AICertified, an Irish edtech company founded by Ian Dodson, has successfully secured €1 million in funding aimed at creating a global certification standard for artificial intelligence (AI) skills. The fundraising round was led by Oyster Capital with additional support from Enterprise Ireland. Established in 2025 and based in Dublin, AICertified seeks to address the current fragmentation and unreliability in the AI training market.
Dodson, who previously co-founded the Digital Marketing Institute, emphasized the need for a measurable and trusted framework for AI competence. “This is about more than a course or a certificate – it’s about creating a measurable and trusted framework for competence in AI,” he stated. He pointed out that no existing entity has yet defined what it means to be AI certified or established a progression route for achieving that certification.
The company aims to develop a “single reliable standard” for AI skills that provides outcome-driven paths to certification, thus ensuring trust for both employers and students. The recent investment is set to facilitate the expansion of AICertified’s team from eight to fifteen employees and enhance its learning platform in preparation for the launch of its first course, slated for February this year.
Martin Scully, CEO at Oyster Capital, affirmed the potential of AICertified by referencing Dodson’s prior successes. “The demand for structured, credible AI training is enormous,” he noted, highlighting a clear pathway emerging for AICertified to become a market leader in AI training, with a focus on guaranteed outcomes for both employers and graduates.
In the wider context of Ireland’s edtech landscape, the news follows a recent announcement from another Dublin-based company, Wriggle Learning, which revealed plans to create 90 jobs by 2027 across various sectors, including customer support and sales. This reflects a growing trend in the region toward developing innovative educational technology solutions.
The push for standardized AI training comes at a crucial time as businesses increasingly seek skilled professionals capable of navigating the complexities of artificial intelligence. As AI technology continues to evolve, the need for reliable certification and training programs becomes ever more pressing. AICertified’s approach, focusing on a unified standard for AI skills, could play a significant role in shaping the future landscape of AI education and workforce readiness.
See also
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AI’s Growing Influence in Higher Education: Balancing Innovation and Critical Thinking
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