Our Next Chapter: What Students and Partners Need to Know About Lighthouse Labs Joining Uvaro

Statement From Lighthouse Labs Co-Founder + CEO

Over the past 11 years, the one thing that has remained constant while running Lighthouse Labs is the speed of change. Yet, never have we encountered more change than in the past couple of years as AI and emerging tech have begun reshaping industries entirely. As an outcomes-obsessed education provider, we saw challenges in the job market, but more than that, we have begun to see major changes impact every job, and it's why it felt like an important time to ensure Lighthouse Labs wasn't going at this alone.

I have been patiently waiting for the moment to share this news, and it’s finally happened! Lighthouse Labs is officially joining Uvaro, a leading Career Success company, to help individuals, employers, and communities across Canada access the programs, support, and resources they need to connect people to meaningful work. Together, we’re building one of Canada's largest and most impactful workforce development organizations.

Importantly, Lighthouse Labs will remain an independent brand and continue to drive technology training nationwide with the many individuals, partners, and communities we have worked with over the past 11 years. However, we will now do so with augmented career support from Uvaro, a wider suite of options for our students, and an enhanced ability to deliver custom solutions that address regional and industry-specific needs.

The future of work is evolving quickly, and this move allows us to keep pace—because the future of work isn't waiting, and neither are we. This move ensures that everyone we serve has the tools to thrive in a constantly changing workforce.

Here’s what this means:

• For students: Access a wider range of career tools, expertise, and opportunities.
• For partners: Enhanced ability to deliver custom solutions that address regional and industry-specific needs.

After 11 years as a bootstrapped startup with no VC funding, it’s incredible to look back on how far we’ve come. What began as a small, determined team has grown into a company that has empowered over 40,000 learners and countless partners to succeed. It hasn’t always been easy, but the trust of our community, the dedication of our team, and the partnerships we’ve built have brought us to this moment.

Thank you to everyone along the way who made this moment possible.

Joining Uvaro is a major milestone that reflects both our progress and the opportunities ahead. I’m excited about what this partnership means for our students, partners, and team. This next chapter is about creating an even greater impact, and I can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together!

• Jeremy Shaki

CEO, Lighthouse Labs | New CRO, Uvaro

The Quick Hits To Know And Share

Only have a few moments to skim? Here’s what you can look forward to:

• Lighthouse Labs Remains An Independent Brand: As a subsidiary, our mission and identity remain unchanged. Lighthouse Labs will continue delivering trusted core programs and services.
• No Disruptions To Our Education Experience: Lighthouse Labs's education experience will remain unchanged, continuing to deliver the trusted foundation for technical skill development you rely on.
• Changes And Enhancements to Career Services: Career Services are being enhanced and delivered through Uvaro, with the official service delivery change for active programs set for Monday, March 3, 2025.
• Your Community, Your Choice: Whether you choose to explore Uvaro’s additional programs and services or stick with Lighthouse Labs’ offerings, you’ll always remain a valued member of our community.
• A Shared Mission: Together, Uvaro and Lighthouse Labs are deepening our commitment to empowering individuals, businesses, and communities through meaningful workforce development.
• Future-Ready Partner Programs: Together with Uvaro, we’re creating future-ready partner programs designed to meet evolving workforce needs and drive lasting impact.
• A Unified Vision And Team: Uvaro CEO Joseph Fung is leading the integration, uniting our teams under a shared mission. Meanwhile, Lighthouse Labs CEO Jeremy Shaki is taking on the additional role of CRO at Uvaro to drive growth and alignment.
• The Same Strong Privacy And Security Standards: Your data is yours and always will be. We continue to uphold the highest privacy and security standards, ensuring your information is fully protected.

How And Why This Happened

Like Jeremy said before, the future of work isn’t waiting—and neither are we. Workforce development is about more than just addressing skills gaps—it’s about empowering individuals, businesses, and communities to prepare for and thrive in an ever-changing world.

The acquisition of Lighthouse Labs is a natural next step in our mission. By combining Uvaro’s Career Success framework and go-to-market expertise with Lighthouse Labs’ renowned technical training, we’re creating a comprehensive platform that not only tackles today’s workforce challenges but turns them into tomorrow’s opportunities.

Together, we’re better positioned to help:

• Workers build meaningful careers through forward-thinking skills development
• Businesses find resilient, long-term success through new practices, including AI
• Communities and their local partners to strengthen economies and support underrepresented groups

In a world where the pace of change is accelerating, this move ensures we tackle emerging challenges while upholding the exceptional outcomes our programs are known for—keeping our students and partners ahead of the curve.

What Does This Mean For Current Lighthouse Labs Students?

Lighthouse Labs is staying Lighthouse Labs—that’s the bottom line. While we’ve joined forces with Uvaro, our mission, the team that supports you, and how we support your education experience remain unchanged. By integrating technical education with Uvaro’s Career Success platform and go-to-market programming, we’re expanding the resources available to you—helping you unlock productivity, further adapt to shifting industries, and simply giving you more tools to build the career you want.

The education experience for Lighthouse Labs learners remains exactly as you know it. The programs, support, and community you rely on will continue without disruption. You’ll still receive the same high-quality education and resources that empower you to build thriving careers.

In addition, we’re enhancing the services and tools available to you, including:

• Expanded Career Services resources, including the 1:1 and Group Coaching you’re used to—now with a Career Success framework added—plus new tools designed to support your job search and career growth.
• Access to a curated selection of Uvaro Workshops and Courses offering practical, skills-driven education to help you adapt to industry shifts and embrace opportunities shaped by AI and new technologies.
• A new collaborative network connecting you to opportunities through partnerships with industry, nonprofits, and employers across Canada, offering mentorship, work-integrated learning, career guidance, and experiences to succeed in evolving industries.

To be clear—nothing is changing just yet. The service delivery transition for Career Services will take effect on Monday, March 3, 2025, for new and active students. We’ll share more details as the transition date approaches.

Curious to learn more about what the coming changes in Career Services could mean for you? Explore “3 Quick Wins for Lighthouse Labs Students” and see how these upcoming enhancements will empower you to start building momentum today.

When Will The Delivery Change For Career Services Officially Happen?

The delivery change for Career Services will officially take place on Monday, March 3, 2025.

Until then, Lighthouse Labs students will continue to access Career Services through the same familiar channels via Lighthouse Labs. No immediate changes are happening, and current workflows will remain unchanged as we prepare for the transition.

Starting March 3, Career Services will be delivered through Uvaro as part of active Lighthouse Labs programs. This change isn’t about taking anything away—it’s about enriching your Career Services experience. With Uvaro’s proven Career Success framework, you’ll have access to expanded tools, resources, and support, helping you navigate your career journey with even greater confidence.

We’ve chosen this timeline to ensure a smooth changeover, minimizing disruption to active programs while allowing time to prepare for the updated workflows. We aim to provide continuity while introducing new tools and resources designed to help you thrive.

As Always: Your Data, Your Control

We take data privacy and security seriously, so let’s address that right away. Your data is yours for students and partners and will remain protected throughout this transition. Both Uvaro and Lighthouse Labs are SOC 2 Type II compliant, and we continue to follow the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) standards to keep your information secure. Here’s what you need to know:

Will Uvaro or Lighthouse Labs use my customer data for marketing purposes?

• No. Your data belongs to you, and neither Uvaro nor Lighthouse Labs will use it for marketing without your explicit consent.

Will my data security change during the transition?

• No. Our existing security standards, including encryption and access control, will continue to protect your information.

Can Uvaro access or analyze my customer data without my permission?

• Uvaro has limited access to customer data solely to invite Lighthouse Labs students and partners onto its platform and provide access to its programming and services, as outlined in existing user agreements. Beyond this, Uvaro cannot access or analyze your data without your explicit consent.

If you have additional questions or concerns, the Lighthouse Labs and Uvaro teams are here to help. As we move forward together, safeguarding your privacy and data security will always be a top priority.

What Does This Mean For Current Lighthouse Labs Partners?

Your current partner program offerings remain unchanged, and everything you rely on continues as is. At its core, Lighthouse Labs will remain an independent brand, continuing to serve partners and students with the same trusted quality and focus.

Working with Uvaro enhances our ability to support you with improved tools and resources, all while staying true to the identity and values that have always defined us. We’re excited about what this means for future programs, which we’ll explore next, and as part of this announcement, we’re actively engaging current partners to help realize this potential.

What Does The Future of Partner Programs Look Like?

Partnerships make our aligned mission possible for both Lighthouse Labs and Uvaro. We couldn’t have achieved the impact we’ve made for more than a decade without the incredible partners who have worked alongside us to deliver value to learners and strengthen communities across Canada.

This next chapter brings renewed energy, focus, and expanded resources to our partner programs. With the combined expertise and tools of Uvaro and Lighthouse Labs together, we’re better equipped to design and deliver initiatives that address emerging workforce challenges, empower learners, and drive regional economic growth.

• For existing partners, this means deeper collaboration and more tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of your community.
• For new partners, it’s an opportunity to leverage a unified solution that blends technical and go-to-market training with career readiness, creating meaningful and measurable outcomes.

By more than doubling our shared network of employers, industry and regional agencies, and associations, we’re better equipped to identify and address emerging skill needs—particularly those driven by AI and other transformative technologies. This collaboration ensures employers have access to a broader talent pool with the tools and training needed to adapt and thrive in an evolving workplace.

Our role is to work hand-in-hand with our partners. By combining our resources and expertise, we’re tackling workforce challenges and creating programs that empower businesses, learners, and communities to adapt and thrive. Together, we’re building a stronger, more resilient future for everyone we serve.

Will There Be New Opportunities For Partners To Build Regional Workforce Programs For Specific Audiences?

Yes! With our combined capabilities, Uvaro and Lighthouse Labs are focused on designing and delivering regional programs that address emerging skills gaps while meeting the unique needs of specific industries and local economies.

Our approach blends national expertise with local solutions. By leveraging an expanded network of recruitment partners across provinces—including connections to underrepresented groups like Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and newcomers—we can identify workforce challenges and recruit program participants who align with diverse audience needs. This allows us to create workforce programs that are scalable, tailored, and aligned with your audience’s goals.

In collaboration with government agencies, non-profit funders, and delivery partners, we ensure these programs are impactful, accessible, and sustainable. We’re also advancing workforce inclusion, equipping workers of all backgrounds—including those navigating the transformative impacts of AI—with the skills they need to succeed in a changing economy.

By expanding access to new career opportunities and fostering local economic growth, we’re driving meaningful, lasting change for learners, businesses, and communities alike.

Minimal Disruption To Employee Experience

Transitions like this bring change, and we’re committed to supporting our employees throughout the process. The majority of the Lighthouse Labs team is joining Uvaro (2 departures noted below), forming a unified group ready to deliver more programs and services for students and partners.

Two Teams, One Mission

As Lighthouse Labs and Uvaro join forces, our shared purpose strengthens our ability to address Canada’s workforce challenges:

• Lighthouse Labs’ Mission: Making technological change an opportunity for all.
• Uvaro’s Vision: Enabling fulfilling careers from the first job to the last.

Together, these two teams are uniting to power these missions forward, creating a stronger foundation for workforce development across Canada.

Transitions In The Founding Team

As Lighthouse Labs enters this next chapter, we want to acknowledge the changes to our founding team. Josh Borts (CFO) and Khurram Virani (CTO), two of Lighthouse Labs’ co-founders, have made the personal and professional decision to step away after 11 incredible years. Their vision and leadership shaped Lighthouse Labs into a leader in technical education, and as they move on to their next chapters, we extend our heartfelt gratitude and remain committed to honouring their legacy.

With these transitions, we’re proud to have leadership in place from both companies to guide our unified vision forward:

• Joseph Fung, CEO of Uvaro, will continue to ensure the seamless integration of our missions and resources.
• Jeremy Shaki, the remaining co-founder of Lighthouse Labs, will continue as CEO of Lighthouse Labs while also taking on the role of Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) at Uvaro. In this role, Jeremy is laser-focused on collaborating with partners, funders, and our internal teams to design and launch the next generation of workforce development programs in Canada, with exciting plans set for 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Will there be any changes to my current program?

No, all current Lighthouse Labs programming will remain in place without disruption, as you currently enjoy it.

Will my program schedule be affected?

No, there are no changes to the scheduling of any current Lighthouse Labs programs. Classes will continue as planned without interruption.

Will my program fees change?

No, your current program fees will not change. There are no new or additional charges as a result of this acquisition.

Will there be any impact on the certifications and credentials offered through Lighthouse Labs?

No, Lighthouse Labs remains an accredited private career college. All certifications and credentials offered through Lighthouse Labs will remain unchanged and will continue to be recognized by employers and industry partners.

Will there be any impact on the financial assistance offered through Lighthouse Labs?

No, there will be no impact on the financial assistance you receive. We have notified all required regulatory bodies, ensuring your financial assistance remains unaffected.

Will Lighthouse Labs students get access to additional services through Uvaro?

Yes, Lighthouse Labs students will now have access to additional resources and services through Uvaro. Access to these additional services and resources will happen on Monday, March 3, 2025, as part of the scheduled transition in Career Services. More information on this transition will be shared closer to the date.

Will current or future Lighthouse Labs and Uvaro programs be integrated?

No, Lighthouse Labs and Uvaro will continue to run programs independently. However, for future programs, we may choose to collaborate on solutions to address regional needs where it makes sense or continue operating independently when that’s the better fit.

How do I know what Uvaro products and services are right for me?

Ask your Lighthouse Labs Student Success Coordinator! They’re here to help you navigate all the offerings and services that are available to Lighthouse Labs learners—Courses, Workshops, Coaching options, and more—and figure out which are right for your goals.

How do I contact Lighthouse Labs or Uvaro for support?

You can continue to reach out to Lighthouse Labs support in the same way you always have. For any questions about Uvaro or the new opportunities available, feel free to contact Uvaro’s support team at help@uvaro.com.

Both the Uvaro and Lighthouse Labs teams are here to help and will do their best to handle your questions quickly and thoroughly—no matter who you reach out to.

Will the acquisition affect how Lighthouse Labs operates day-to-day?

No, Lighthouse Labs will continue to operate as usual, with no immediate changes to programs, services, or operations. While changes are happening internally as we integrate with Uvaro, these won’t impact the day-to-day experience for Lighthouse Labs students or partners.

Will Uvaro members have access to and start joining Lighthouse Labs courses and programs?

No, Lighthouse Labs courses and programs will remain independent, and Uvaro members will not have direct access to Lighthouse Labs programs or services. However, Uvaro members are encouraged to explore Lighthouse Labs’ technical training programs if they align with their career goals, but access is not included in their membership.

That said, Uvaro members will benefit from enhanced Career Services, including new offerings and the advantages of an expanded network of employers and partners. This collaboration strengthens job outcomes, helps build emerging skills, and ensures both communities benefit from the strengths and expertise the other brings to the table.

Will there be any changes to how I apply for programs?

Not to sound like a broken record, but ‘No,’ the application process for Lighthouse Labs programs will stay the same. Any future changes to the application or admissions process will be communicated well in advance.

Will Lighthouse Labs continue to focus on technical education?

Yes, Lighthouse Labs will remain focused on technical education, and we are committed to continuing to deliver the same high-quality training programs in web development, data, cybersecurity, and more.

What are the short and long-term benefits of this acquisition for students and partners?

In the short term, this acquisition provides students and partners with expanded services, tools, resources, and support. These immediate benefits help navigate career challenges while maintaining the high level of learning and job outcomes expected from a Lighthouse Labs or Uvaro program.

In the long term, combining the strengths of Lighthouse Labs and Uvaro allows us to create deeper regional and local programs tailored to emerging workforce needs. By leveraging our shared network of employers, agencies, and associations, we can deliver opportunities that equip communities with critical skills for a rapidly evolving job market. As technology and AI continue to reshape industries, we’ll be ready to support individuals, businesses, and partner communities through these changes and beyond.

How do I stay informed about future updates or changes?

• For Students: Stay tuned to your email inbox and community Discord for updates. We’ll share important information through these channels and during programs for active students to ensure you stay in the loop.
• For Partners: We’ll update you through regular partner communications, including emails, newsletters, and dedicated 1:1 outreach. If you have specific questions, please contact our VP of Global Impact, Stephanie Wilson.
• For General Updates: Visit the Uvaro website for announcements and updates about new programs, collaborations, and more.

Building The Future Together

This acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for both Uvaro and Lighthouse Labs. By combining our strengths, we’re better equipped to tackle today’s workforce challenges and create opportunities tomorrow for individuals, businesses, and communities across Canada. Together, we’re building a future-ready workforce—one that thrives in a rapidly evolving world.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us; we can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve next!

• PRESS RELEASE: Uvaro Acquires Tech Education Leader Lighthouse Labs to Strengthen Workforce Development Across Canada