A NEW Irish EdTech venture, founded by Limerick-born entrepreneur Ian Dodson has secured €1million in funding, led by Oyster Capital with support from Enterprise Ireland.
AICertified aims to create the global certification standard for AI skills replicating what Dodson’s former company – the Digital Marketing Institute (DMI) – did when established in 2008, but this time for artificial intelligence.
The DMI established a benchmark in digital marketing training that produced more than 75,000 graduates by building a university-accredited and industry-validated standard for professional competence.
It was acquired by Spectrum Equity in 2017 and later by BPP Education Group in 2023, a provider of professional and vocational education worldwide.
“This is about more than a course or a certificate – it’s about creating a measurable and trusted framework for competence in AI,” said Dodson.
“The AI training market today is fragmented and fundamentally unreliable. No one has yet defined what it is to be AI certified, nor the progression route to get there.
“Our answer is simple – set a single reliable standard, provide an outcome-driven path and certify skills in a way employers and students can trust.”
Dodson said the investment will accelerate product development, grow the team, and scale the company’s learning platform ahead of its first course launching in February 2026.
An initial team of eight is expected to grow to 15 in the company’s first year.
Oyster Capital was established by Irish tech entrepreneur Bill McCabe and is focused on backing high-growth, globally scalable companies in EdTech, software, healthcare, and enterprise technology.
McCabe previously founded CBT Systems – later SmartForce – an e-learning company and the first Irish tech company to list on the NASDAQ.
“We invested in AICertified because Ian and his team have done it before,” said Martin Scully, CEO at Oyster Capital.
“The demand for structured, credible AI training is enormous. We see a clear path to a market-leading AI training company emerging from Ireland – one built to guarantee outcomes for employers and graduates.”
AICertified’s model will deliver certification spanning short skills sprints to professional diplomas and postgraduate diplomas. People can register their interest at BecomeAICertified.com.