Simplilearn packs US HQ off to North Texas, leaving San Francisco

Simplilearn Solutions has left Downtown San Francisco for the Lone Star State.

The India-based global digital education company has moved its U.S. headquarters from 201 Spear Street, in the South Financial District, to Plano, Texas, the San Francisco Business Times reported.

The firm, which specializes in training for digital skills, said it aims to leverage the abundant resources and opportunities in North Texas.

“Our move to Texas marks a pivotal moment in our journey, driven by our commitment to being at the forefront of a thriving tech ecosystem and tapping into a diverse talent pool,” Krishna Kumar, CEO of Simplilearn, said in a statement. “Establishing our headquarters here positions us to better empower professionals with the skills needed to excel in a digital-first world.”

The company, founded in 2010, had an undisclosed number of offices at 201 Spear, an 18-story, 252,600-square-foot tower near the waterfront, which boasts of “breathtaking panoramic views” of the bay.

In January, Strada Investment Group and an equity partner bought the building after acquiring a $125 million defaulted loan for half price.

Simplilearn maintains a global headquarters in Bangalore, India, according to the Business Times. In the U.S., the company has replaced its shimmering views of San Francisco bay with the Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs, overlooking the Blackland Prairie.

Its new U.S. headquarters is on the sixth floor at the Legacy Town Center at 5851 Legacy Circle, in Plano. The size of its new hub, as well as the number of workers who made the move, were not disclosed.

In 2021, Blackstone acquired a controlling stake in Simplilearn. Since then, the New York-based alternative asset manager has sunk $250 million into the digital education company, per an online fact sheet that describes Simplilearn as “the world’s #1 online Bootcamp for digital economy skills.”

This year, at least four companies have moved their headquarters to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, according to the Business Times.

From March to July, firms in Oregon, California, Massachusetts and Indiana announced plans to relocate their hubs to North Texas. In July of last year, the National Rifle Association said it was searching for suitable offices in DFW to relocate its headquarters from Virginia.

In July, Elon Musk announced he would also move the headquarters of SpaceX and X from California to Texas. In 2021, the CEO of Tesla moved his EV automaker’s corporate headquarters to Austin from Palo Alto after deciding to live in the Lone Star State.

— Dana Bartholomew