Marvin OnumonuThrive has acquired Guider, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered mentoring and coaching platform, in a multi-million pound deal.
This move was part of the company’s plan to create a seamless learning and mentoring system that brings together skills, mentoring, communications and knowledge management.
The acquisition brings Thrive into the expanding coaching and mentoring sector, making use of Guider’s experience with customers such as LVMH, FeverTree and Ernst & Young.
Thrive will take on Guider’s team of 25, who will support the integration of Guider into Thrive’s platform and continue to develop Guider as a standalone product.
Additionally, Thrive will introduce Guider mentoring programmes for organisations to cut preparation time and make it easier for internal coaches and experts.
Each AI-recommended programme will include resources for mentors and mentees, covering topics such as leadership, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), female empowerment, career coaching, personal branding and presenting.
Future topics will include strategic thinking, career transitions, building confidence and first-time manager support.
Guider will continue to operate as a standalone business, with Thrive investing in new features, enhanced relationship management, support for more than 80 languages, a new user experience, an accredited coach on every account and 24/7 global support.
Sean Reddington, CEO and founder of Thrive, said: “This is the moment L&D catches up with how people actually learn.
“Combining the power of Guider with Thrive, we’re building the world’s first fully integrated learning and mentoring platform, and in doing so, we’re redefining how companies grow their people.
“This acquisition doesn’t just add functionality, it sets a new benchmark for what the future of workplace development should look like.”
Nick Ross, CEO and founder of Guider, said: “Anyone in the L&D space knows Thrive is changing the game and redefining what modern workplace learning looks like.
“There’s no other provider we’d trust to scale our vision. Together, we’re building something that connects learning to real, human growth, at scale and with impact.
“Joining forces with Thrive is an incredibly exciting chapter for Guider.”
Furthermore, Adam Bartlett has been appointed managing director of Guider, bringing 11 years’ experience scaling software-as-a-service (SaaS) businesses, including Axonify, Learning Technologies Group and Sponge.
Bartlett said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the Thrive Group at such a pivotal moment.
“The opportunity to lead a company that’s redefining mentoring and coaching for household brands such as FeverTree, The FA and LVMH is incredibly exciting.
“I look forward to working with the talented team to drive immediate impact for Guider’s existing customers and help more organisations unlock the power of people development.”
