ACI Learning is a company that trains the leaders in Audit, Cybersecurity, and Information Technology. Pulse 2.0 interviewed ACI Learning CEO Scott Horn to learn more about the company.
Scott Horn’s Background
What is Scott Horn’s background? Horn said:
“I’ve spent my career in go-to-market and product roles across marketing, product management, and sales. I’ve worked with a mix of private equity, public, and venture-backed companies, including as CMO for EDB, where I helped drive a successful transaction with Bain Capital. Before that, I was CMO at Huntress and held leadership roles at PrismHR, [24]7.ai, Seagate Technology, and Microsoft. These experiences have given me a broad perspective on building innovative strategies and driving business growth.”
“As CEO, I focus on our strategy, our execution against that strategy, our talent and our culture. A core part of that is ensuring we’re delivering great products that our customers love because they help them achieve what they want.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? Horn shared:
“ACI Learning was founded on the belief that education should result in tangible outcomes. We saw an opportunity to bridge the gap between traditional learning methods and the real-world skills employers demand. This focus on practical, results-driven training has been a cornerstone of the company’s vision.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working at ACI Learning so far? Horn reflected:
“The launch day for myACI stands out. It was the culmination of significant effort and innovation, delivering a transformative platform for learners and organizations alike. myACI introduced features like AI-powered career mentoring, immersive Skill Labs, and leader dashboards that allow organizations to track progress, customize training, and even integrate their own content. Seeing how these advancements immediately impacted learners—providing tailored, engaging, and scalable training solutions—was incredibly rewarding. It reinforced our mission to empower individuals and teams with the tools they need to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving industries. Most exciting though – is that it pulled together our ecosystem of solutions and positioned us into the SaaS market. It signaled a real shift in our business.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Horn explained:
“ACI Learning offers a comprehensive ecosystem for professional development. Our solutions include on-demand courses, live instructor-led training, real-world labs, practice exams, and assessments. These tools – all brought together under the umbrella of our myACI platform – are designed to help learners master skills and allow leaders to track and measure team outcomes.”
Challenges Faced
What challenges have Horn and the team faced in building the company? Horn acknowledged:
“One of the biggest challenges has been ensuring learners don’t just complete training but truly master the skills they’re learning. To tackle this, we’ve invested in hands-on labs and assessments that replicate real-world scenarios, offering actionable insights and measurable progress.”
“At the same time, the lines between what platforms such Learning Management Systems (LMS) and Learning Experience Platforms (LXP) are increasingly blurred, driven by rapid innovation and evolving learner expectations. The corporate learning industry is transforming, with AI and personalized learning reshaping how training is delivered. Our strategy is to stay ahead by combining engaging, practical training with cutting-edge technology that meets learners and leaders where they are today.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Horn noted:
“We started by focusing on creating highly engaging content, but today’s learners and organizations expect much more. They want an easy to use, all-in-one solution that delivers training and drives measurable outcomes. To meet these needs, we’ve continually evolved our technology, with the introduction of the myACI being a prime example.”
“More recently, myACI Marketplace allows us to expand our content library by partnering with high-quality third-party providers, offering courses beyond technical skills to include areas like business and management skills. At the same time, it gives organizations the flexibility to upload and manage their own custom training content, creating a tailored experience that aligns with their specific goals.”
“We’ve also invested in tools that go beyond training delivery. With features like AI-powered career pathing, real-world labs, and admin tracking, myACI empowers learners to identify skill gaps and grow while enabling leaders to track progress, measure ROI, and align training with business outcomes.”
“This evolution reflects a broader shift in the industry. Organizations now demand platforms that integrate learning, skills assessment, and workforce development into a single ecosystem. myACI addresses this by providing the tools learners and businesses need to succeed.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Horn cited:
“Key milestones include launching the myACI platform, and most recently, rolling out the myACI Marketplace. These advancements represent major steps in expanding our impact and capabilities, for all the reasons previously mentioned.”
Customer Success Stories
When asking Horn about customer success stories, he highlighted:
“Certainly. Princess Cruise Lines, a leader in the cruise industry, faced the challenge of maintaining a highly skilled IT team to manage their complex onboard technology infrastructure. To address this, they partnered with ACI Learning to enhance their team’s capabilities. Through our training programs, team members pursued certifications such as CompTIA A+, Network+, and Cisco’s CCNA. Over a six-month period, the team completed 96 certifications, significantly improving their ability to handle complex tasks independently. This partnership not only elevated the team’s technical proficiency but also improved the efficiency of IT operations across their fleet.”
“We also have so many success stories that come out of our Tech Academy that make us proud, particularly among veterans. On an individual level, we’ve also had inspiring success stories like that of Alma Dunning. During the pandemic, Alma lost her job and decided to make a life-changing move by enrolling at ACI Learning Tech Academy in Denver. In just five weeks, she completed the Computer User Support Specialist program, earning globally recognized certifications like ITIL®, CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+.”
“With the support of our Career Services team—who revamped her resume, updated her LinkedIn profile, and connected her with local job opportunities—Alma quickly secured an IT help desk role with a large healthcare organization. Today, she’s thriving in her new career, assisting doctors, students, and employees with IT support needs. She credits ACI Learning for putting her on the “fast track” to a rewarding career.”
“These stories highlight how ACI Learning empowers both organizations and individuals to achieve measurable success through skill development and career advancement.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates ACI Learning from its competitors? Horn affirmed:
“Our strategy is to deliver a comprehensive learning ecosystem that empowers learners to build, practice, and evaluate skills at every career stage, offering diverse and engaging training across various formats and modes. For leaders, our platform provides data-driven insights to enhance hiring, coaching, and team development, supported by innovative technology designed to serve multiple markets effectively.”
Funding
When asking Horn about the company’s funding details, he revealed:
“While we don’t disclose specific figures, our growth trajectory has been strong, driven by a mix of direct-to-consumer offerings, enterprise partnerships, and expansion into new markets.”
Total Addressable Market
What total addressable market (TAM) is the company pursuing? Horn assessed:
“The market for professional training is vast, spanning individuals seeking career advancement, academic institutions looking to deepen their offerings, and companies investing in workforce development globally. There’s significant room to grow across all these segments.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Horn concluded:
“Expanding our reach in academic institutions and with corporate customers is a key focus. Additionally, we’re committed to enhancing our product portfolio to provide even more value to learners and organizations alike.”
