San Francisco, Calif., June 23, 2026 – SweetRush, a premier simulation training, custom learning, and learning strategy provider is proud to announce its second year in first place on eLearning Industry’s list of top simulation training companies. 

Launched last year, in 2025, this list is a reflection of organizations’ growing need to provide their people with a safe practice space to acquire and practice new skills. 

Simulation training sparks real behavioral change through high-fidelity behavioral immersion, or a digital environment that replicates the real-life performance environment as faithfully as possible. In this safe, authentic practice space, learners can try (and fail at) new skills, gain feedback, and gradually improve—all with zero risk to people, property or relationships.

Whether they’re looking to prepare employees to provide outstanding customer service, coach a team member, repair a machine, or secure a disaster site, simulations help learners develop skills that are too important to get wrong. 

As Danielle Silver, SweetRush Solution Architect observes, “Simulations are uniquely powerful because they respect the learner’s autonomy and intelligence, guiding them through realistic branching paths based on their own choices and allowing the consequences of their choices to unfold in real time.” 

SweetRush earned its two years at the top with “powerful, immersive simulation training that prepares people for real-world challenges” as well as its team’s “creative use of XR and AI” to foster learner engagement, mastery, and measurable results.

eLearning Industry founder Christopher Pappas notes that simulations are not just a passing trend but “a proven way to make learning stick.” He notes, "Studies from around the world show that when employees are immersed in realistic scenarios, they retain information better and feel more confident applying their skills on the job.” 

SweetRush Director of XR Esteban Cascante attributes his team’s continued success to its use of gamified and immersive simulations as a vehicle for behavior change, noting, “The co-evolution of extended reality (XR) and AI helps us replicate real-world performance environments more accurately than ever before,” thus opening the doors to L&D leaders looking to upskill learners in safe, authentic practice spaces. 

Cascante adds, “The modern workforce needs rapid, adaptive upskilling to account for the pace of technological change and the diminution of entry-level positions. Simulation training helps learners develop the judgment and automaticity that traditional, click-next eLearning cannot. We’re incredibly proud to partner with L&D leaders and teams as they expand their learning portfolios to include high-fidelity simulations.”

As a technology-agnostic company, SweetRush is guided by each client-partner’s organizational, learning, and business needs, rather than a single product or platform. World-class client-partners like Hilton, Capgemini, Google, Coursera, Bayer, and Bridgestone trust the SweetRush team’s expertise in simulation training, immersive technologies, needs analysis, and learning science.

Known for its L&D-first innovations such as its AI-L&D Continuum,™ immersive learning strategies, Transformational Design Standards (TDS), and award-winning custom learning solutions, SweetRush has been inspiring L&D leaders and stakeholders since its founding in 2001.

Looking to create a safe, authentic environment where your people can practice the skills that are too important to get wrong? Reach out to explore simulation training strategies that accelerate your team's time-to-proficiency and foster long-term retention. 

About SweetRush

SweetRush’s focus on team culture and craft is reflected in loyal clients, uniquely low turnover of teammates, a 25-year track record of success, and a remarkable portfolio. Our work with clients creating custom solutions for talent empowerment and people success has earned us gold awards from our peers and high rankings on top industry lists.

SweetRush has been in business since 2001 and joined the global NIIT family of world-class learning services in January 2026. Our service areas include Custom Learning (including eLearning, mobile, gamification, and live experiential learning), Talent Solutions (temporary talent to augment our clients’ L&D teams), immersive technologies (including VR, AR, and AI solutions), and Good Things (amplifying the impact of nonprofits and the social impact space). Every day, we give thanks for the trust of our world-class clients.