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Torch Acquires Praxis Labs to Expand AI-Driven Leadership Development
July 11, 2025
Torch, a leadership and coaching enterprise, announced on Thursday its acquisition of Praxis Labs, a learning development platform focused on fostering equitable and inclusive workplaces. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Praxis Labs, founded in 2019, quickly built a reputation working with industry giants like Amazon, Google, eBay, Zoom, and Target—helping them build more inclusive cultures through leadership training and AI-powered skill assessments.
Why the Acquisition?
Elise Smith, co-founder and CEO of Praxis Labs, explained to TechCrunch that the decision to join forces came from the need to scale beyond a small team of fewer than 20 people serving major corporations.
“We knew we needed to build powerful partnerships, across product and go-to-market, to reach more companies,” Smith said.
Smith and co-founder Heather Shen connected with Torch’s CEO Heather Conklin, discovering shared values and a mutual mission to prepare the future workforce.
“There was a clear connection and opportunity to connect Torch’s contextual coaching and organizational insights with Praxis’ AI coaching, practice, and skill assessments,” Smith noted.
A Powerful Combination
Torch specializes in leadership development and coaching, while Praxis Labs brings AI-driven coaching and practice tools. The merger aims to “future-proof the next general workforce” by combining human-centered coaching with cutting-edge AI capabilities.
Smith and Shen will take on leadership roles within Torch as head of AI growth and head of AI product, respectively, with the entire Praxis team joining the Torch family.
A Milestone for Inclusive Leadership
Praxis Labs raised a notable $15 million Series A in 2021, with investors including Emerson Collective, NBA star Steph Curry’s Penny Jar Capital, Precursor Ventures, and Ulu Ventures. Smith’s success as one of the few Black women to raise more than $1 million in venture funding marks a significant milestone in the venture ecosystem.
Looking Ahead
Smith highlighted the pressing challenge many companies face today:
“How will they prepare and manage this next generation of work with humans and AI, while maintaining the human connection that’s essential for real workforce and company transformation?”
The acquisition positions Torch and Praxis Labs to answer that question, blending AI-powered insights with empathetic leadership development to shape the workforce of tomorrow.
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