Workplace tech unicorn SafetyCulture buys EdApp in $40 million deal

Workplace tech platform SafetyCulture has made its first acquisition, taking over mobile training startup EdApp in a deal that values the business at $40 million.

SafetyCulture, most recently valued at $1.3 billion following a $60.5 million raise, has invested $9 million in five-year-old EdApp in recent years, including $1 million convertible note in early 2020.

EdApp already delivers around 50,000 micro-lessons daily via smartphone and currently helps large businesses and other organisations train and educate their employees in 90 countries and will now offer a free version of its training platform globally under the SafetyCulture deal

The two ventures already share a range of bluechip corporate clients including Coles, Cathay Pacific, Marley Spoon, Mars, United Nations and Deloitte.

SafetyCulture’s 26,000 customers were offered EdApp earlier this year as the two companies collaborated to support businesses as the pandemic hit.

SafetyCulture CEO, Luke Anear said he see training integration as the natural next step for his company.

“We’re experiencing the biggest workplace shake-up since economies were rebuilt after World War II,” he said.

“This is not survival of the fittest, this is survival of those that can adapt. The pandemic has made it clear there’s a huge appetite for training as companies look to get safely back to business. EdApp will strengthen our ability to support businesses to do their best work.”

EdApp CEO Darren Winterford said thousands of businesses across the world with no access to training.

“SafetyCulture’s data illustrates that effective training will really benefit these workplaces. While we’ve traditionally focused on enterprise training, SafetyCulture’s backing will enable us to support teams of any size, free of charge,” he said.

In April, EdApp announced it was collaborating with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in a bid to upskill workers for free as part of a push towards sustainable development.

The adult education startup was chosen by UNITAR to help deliver a global learning initiative “Educate All” as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The EdApp mobile learning platform is providing free access to courses on sustainability, leadership, business skills and more to millions globally.

More than 500,000 workers and 26,000 organisations in 85 countries use SafetyCulture’s iAuditor app to complete more than 600 million checks per year.