This article helps provide funding data for part 7 of my annual review of the year in ed-tech

The following startups offer some sort of alternative credential platform or product and raised venture capital in 2016:

• Degreed ($24,500,000) – investors include Jump Capital, Signal Peak, Rethink Education, Deborah Quazzo, and GSV Accelerator
• Credly ($2,500,000) – investors include University Ventures, New Markets Venture Partners, Lumina Foundation Venture Fund, City & Guild Group, and Lion Brothers Company

Related investments: those in MOOCs and coding bootcamps, both of which offer certificates they promise will serve as alternative forms of credentials

Acquisitions for credentialing startups in 2016 include DigitalMe and Makewaves, acquired by City & Guilds, and LinkedIn acquired by Microsoft.