Kitchener-headquartered Uvaro has solidified its standing as one of Canada’s foremost workforce development organizations by acquiring tech education leader Lighthouse Labs.
Announced today, the acquisition merges Uvaro’s career success programs with Lighthouse Labs’ technical training expertise, creating a national platform designed to equip Canadians with in-demand skills for the evolving job market.
Techtalent.ca sat down with Joseph Fung, CEO of Uvaro, to learn more about how the two companies plan to leverage each other’s strengths to create a stronger, more comprehensive educational platform.
Fung highlighted the synergy between the two companies. “Every time we learn something new or dig deeper, I think both sides of the organizations recognize just how similar our missions, our cultures, our vibes are.” This cultural alignment played a significant role in bringing the two companies together.
Lighthouse Labs, founded 11 years ago, has built a reputation for delivering top-tier tech education, expanding beyond coding bootcamps to include cybersecurity and IT programs. Uvaro, a five-year-old tech company known for its sales and customer success training, sees the acquisition as an opportunity to combine strengths.
“Our organizations had different focuses, and now together, it’s always that the total is greater than the sum of the parts,” Fung explained.
Importantly, Lighthouse Labs will continue to operate under its trusted brand as a wholly owned subsidiary of Uvaro.
The acquisition will allow Lighthouse Labs to benefit from Uvaro’s expertise in automation and technology systems while Uvaro gains from Lighthouse Labs’ experience in developing high-quality educational content.
“Lighthouse is a private career college, and as such, they hold themselves to the highest regulatory standards. Uvaro is a tech company, so it’s really focused on automation systems,” Fung noted.
Jeremy Shaki, CEO of Lighthouse Labs, will remain in his role and take on additional responsibilities as Uvaro’s Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). Several Lighthouse Labs executives will also join Uvaro’s leadership team, strengthening the combined organization.
The acquisition aligns with federal initiatives, including Canada’s investments in AI and digital skills development. Through partnerships with non-profits, employers, and funders, Uvaro aims to provide national-scale solutions tailored to regional needs.
The combined organization is committed to supporting underrepresented groups and helping mature workers adapt to AI-driven changes, ultimately strengthening Canada’s global competitiveness.