LinkedIn acquires online education company Lynda.com for $1.5B to help progress your career

LinkedIn has revealed it has acquired online education company Lynda.com in a deal worth $1.5 billion.

Lynda.com first came out of the starting blocks 20 years ago with a book on how to design websites, before going on to hit profitability in 1997 and then establishing itself as a web-based resource in 2002. Today, Lynda.com is a subscription-based service that helps people learn new skills through online videos produced in its own studios, with the company hiring experts on each given subject to teach the courses.

We last covered the company back in January when Lynda.com snapped up $186 million in funding, which was in addition to the $103 million it raised in 2013.

LinkedIn has a recent track record of making strategic acquisitions, most notably taking on SlideShare for $119 million in 2012, Pulse for $90 million in 2013, and, in 2014, Bizo for $175 million and Bright for $120 million.

Through the acquisition, which is expected to close in Q2 2015, LinkedIn is looking to further align itself with career development, and the deal does make sense for the company given its focus on connecting businesses and workers from around the world. By integrating Lynda.com into LinkedIn, a number of potential use cases emerge. For example, a job-hunter can see what skills are required for a potential new role, and then be guided towards the relevant videos and accredited courses if they are lacking a particular skill.

“Together, I believe we can make it even easier for professionals around the world to accelerate their careers and realize their potential through the learning and development of new skills,” says the official announcement.