Robin Cowie, founder of Skillmaker, has spent the past three months traveling across the United States to engage with investors and major corporations interested in the future of workforce training. Skillmaker, based in Wilmington, North Carolina, offers an AI-powered and XR-focused platform designed to reduce training time for industries facing skilled labor shortages, such as automotive technician training.
The company recently closed a pre-seed investment round totaling $2.5 million through a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity), which exceeded its original target by $1 million. Cowie explained that despite a challenging fundraising environment, he prioritized finding investors who were “strategically aligned” with Skillmaker’s direction in education technology and corporate training.
The majority of investors are located in the Southeast region. North Carolina-based firms participating include Idea Fund Partners, Cape Fear Ventures, First Talent Ventures, and the WALE Angel Network. Additional backers are Strada Education Foundation, StartEd Advisors, Greenwave Ventures, as well as angel investors Lelon Winstead and Allan Cantle.
“Skillmaker is solving America’s worker shortage and training bottleneck in a novel way,” said Richard Stroupe of Cape Fear Ventures.
Earlier this year, Hypepotamus reported on Skillmaker’s partnership with NAPA Auto Parts via the NAPA Autotech XcceleratoR program. This collaboration uses simulation technology and AI feedback to shorten automotive technician training from years to weeks.
Matt Crumpton, Director of NAPA Auto Parts, stated that working with Skillmaker is “more than just a training upgrade,” noting that it has accelerated learning opportunities for technicians at NAPA.
With the new funding, Skillmaker plans to expand its XR-enabled training offerings through NAPA stores and develop curriculum for additional trades. Cowie also noted that recent work with NAPA revealed a broader need: companies require not only initial employee training but also ongoing technical assistance on job sites to ensure safe and consistent learning as employees advance in their careers.
“What we’ve really uncovered is people need technical assistance in addition to the training solutions,” Cowie said. He emphasized Skillmaker’s capacity to deliver practical support alongside formal instruction at real-world job locations.
