India’s front-running professional education firm Imarticus Learning has acquired StratOnboard, a game-based learning platform, for an undisclosed amount.
Through the acquisition, Imarticus Learning will bring in unique differentiators in the form of epistemic games – the future of learning, according to a press statement. As its second acquisition, StratOnboard is a strategic fit to Imarticus Learning’s overall ecosystem and aligns with its multiple business segments, including Enterprise, Academic, Retail, and Consumer. The firm has more such acquisitions planned with a set amount earmarked for the same this year, the statement added.
StratOnboard’s products simulate business environments, build social and peer learning, build completive elements, and capture realistic business constraints to help learners discover, experiment, and explore business decisions. The company’s existing products range from onboarding solutions, micro simulations, game-based learning, and strong AI-driven assessments to gauge learners’ proficiencies and skills set.
With future-proof learning pedagogy, StratOnboard’s game-based learning will have wider implications, like facilitating learning at a large scale with strong retention and engagement amongst the learners. As part of the acquisition, Imarticus Learning will acquire the IP and patents of StratOnboard’s existing products and build on newer products and solutions for the industry at large. Given the platform’s larger distribution network in enterprise business, the acquisition is a great value addition to its existing portfolio from corporate training, talent solutions, e-learning content solutions, to game-based learning.
StratOnboard’s proprietary games, cutting-edge technology such as AI, branching conversational algorithms, authoring engine that has the ability to build a learning ecosystem to train on the process, functional, technical and behavioural with game mechanics as the foundation, is truly futuristic learning. The product offerings fall in line with Imarticus Learning’s international expansion plans that include the Middle East and North Africa, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, the Americas, and Sri Lanka.
The strategic deal will add significant value to Imarticus Learning’s existing clientele, academic partners and will be a game-changer for future learning. The deal will further augment Imarticus Learning’s existing offerings, allowing the platform to offer a wide variety of learning solutions, enabling evidence-based learning and a world-class experience under a single umbrella.
Speaking on the acquisition, Nikhil Barshikar, Founder & CEO of Imarticus Learning, said:
"We are pleased to onboard the StratOnboard team. Imarticus Learning has always been committed to offering learners a holistic, engaging, and best-in-class learning experience. StratOnboard’s unique solutions will allow them to experience the future of learning through applied learning games. Besides, learners will also be able to experience real business challenges and learn to make decisions in the real world. StratOnboard will bolster our offerings and allow learners to hone their decision-making, problem-solving, and analytical skillsets, amongst others. This is a valuable move in our journey, and we look forward to working closely with the StratOnboard team to build a new pedagogical approach to learning."
Sandeep Rambhatla, Founder of StratOnboard, also commented:
"We are thrilled to be associated with Imarticus Learning, a platform that has a proven record of offering one the world’s finest learning experiences through its all-encompassing, meticulously-designed curriculum and experienced faculty. StratOnboard has developed a one-of-a-kind solution that provides learners with technology-enabled stimulatory solutions and evidence-based assessment frameworks that construct skill profiles through analytics. When talks of the acquisition came up, we knew that this was the most logical choice – being a part of a futuristic organization to work towards a greater mission."
Imarticus Learning offers corporates a variety of HR and L&D solutions to ensure that every solution is customised to their requirements. With 500+ trainers, 4000+ corporate training days, 2800+ e-learning hours, the company is poised to enable the corporate workforce’s transformation journey via StratOnboard’s unique game-based learning capabilities.
Founded in 2012, Imarticus Learning is famed for its industry-first approach to bridging the gap between employment and academia. Working in alliance with world-renowned organizations and industry experts, the company offers its learners professional certifications and job placement opportunities that sculpt the future workforce. Its mission is to upgrade the quality of human skill capital to meet current and emerging employment demands.
In July 2021, Imarticus Learning acquired Eckovation, a social learning platform, to augment its offerings further and collaborate with top-tier institutions such as IITs. With its vast course catalogue that encompasses meticulous training in cutting-edge subjects such as Data Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Business Analytics, Corporate Finance, Investment Banking, Capital Markets, Web Development, and many others, Imarticus Learning aims to mould highly skilled employees for various industries, functions, and job roles.
