Corporate training has a massive engagement problem.
Most employees don't finish their courses, and when they do, they can't apply what they've learned in real work situations. The content is generic, boring, and feels completely disconnected from day-to-day job challenges.
This creates a frustrating cycle where companies spend thousands on training programs that deliver minimal results. Employees see it as a box-ticking exercise, HR departments struggle with low completion rates, and managers don't see improved performance.
SkillsTeq is changing this with an AI-powered platform that makes learning conversational, personalized, and practical.
The Pivot That Changed Everything
Richard ran a travel company for 20 years before COVID completely upended his industry. But instead of just weathering the storm, he spotted an opportunity that would transform corporate training.
Q: What's your backstory?
Richard: I ran a travel company for 20 years. COVID struck and we had started building a training tool for the travel trade. Soon after, OpenAI released the API and the rest, as they say, is history.
Q: What changed everything for your startup?
Richard: AI - the OpenAI API opened up incredible opportunities but we have had to move very fast.
That moment when OpenAI made conversational AI accessible to developers wasn't just a tech breakthrough for Richard. It was the key that unlocked a completely new approach to corporate learning.
Q: What problem does your product solve?
Richard: SkillsTeq is an AI-powered e-learning platform designed to make learning engaging, interactive and unique.
The Market Opportunity
The timing couldn't be better for Richard's pivot. The numbers tell a compelling story:
- Global e-learning market: Expected to hit $203.81 billion in 2025
- AI in education growth: Jumping from $5.88 billion in 2024 to projected $32.27 billion by 2030
- Corporate adoption: 93% of businesses now adopting e-learning solutions
- AI integration: 30% of L&D teams already using AI tools, with 91% planning to increase usage
But here's the key insight: companies using AI for personalized learning are seeing 57% better efficiency. The ROI is real and measurable.
What Makes SkillsTeq Different
While most e-learning platforms focus on content delivery, SkillsTeq tackles the fundamental problem of engagement through conversation. Instead of clicking through endless slides, learners have real conversations with AI that adapts to their learning style and pace.
The platform shines in practical applications:
Sales Training: Employees can practice handling objections, get instant feedback on their pitches, and learn closing techniques through realistic scenarios. The AI throws different objections their way, just like real customers would.
Customer Service: Teams practice difficult situations in a safe environment, building confidence before they face real customer interactions. They can work on de-escalation techniques and problem-solving without the pressure of actual customer relationships.
Corporate Onboarding: New hires get assessed quickly on company policies and procedures, with the AI adapting the content based on their responses and learning gaps.
Richard's Early Success
The traction is promising for such an early-stage venture.
Q: What's your current traction?
Richard: "We have generated $50k in the last 7 months. Not recurring, one off platform access fee for year one. When these renew this will equate to around $14k ARR on renewals alone...this is on 7 clients."
Breaking this down, Richard is averaging around $7,000 per client for annual platform access. With just seven clients generating $50K in seven months, the unit economics look solid. More importantly, when those clients renew, he'll have a strong foundation of recurring revenue to build on.
Q: Where can people learn more?
Richard: "People can check us out at Skillsteq.com and TravAI.co - these are our two brands."
Why This Matters Now
Three major trends are creating the perfect environment for SkillsTeq's growth:
Remote Work Reality: Companies need digital training solutions that work for distributed teams. Traditional in-person training isn't coming back to pre-2020 levels.
AI Adoption Surge: 46% of companies not yet using AI in training plan to start within the next year. The market is rapidly moving toward AI-powered solutions.
Engagement Crisis: Traditional e-learning has completion rate problems that hurt ROI. Interactive, conversational learning addresses this head-on.
The Bottom Line
Richard's story shows how the right pivot at the right time can create something transformative.
His deep understanding of training needs from the travel industry, combined with the OpenAI breakthrough, positioned him perfectly for this moment.
SkillsTeq isn't just another training platform. It's solving real problems with technology that actually works. Companies get higher engagement, better completion rates, and training that translates into improved job performance.
The e-learning revolution is happening now, and platforms like SkillsTeq are leading the charge toward more engaging, effective corporate training.
Ready to transform your company's training approach? Check out SkillsTeq.com and see how conversational AI can boost engagement and drive real results.
