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.