Electives Company Profile

Background

Electives is an enterprise live learning platform dedicated to facilitating meaningful learning experiences by connecting organizations with a diverse array of expert instructors. Founded in 2020, the company aims to revolutionize corporate training by offering live, interactive classes that are both engaging and impactful. Electives has been recognized for its innovative approach, receiving accolades such as the "Corporate Learning Solution of the Year" in 2023 and the "Professional Development Solution Provider of the Year" in 2024 from EdTech Breakthrough.

Key Strategic Focus

Electives focuses on delivering high-quality, live learning experiences tailored to the needs of modern organizations. The platform offers over 450 live classes across various categories, including leadership, manager training, personal development, communication, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), wellbeing, innovation, and new technologies. By streamlining the planning, curation, administration, and measurement of live learning programs, Electives empowers HR and people operations leaders to build impactful learning cultures with minimal effort.

Financials and Funding

Specific details regarding Electives' funding history, total funds raised, and notable investors are not publicly disclosed. The company continues to focus on expanding its offerings and enhancing its platform to meet the evolving needs of its clients.

Pipeline Development

In June 2023, Electives launched "Electives Membership," an employee benefits program that allows employees to personalize their learning experiences by selecting live classes aligned with their interests and career goals. This initiative aims to boost employee engagement and wellbeing by providing individualized learning opportunities.

Technological Platform and Innovation

Electives distinguishes itself through a proprietary process for sourcing, vetting, and curating instructors. The platform's instructor community includes over 150 individuals from diverse backgrounds, such as professional athletes, LGBTQ+ advocates, Navy SEALs, professors, financial therapists, spy recruiters, and business leaders. This diversity ensures that learners receive unique and engaging perspectives. The platform also offers tools designed to eliminate administrative burdens, providing a single source for planning, curating, administrating, and managing live learning programs.

Leadership Team

Jason Lavender, Co-Founder and CEO: Jason co-founded Electives with the vision of transforming corporate training into engaging and impactful experiences. Under his leadership, the company has received multiple industry awards and expanded its offerings significantly.

Krikor Dzeronian, Co-Founder and COO: Inspired by a guest lecture during his time at MIT Sloan, Krikor co-founded Electives to make learning more accessible and impactful. He oversees the company's operations, ensuring the delivery of high-quality learning experiences.

Leadership Changes

There have been no recent significant changes or appointments within Electives' leadership team.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The corporate learning and development (L&D) market is experiencing significant growth, driven by the increasing demand for personalized and engaging training solutions. Organizations are seeking platforms that offer diverse content, interactive experiences, and measurable outcomes to enhance employee engagement and performance.

Competitor Analysis

Key competitors in the corporate L&D space include:

MasterClass: Offers pre-recorded classes taught by celebrities and industry leaders across various fields.

LinkedIn Learning: Provides a vast library of on-demand courses covering a wide range of professional skills.

Udemy for Business: Offers a marketplace of courses created by independent instructors, focusing on professional development.

While these platforms provide extensive content libraries, Electives differentiates itself by focusing exclusively on live, interactive learning experiences led by a diverse community of instructors.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

Electives has been recognized by industry organizations such as EdTech Breakthrough and HolonIQ, indicating strong collaborations within the educational technology sector. In October 2022, Electives was named to the HolonIQ North American EdTech 200 list of most promising startups, appearing alongside established leaders like Handshake and MasterClass.

Operational Insights

Electives' strategic focus on live, interactive learning experiences sets it apart from competitors that primarily offer on-demand content. By curating a diverse community of instructors and offering a wide range of class topics, Electives provides organizations with a unique solution to enhance employee engagement and development.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

Electives is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for personalized and engaging corporate training solutions. Future directions may include expanding the instructor community, developing new class offerings, and enhancing platform features to further streamline the learning experience for organizations and their employees.