IRVINE, CA –  October 1, 2025 –  EON Reality today unveiled SkillBuild SPV, a groundbreaking special purpose vehicle (SPV) financing model designed to eliminate capital barriers preventing academic institutions from responding to the AI-driven skills crisis. The solution addresses a critical challenge: while millions of high-paying jobs in data centers, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare remain unfilled, colleges and universities lack the funding, faculty, and infrastructure to train students at the required speed and scale. Discover how EON’s SkillBuild SPV introduces The Third Way to Fund Higher Education — bridging Immersive, AI-Accelerated Skills to Jobs and Income in our latest White Paper.

Why: The Urgent Skills Tsunami Demands Immediate Action

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the global economy at unprecedented velocity, creating entirely new job categories faster than traditional education can respond. The impact is staggering:

• 160,000+ unfilled data center technician roles projected in the U.S. alone, with demand accelerating as AI infrastructure expands
• Hundreds of thousands of skilled worker shortages across renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare sectors
• Traditional education models failing to keep pace due to faculty shortages, prohibitive lab costs, space constraints, and multi-year program development cycles

“We’re witnessing a perfect storm,” said Dan Lejerskar, CEO of EON Reality. “Employers are desperate for qualified talent, students need pathways to high-wage careers, and institutions want to help—but they’re blocked by outdated models that can’t scale fast enough. SkillBuild SPV removes those barriers entirely.”

What: The Third Way of Education

SkilsBuild SPV enables what EON calls the “Third Way of Education”—a fusion model that combines the engagement of physical learning with the scalability of online delivery through immersive XR and AI technology.

The Traditional Dilemma:

• Physical Education: Engaging but limited by space, slow to build, expensive to scale
• Online Education: Scalable but disengaging, with completion rates below 15% and weak outcomes

The Third Way Solution:

• Immersive Experiential Learning: Students practice in physics-accurate virtual laboratories replicating real-world environments
• AI-Powered Mentorship: Brainy AI mentors provide 24/7 personalized guidance, extending faculty capacity infinitely
• 36M+ 3D Asset Library: Enables rapid course development across industries in weeks instead of years
• Virtual Campus: Fully branded, unlimited-capacity learning environments without construction costs

How: 97.5% Financing Removes Capital Barriers

The SkillBuild SPV model transforms the economics of workforce program development:

Financing Structure:

• 97.5% of setup costs covered by SkillBuild SPV
• 2.5% institutional contribution ensures commitment and ownership
• Revenue-share model: Institutions retain 70% of program revenues, EON receives 30%
• Risk-aligned: Repayment tied to actual enrollment and outcomes, not upfront obligations

What’s Included:

• Complete virtual campus setup and branding
• Brainy AI mentor and avatar systems
• Access to 36M+ immersive 3D asset library
• Virtual laboratories
• Course development and localization
• Hosting, integrations, and compliance systems
• Continuous updates and content refresh

90-Day Launch Timeline:

• Days 0-14: Scoping with employers to validate demand and design competencies
• Days 15-45: Virtual campus build, lab deployment, AI mentor configuration
• Days 45-60: Full-scale launch with employer partnerships activated

Three Financing Pathways to Meet Every Institution’s Needs

EON offers flexible funding mechanisms designed to support diverse institutional contexts:

1.Grant-Based Funding (Nonprofit Focus)

• Up to 97.5% support through the EON Skills → Jobs → Income Grant
• Selective, application-based for mission-driven nonprofit institutions
• Ideal for organizations prioritizing social impact and community development

2.SkillBuild SPV Workforce-Focused Funding

• Up to 97.5% support for programs aligned with government workforce priorities
• Revenue flows from workforce vouchers and government training subsidies
• Targets critical job categories like data center technicians, renewable energy operators
• Institutions retain 70% of voucher-funded tuition revenue

3.General Purpose Funding (Expansion & Adaptation)

• Up to 97.5% support for new programs or institutional expansion
• Financed through SkillBuild SPV with revenue from incremental tuition
• 70/30 revenue share between institution and EON
• Enables innovation beyond workforce-grant categories

Before and After: The SkillBuild SPV Transformation

Use Cases: SkillBuild SPV in Action

Use Case 1: Data Center Technician Academy

• Challenge: Regional college identifies 66,000 unfilled data center jobs but lacks $1.5M for labs and equipment
• Solution: SkillBuild SPV finances 97.5% ($1.46M), institution contributes $37,500
• Implementation: Virtual data center labs with electrical/cooling systems, 18-week program, employer partnerships
• Outcome: 500 students enrolled Year 1, 80%+ placement rate, $1.4M institutional revenue (70% share), positive cash flow from first cohort

Use Case 2: Renewable Energy Operator Program

• Challenge: Community college wants to support regional clean energy transition but cannot afford wind/solar training facilities
• Solution: SPV-financed virtual labs for solar PV, wind turbines, and smart grid systems
• Funding: Government workforce vouchers cover 60% of tuition, employers sponsor 25%, students pay 15%
• Outcome: Job-ready graduates in 4-6 months, direct pipeline to regional energy companies

Use Case 3: Healthcare XR Simulation Specialist

• Challenge: University health system needs simulation lab technicians but traditional training takes 2+ years
• Solution: 3-6 month immersive program using EON’s medical asset library and virtual patient scenarios
• Revenue Model: Hospital partnerships provide employer-sponsored cohorts, supplemented by standard enrollment
• Outcome: Graduates support clinical education, hospitals reduce external training costs

Use Case 4: Multi-Campus System Expansion

• Challenge: State university system needs to scale workforce programs across 12 campuses
• Solution: Single SPV financing covers system-wide virtual campus rollout with localized branding per campus
• Scalability: Content and labs reused across campuses, marginal cost per additional campus <10% of first deployment
• Outcome: System-wide capacity expansion without proportional capital investment

Comprehensive Platform: The Skills → Jobs → Income Ecosystem

SkillBuild SPV is powered by EON Reality’s complete Skills → Jobs → Income Platform, designed around measurable outcomes rather than just content delivery:

• Skills Layer: AI-powered course creation, 36M+ asset library, virtual laboratories
• Learning Layer: Brainy AI mentors, interactive avatars, gamified environments
• Jobs Layer: Employer-aligned competencies, workforce board integration, matchmaking tools
• Income Layer: Direct employment pathways, entrepreneurship support, stackable credentials

Strategic Benefits for Institutions

• Speed to Market: Deploy programs in 90 days vs. 18-36 months
• Zero Capital Barrier: 97.5% financing eliminates upfront cost constraints
• Expanded Capacity: Serve thousands without faculty bottlenecks or construction
• Revenue Diversification: Tap tuition, grants, vouchers, and employer sponsorships
• Future-Proof Model: Continuous content refresh without new capital campaigns
• Competitive Differentiation: Position as innovation leader in immersive education

Technical Infrastructure and Compliance

The SkillBuild SPV solution includes:

• 36-Supplier Technology Stack: AI/LLMs, hosting infrastructure, 3D assets, LMS integrations, analytics
• Data Security: FERPA/GDPR compliance, encrypted hosting, regional data residency
• Accessibility: Universal Design for Learning (UDL), assistive technology integration, device-agnostic delivery
• Cross-Device Compatibility: Works on smartphones, tablets, laptops, and XR headsets
• Quality Assurance: Joint EON-institutional governance with quarterly compliance audits

Expected Outcomes and Impact

Institutions adopting SkillBuild SPV achieve:

• Enrollment Growth: Double or triple program capacity through virtual cohorts
• Retention Gains: 70-80%+ completion rates vs. <15% for standard online courses
• Accelerated Competency: Students job-ready in 3-6 months vs. 12-24 months
• High Placement Rates: 80%+ graduates employed within 6 months
• Income Mobility: 20-30% wage premium for graduates vs. entry-level peers
• Institutional Revenue: Positive cash flow from first cohort, sustainable growth model

Global Imperative and Call to Action

EON Reality invites universities, colleges, workforce development boards, and policymakers to explore how SkillBuild SPV can accelerate their response to regional workforce needs while positioning institutions as essential partners in economic growth.

Eligibility and Application Process

Institutions interested in SkillBuild SPV should:

1. Identify high-demand programs aligned with employer and workforce board priorities
2. Engage regional employers to validate demand and establish placement partnerships
3. Contact EON Reality to explore financing pathway options
4. Commit to outcome reporting including enrollment, completion, and job placement data

The complete SkillBuild SPV White Paper is available for download.

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About EON Reality

EON Reality is the world leader in AI-assisted Augmented and Virtual Reality-based knowledge transfer solutions for education and industry. With over 25 years of experience and a global presence across six continents, EON Reality has pioneered innovative technologies including the EON-XR platform, AI-powered learning frameworks, and immersive training solutions. The company is dedicated to making knowledge accessible worldwide through cutting-edge technology, serving millions of learners across educational institutions and enterprises globally. For more information, visit www.eonreality.com