LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Skills, the only online education platform to focus exclusively on education taught by icons of professional sport, today announced a $5 million seed round and two new courses from World Champion and 23-time gold medalist Michael Phelps and two-time World Cup Champion and gold medalist Megan Rapinoe. Will Ventures led the investment round with participation from other investors including Global Founders Capital, 8VC, Maveron, Hack VC, and Correlation VC.
The Skills offers courses from elite athletes including Maria Sharapova, Larry Fitzgerald, Kerri Walsh Jennings, Shaun White, and more. The Skills athletes provide tips on how to improve at the fundamentals of their sport while also discussing the life lessons that they have learned throughout their careers. Users receive a wealth of technical advice that is sports-related, but even more powerful, will learn what it takes to succeed.
“We are excited for this next step in expanding The Skills and what it means for the course offerings we provide to our community heading into 2021,” said Omer Atesmen, founder and CEO of The Skills. “I am very proud of our team and the success we’ve had since our launch – and we are only at the beginning. This financing and support will help us offer new courses that will teach people how to succeed in any pursuit or profession.”
“As a former player, I’ve seen how the lessons learned in sports transcend far beyond the playing field,” said Isaiah Kacyvenski, co-founder of Will Ventures. “There’s huge potential to democratize these insights, and The Skills is in the position to lead the charge. We believe in the power of their platform, and their ability to unlock learnings from the greatest athletes that have risen to the top.”
At a time when online education has never been more important and the next generation of great athletes are waiting to be inspired, The Skills plans to use its funding to create new content for people eager to learn, be entertained, and better themselves. During the month of December, The Skills will be offering a holiday sale where customers will be able to purchase 2 All-Access memberships for $96.00 (normally $149 for one membership). Single courses will also be reduced to $4/month (billed annually).
“The game of soccer has given me more opportunities than I could have ever imagined - the chance to travel to new countries, meet incredible people and provide a platform for me to make a positive difference in the world,” said Megan Rapinoe, co-captain of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer team and two-time World Cup Champion. “My Skills Course will not only dive into what I’ve learned on the field, but I will also discuss how I have been able to use my voice to support those causes that are important to me.”
“I was fortunate to grow up in a family of swimmers and received great coaching throughout my career,” said World Champion and gold medalist Michael Phelps. “There are a lot of facets to swimming and I was always willing to understand how the small things really do matter in training and competition. I’ve joined The Skills because I want to share some of the lessons and insights I’ve learned over the course of my career to help support the next generation of swimmers, in and out of the pool.”
Michael Phelps’ course will be available in mid-December; Megan Rapinoe’s course is scheduled for release in January 2021.
The Skills offers subscription memberships ranging from $69.00 to $149.00. Each Marquee Course contains 20+ sessions and 100+ total minutes of entertaining and educational video content. To learn more and subscribe, visit www.theskills.com.
About The Skills
The Skills is the only online education platform to focus exclusively on education taught by icons of professional sport. The company was designed to provide a platform for elite athletes to share their knowledge into both the fundamentals of sport and the life lessons that have helped them become successful. Students will receive a wealth of technical sports-related advice, but even more powerful, students will learn about what it takes to succeed in any pursuit or profession.
About Will Ventures
Will Ventures is an early-stage venture firm focused on identifying the next wave of sports-centric innovations that are positioned to alter the everyday. Founded by Isaiah Kacyvenksi and Brian Reilly, Will Ventures leverages its unparalleled sector expertise, network, and experience, to add outsized value to young, sports-centric companies. The venture capital firm now invests out of its $50MM Venture Fund I, and has made 11 investments across health & wellness and media & content.
