Multiverse Appoints Baroness Lane-Fox and Jillian Gillespie to Leadership Team
Portfolio - People | Nov 10, 2024 | Business Cloud
Multiverse, a London-based EdTech unicorn, has announced the appointment of Baroness Martha Lane-Fox and Jillian Gillespie to its board of directors and as chief financial officer, respectively. Both appointments aim to bolster the company’s strategic goals of scaling operations and cementing its role in the AI-driven skills development sector. Multiverse, founded by Euan Blair, seeks to revolutionize workforce development through its unique apprenticeship programs and AI-based platforms, addressing the global skills crisis with applied, continuous tech learning. The additions to its leadership team come after consecutive record-breaking quarters and a significant $220m Series D funding round in 2022 that positioned Multiverse as the UK’s first EdTech unicorn. The company has a strong partner base including corporations like Meta and Citigroup, and aims to further embed AI learning as demonstrated by its recent implementation of an AI-Powered Productivity apprenticeship.
Sectors
- Education Technology (EdTech)
- AI and Machine Learning
Geography
- United Kingdom – Multiverse is a London-based company, and its recent activities and strategic appointments are focused on impacting the UK market along with its international expansion.
- United States – Multiverse has partnerships extending into the US, collaborating with major corporations and expanding its footprint in the education and skills development sector.
Industry
- Education Technology (EdTech) – Multiverse operates in the EdTech sector, providing technology-driven solutions for learning and workforce development through apprenticeships and AI platforms.
- AI and Machine Learning – The company integrates AI into its learning solutions, evidenced by its AI-Powered Productivity apprenticeship, making this sector pertinent to its operations.
Financials
- $220m – The amount raised in Multiverse's Series D funding round in June 2022, which positioned it as the UK’s first EdTech unicorn.
- $1.7bn – The post-money valuation of Multiverse following its Series D funding round.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiverse | Target Company | Company | A London-based EdTech company focused on apprenticeships, workforce development, and AI platforms, founded by Euan Blair. |
| Baroness Martha Lane-Fox | Board Member | Person | Serial entrepreneur and tech leader, appointed to Multiverse's board, with roles in the British Chambers of Commerce, The Open University, and Chanel. |
| Jillian Gillespie | Chief Financial Officer | Person | Appointed CFO of Multiverse, previously SVP of Finance and Operations at MongoDB, with extensive experience in tech and finance. |
| Euan Blair | Founder and CEO | Person | Founder and CEO of Multiverse, spearheading the company's mission to embed tech learning in the workforce. |
| Meta | Partner Company | Company | A partner of Multiverse in delivering apprenticeship programs and skills development solutions. |
| Citigroup | Partner Company | Company | A corporate partner working with Multiverse in workforce development. |
| StepStone Group | Investor | Company | Co-led the $220m Series D funding round for Multiverse. |
| Lightspeed Venture Partners | Investor | Company | Co-led the $220m Series D funding round for Multiverse. |
| General Catalyst | Investor | Company | Co-led the $220m Series D funding round for Multiverse. |
| Open University | Affiliated Institution | Company | Baroness Lane-Fox is the Chancellor at this institution, highlighting her involvement in the education sector. |