CourseKey, a student success platform specializing in vocational education, has recently received a strategic growth investment from PSG, a leading growth equity firm that partners with software and technology-enabled service companies to help them navigate and capitalize on transformational growth. CourseKey joins PSG’s investments in Verity IQ and Campus Ivy, creating a unified, end-to-end technology suite for career-focused and vocational education providers.
CourseKey was founded by entrepreneurs who chose not to take the traditional college route. It reflects the belief that career education is vital to the economy and should be supported by advanced technologies. The platform provides an end-to-end mobile app for students to leverage as their key operating system while attending a vocational school. It automates attendance through GPS, sound, and biometric verification, enables students to track their skills and competencies, submit tuition payments, engage in social channels, and complete forms and surveys. On the school side, CourseKey offers a retention platform that automatically intervenes with students at the right time, helping them stay on track and avoid dropping out. These features enable schools to maintain compliance, increase retention, and improve the student experience.
Speaking about the investment, Luke Sophinos, CEO of CourseKey, said:
Joining PSG as a platform investment, alongside Verity IQ and Campus Ivy, helps accelerate our goal of delivering a one-stop-shop software suite for vocational schools. We’re empowering students to gain valuable skills and fill mission-critical jobs across our nation’s most vital industries—transportation, healthcare, construction, and more. Together, we can help millions of students attain fulfilling, well-paying careers that truly move our country forward.
Career and trade schools face a variety of challenges, from addressing workforce demands and managing compliance and funding to demonstrating measurable outcomes. At the same time, non-traditional learners must balance their education with life responsibilities, financial pressures, and the need to see clear returns on their investment.
The combined strengths of CourseKey (Student Mobile App and retention Platform), Verity IQ (provider of CRM and Student Information Systems (SIS)), and Campus Ivy (Financial Aid Services and Software) help tackle these challenges head-on. Together, these platforms create a one-stop shop for schools to streamline operations, close critical gaps, and empower institutions to improve student outcomes directly.
Marco Ferrari, Managing Director at PSG, added:
In our view, CourseKey has built one of the market leaders in the vocational education space. By integrating Verity IQ’s CRM and SIS, Campus Ivy’s financial aid expertise, and CourseKey’s student success platform, we deliver a comprehensive suite that empowers schools to manage the entire student lifecycle and drive measurable outcomes.
Since 2015, CourseKey has supported more than 300 schools in the Beauty and Wellness, Trades, Allied Health, and other sectors. More than 200,000 students have used the app to join or rejoin the workforce and embark on successful careers.
Founded in 2014, PSG has supported over 140 firms and facilitated over 500 add-on acquisitions. It brings vast investing experience, deep expertise in software and technology, and a strong commitment to cooperating with management teams. It has offices in Boston, Kansas City, London, Madrid, Paris, and Tel Aviv.
