The largest investment in CareerVillage to date will put career guidance within reach of more young people.
We're excited to share that NextLadder Ventures has made a $10M, two-year grant to CareerVillage to expand access to career guidance for young people and strengthen the tools available to educators and workforce organizations. This grant will fund the biggest upgrade to Coach since we launched it in 2023. Here's why this moment matters more than ever, and what we're building next.
As AI reshapes the skills employers seek and the routes into work, learners need reliable guidance on which skills to build, whether to pursue a degree or credential, and how to land a first job.
"Too many young people have faced the decisions that will shape careers all on their own — but thanks to the latest advancements in technology, that's changing," said Ryan Rippel, CEO of NextLadder Ventures.
Where Coach is today
Coach is an AI-powered career coach designed in collaboration with career educators, workforce leaders, and people actively navigating their own careers. Its design draws on decades of research linking career coaching to greater confidence, stronger follow-through, and better career outcomes. With 1 in 3 young people already using AI for career guidance, Coach offers personalized guidance, resume feedback, and mock interview practice across more than 50 coaching activities, from exploring career paths to networking to writing cover letters.
To date, Coach has:
Served more than 150,000 people through more than 30 institutional partners like Athens State University
Reached learners in over 120 countries
Helped 89% of users report improved career readiness as reported in the Per Scholas pilot with Coach
"We want to make sure that career counselors are in the driver's seat supporting their learners," said Jared Chung, Founder and CEO of CareerVillage. "AI-powered career coaching helps people take real action that has real impact on their lives. This investment brings career confidence to everyone."
What we’re building
This investment will power product development to create, expand, and strengthen Coach’s capabilities: Coach on the channels learners already use. We'll continue expanding Coach to widgets, text messaging, and WhatsApp, building on Coach Anywhere, so learners without reliable computer access can get guidance on their phones.
Coach inside existing learning platforms. We'll build Coach directly into the platforms schools and training programs already use, so learners and educators don't have to adopt a new system or have multiple platforms to go to.
A proactive, personalized Coach. When a learner sets a goal, like applying for a job by the end of the week, Coach will check in at the right moment with tailored prep and next steps.
Stronger evidence of impact. We'll expand our work to measure whether Coach helps people land jobs and raise their earnings, through randomized trials and third-party employment verification.
About NextLadder Ventures
Career navigation is one of NextLadder Ventures' three initial focus areas. The organization is deploying $1 billion over seven years to help millions of Americans reach their potential by 2040. We're grateful for their partnership and their commitment to making trusted tools a lasting part of how people find their way into work and build financial security.
If you'd like to see Coach in action or talk about how it could support your learners, we'd be glad to connect.
For the full press release check it out here.
Coach is built by CareerVillage, a nonprofit dedicated to democratizing access to career information and advice for underrepresented people, co-designed with educators, workforce leaders, and career counselors to ensure quality, safety, and effectiveness.
