{"id":136364,"date":"2025-09-18T11:00:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T15:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trainingindustry.com\/?post_type=magazine&p=136364"},"modified":"2025-09-18T11:26:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T15:26:13","slug":"acorn-secures-funding-to-bridge-disconnect-between-learning-and-performance","status":"publish","type":"magazine","link":"https:\/\/trainingindustry.com\/magazine\/fall-2025\/acorn-secures-funding-to-bridge-disconnect-between-learning-and-performance\/","title":{"rendered":"Acorn Secures Funding to Bridge Disconnect Between Learning and Performance"},"author":52,"featured_media":0,"template":"","tags":[32609,30511,35799],"class_list":["post-136364","magazine","type-magazine","status-publish","hentry","tag-acorn-plms","tag-ai-powered-learning","tag-ld-technology","global_topic_tax-learning-technologies","magazine_issue_tax-fall-2025","magazine_article_type_tax-closing-deals","magazine_article_type_tax-info-exchange"],"acf":{"sponsored":false,"gated":false,"gated_content_type":"","file_attachment":null,"gated_content":"","form_instruction_header":"To access the full article, please fill out the form below:","pardot_html_embed":"","author_override":true,"author_name":"Sarah Gallo, CPTM","author_image":"","author_bio":"Sarah Gallo, CPTM, is a senior editor at Training Industry, Inc., and co-host of\u00a0The Business of Learning<\/a>, the Training Industry podcast.","excerpt":"Acorn leverages AI-powered PLMS to connect learning with performance, delivering personalized development and measurable career growth.","main_content":"Ongoing Training Industry research<\/a> shows that strategic alignment is the most important process capability of great training organizations. Despite its importance, fewer than 30% of training organizations are great at strategic alignment<\/a> processes. Fortunately, many learning providers are committed to rolling out solutions that can help.\r\n\r\nThrough its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered performance learning management system (PLMS) platform, Acorn is gaining traction in the market. The company secured $13.1 million in Series A funding<\/a>, led by Level Equity, this June.\r\n

A Strategic Move to Scale, Faster<\/h2>\r\nKeith Metcalfe, Acorn\u2019s president, says the company thought strategically about whether pursuing investment was the right move. Through those conversations, they realized that Acorn's solutions are something that they \"really believe could have a huge impact on a lot of companies and employees,\" Metcalfe shares. \"And in order for us to get the word out there more, build our brand and actually invest in our product, we wanted some more resources to do it quicker.\"\r\n\r\nThis led Acorn to go to the investment community, where they told their story and were \u201cvery positively received\" and gained the support needed to help \"fulfill that mission of having a bigger impact, faster,\" Metcalfe says.\r\n

Addressing the Disconnect Between Learning and Performance<\/h2>\r\nBy connecting with learning and human resources (HR) leaders at industry events and hearing their challenges firsthand, Metcalfe consistently heard that traditional learning management systems (LMSs) and learning experience platforms (LXPs) often fall short of the adoption rates organizations expect. \u201cUltimately [users] have put a lot of time and effort with good intentions into creating content for employees,\u201d Metcalfe says. \u201cBut that content is not getting adopted.\u201d\r\n\r\nRecent Acorn research<\/a> found additional challenges highlighting the gap between learning and performance:\r\n