Instructure buys Concentric Sky

Instructure Holdings Inc, an education technology company based in Salt Lake City, has acquired Concentric Sky, the makers of micro-credentialing tool Badgr. Currently the default micro-credentialing tool within Instructure’s Canvas LMS, Badgr will be rebranded as Canvas Badges as it joins the Instructure Learning Platform.

Instructure said the deal underscores its commitment to building the education industry’s most integrated teaching and learning platform to support lifelong learning.{mprestriction ids="1,3"}

“We know colleges and universities are seeking innovative new ways to support non-traditional learners and that those students want greater agency to demonstrate skills and achievements to potential employers,” said Steve Daly, CEO of Instructure. “With Badgr, the Concentric Sky team has developed the gold standard for verifiable, skill-aligned micro-credentials, fast becoming the currency between learning outcomes and employment opportunities. This deal enables us to continue to expand the Instructure Learning Platform to support the evolving needs of all types of educational institutions and the diverse student populations they serve.”

Founded in 2005, Concentric Sky has grown to nearly 90 employees and serves millions of users by providing recognition from over 25,000 issuing organizations in 160 countries. Concentric Sky has been a long-time contributor to the field of open technology standards, joining forces with the MacArthur Foundation to lead the development of Open Badges 2.0 in 2015 and co-founding the Open Skills Network in 2020.

“From Day One we’ve been focused on helping learning organizations connect people to opportunities and delivering a more equitable future by changing the way the world recognizes achievement,” said Wayne Skipper, founder and CEO of Concentric Sky. “The power of the Instructure Learning Platform is its commitment to openness and equity, and our two companies share a fundamental belief in the importance of open technology standards for advancing equity in education. Instructure has demonstrated a strong desire to carry that work forward and I feel confident that together we can accelerate our mission to advance learning at every level.” 

Founded in 2008, Instructure’s learning platform supports more than 30 million educators and learners around the world. The company employs over 1,100 people.{/mprestriction}