Acorn

Acorn, founded in 2014 by Blake Proberts and Sam Garnett in Canberra, Australia, operates as a performance learning management system (PLMS) provider. The company originated as a web and mobile app development firm started by the two friends after high school before transitioning its focus. It now maintains a global presence with offices in Canberra and Vancouver.

The firm targets the corporate learning and development market, aiming to replace traditional Learning Management Systems (LMS). Acorn's business model is centered on providing a unified, AI-powered platform that integrates employee learning with performance management. This approach is designed to help organizations align employee development with business objectives by mapping role-specific competencies to measurable outcomes. The company generates revenue through its software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform, serving a client base that includes hundreds of teams and over a million learners.

Acorn's core offering is its Performance Learning Management System (PLMS), a category it launched in 2023. This platform connects role-specific capabilities to performance outcomes, addressing what the company sees as a disconnect in the HR technology landscape. A key feature is "Capabilities AI," launched in conjunction with a $12.3 million Series A funding round in June 2025. This tool automates the creation of capability frameworks and personalized development plans from job descriptions, a process that could previously take months. The system utilizes a proprietary library of over 1,600 capabilities and 4,800 proficiency levels to map job roles to necessary skills, with the goal of making employee development more relevant and impactful. The platform includes tools for both internal and external learning, performance improvement plans, onboarding, and mentoring.

Keywords: performance learning management system, PLMS, corporate learning, employee development, capability framework, AI in HR, workforce development, learning management, performance management, skills gap, personalized learning, HR technology, competency mapping, Series A, Blake Proberts, SaaS, employee engagement, talent management, corporate training, upskilling