Workforce Upskilling Startup edForce Aims To Achieve Rs 100 Cr ARR By FY27

Founded in 2021, the workforce upskilling startup edForce operates on a B2B model, offering tailored solutions for skill identification and targeted training, distinguishing itself in a competitive landscape. “Our vision is to build a future-ready workforce by addressing diverse learning needs with AI-driven solutions,” says Ravi Kaklasaria, Co-Founder & CEO of edForce, in an exclusive interview with Bizz Buzz. edForce's comprehensive offerings include onboarding, lateral training, and certifications, serving clients like Infosys and NPCI. The company’s rapid growth – 500 per cent year-on-year - has been fueled by strong partnerships and a relentless focus on innovation. Kaklasaria emphasised the importance of digital skills like AI, robotics, and IoT to transform India into a global manufacturing hub. Looking ahead, edForce aims for global expansion and plans to diversify into B2C markets, with a goal to achieve Rs 100 crore ARR by FY27

What prompted the idea to start edForce?

The idea behind edForce was sparked by the rising demand for skilled professionals amidst rapid digital transformation and the shift toward remote work. Launched in 2021, edForce recognized the challenges organizations face in upskilling their workforce, particularly with the growing importance of technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI). Companies needed scalable, customized training solutions to address their diverse learning needs, but often struggled to find such tailored offerings. edForce aimed to bridge this gap by offering comprehensive training and certification services, addressing not only technical skills but also aspects like learner engagement, lab provisioning, and seamless delivery. The vision was to help companies build a future-ready workforce, fueling the creation of edForce as a leading workforce upskilling accelerator in India.

What was the journey like to bring the company to its current status?

edForce's journey has been one of relentless growth and innovation. Established in 2021, the company quickly adapted to the rise of remote work and digital transformation by offering AI-driven upskilling solutions. By taking charge of the entire training lifecycle—from learner engagement to certifications, we have helped businesses of all sizes bridge the skills gap.

Supported by Rs 2 crore in seed funding and strong partnerships with Amazon, Cisco and many more with clients like Infosys & NPCI, we achieved 500 per cent year-on-year growth. This success is rooted in its ability to deliver scalable, personalized learning solutions, making it a leader in workforce upskilling. Today, edForce is poised for further innovation and global expansion.

What are the key skill sets identified to make India a manufacturing hub?

To transform India into a global manufacturing hub, key skill sets include digital proficiency, particularly in AI, robotics, and IoT. As manufacturing becomes more technology-driven, the workforce must be trained in automation and data analytics to enhance operational efficiency. Cloud-based skills are also critical, given the shift toward digital infrastructure in manufacturing processes. In addition, expertise in supply chain management, lean manufacturing, and quality control is essential for improving productivity and maintaining global competitiveness. Upskilling the workforce in these areas will bridge the skill gap and empower India's industrial sector to thrive in an evolving technological landscape. At edForce, we focus on addressing these demands with targeted learning and development programs for enterprises.

How would you differentiate your learning solutions with the competition?

At edForce, we stand out by offering end-to-end, customized learning solutions that go beyond standard training models. Unlike competitors who provide only training content, we integrate deeply with our clients, acting as their dedicated learning partner. Our solutions are tailored to each organization’s unique needs, from Training Need Analysis (TNA) to post-training assessments. Our VILT training lifecycle is a game changer. We manage the full learning lifecycle, ensuring upskilling efforts align with business objectives. This includes onboarding, lateral training, and certifications, especially with a focus on AI and advanced tech. Our holistic approach lets businesses focus on growth while we handle their workforce development.

As a B2B player what is the nature of your solutions that you offer to your clients?

As a B2B learning partner, edForce delivers comprehensive upskilling solutions tailored to the specific requirements of each client. Our services encompass the full training cycle and beyond learner engagement, administration, lab provisioning, delivery, examination vouchers & certifications. We specialize in fresh hire onboarding, lateral training, certifications, Hire Train Deploy, assessments and certifications. By conducting thorough Training Need Analysis (TNA), we help clients identify and close skill gaps strategically. We act as their dedicated training arm, empowering them to boost workforce capabilities and remain competitive in the AI-driven business environment.

What would your roadmap be for the Indian manufacturing industry?

Our roadmap for the Indian manufacturing industry is centered on closing the skills gap in critical areas like AI, automation, and digital transformation. edForce aims to upskill the workforce with advanced technology training, focusing on AI, machine learning, and automation. We will leverage CloudLabs for real-time, hands-on learning to enhance practical skills. Additionally, we’ll work closely with manufacturers to conduct Training Needs Analysis (TNA), identifying gaps and delivering custom solutions that enhance productivity, innovation, and competitiveness on a global scale.

How can India bridge the missing skill gap?

India can bridge the skills gap by promoting targeted upskilling initiatives in emerging technologies like AI and digital transformation. At edForce, we partner with organizations to conduct Training Need Analysis (TNA), identifying critical skill shortages and designing custom training solutions that align with industry needs. Investing in Learning & Development (L&D) through planned onboarding, lateral training, and ongoing reskilling will ensure that India’s workforce remains competitive. Expanding these efforts beyond Manufacturing & IT sectors is also essential to prepare India’s workforce for future challenges and opportunities.

Are your solutions only for the Indian market?

Although edForce was initially focused on India, our solutions are not confined to this region. Given the rising global demand for skilled talent, we are expanding our offerings to international markets, we have explored US, Singapore, Uk, Germany and Poland to name a few. Our B2B learning solutions which include tailored training, certifications, and AI-powered programs are designed to address the needs of businesses worldwide. As part of our growth strategy, we plan to deepen partnerships and broaden our portfolio, especially by focusing on non-IT sectors and increasing our global footprint. We also are counting big on rising certification demand for our partners like Red Hat, Scrum.org, Alibaba Cloud.

What are your strategic and financial goals for the next three years?

At edForce, our strategic goals for the next three years are focused on expansion, diversification, and innovation. We aim to expand into international markets, targeting regions such as the US, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan, and the Middle East. In addition, we plan to diversify into the B2C retail business, offering upskilling and certification programs directly to individuals. A key focus will be bringing international certifications offered by global technology leaders, which are currently unavailable in India, to meet the growing demand for cutting-edge skills. On the financial front, our goal is to cross an Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) of Rs 100 crore by FY27. This will be achieved through strategic growth, deepening our market reach, and strengthening our service offerings globally

What is your business model to accelerate growth for the company?

Our business model at edForce is centered around a B2B approach, delivering comprehensive learning and development solutions to over 500 clients, including Infosys, HCL, Siemens, and Sony. We specialize in offering customized upskilling and certification programs, with over 1,200 certifications available under one umbrella. Our end-to-end services from Training Needs Analysis (TNA) to CloudLabs and assessments ensure complete control over the training cycle, allowing clients to strategically invest in their workforce.

Our 20 over OEM partnerships further enhance our offerings, with over 1,600 courses, 2,700 trainers, and 3,000 deliveries, helping to train more than 30,000 employees. This approach drives growth for both edForce and our clients, accelerating workforce development and expanding into non-IT sectors.