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Ex-Unacademy COO Vivek Sinha Scores $11 Mn for New Edtech Startup🔥💰 Unacademy veteran Vivek Sinha is back in the game! After serving as COO, Sinha has launched a new venture called Beyond Odds Technologies, securing an impressive $11 million in its initial funding round. Here's the scoop: 👉 Beyond Odds' Focus: The Bengaluru-based startup targets the grey-collar workforce segment, offering employability-focused training, certification, and recruitment services. 👉 Bridging the Gap: Beyond Odds aims to connect employers with skilled talent among students. 👉 First Steps: Beyond Odds is launching its higher education brand, Emversity, with its first center opening in Bengaluru this April. Six more centers are planned across key Indian cities by June. Funding Frenzy: The $11 million funding round indicates strong investor confidence in Beyond Odds' mission. This capital injection will fuel the company's growth and expansion plans. The Education Ecosystem Evolves: Beyond Odds' focus on the grey-collar workforce highlights a growing trend in the edtech space. Companies are increasingly catering to diverse segments beyond traditional academic education. What do you think? How can edtech companies bridge the employability gap for the grey-collar workforce? Will Beyond Odds' model succeed in the competitive Indian edtech landscape? Share your thoughts and insights in the comments! #BeyondOdds #Edtech #Employability #VivekSinha #Funding #India #startup

🎓Former Unacademy COO Vivek Sinha Raises $11 Million for New Edtech Venture. 📝 SUMMARY: Vivek Sinha, former COO of Unacademy, has launched Beyond Odds Technologies, securing $11 Mn in seed funding co-led by Matrix Partners India and Lightspeed India. The startup focuses on employability-led training and recruitment services for the grey-collar workforce. 🔑 KEY POINTS: - Funding Round: The $11 Mn seed funding saw participation from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Matrix Partners, and prominent angel investors like Ritesh Agarwal and Gaurav Munjal. - Startup Focus: Beyond Odds Technologies aims to address the shortage of skilled labor in sectors such as healthcare, education, hospitality, and construction by providing training, certification, and recruitment services. - Platform Features: The platform connects employers with a supply base of skilled candidates, offering training programs and bachelor's degree programs in allied health sciences through its higher education brand, Emversity.    🌱 VISION: - Addressing Skill Shortage: Beyond Odds Technologies plans to bridge the gap between demand and supply in the job market by creating a pipeline of skilled talent in India. - Vocational Education: By enabling vocational skills-based education, the startup aims to empower students to enter the workforce with practical skills and earning opportunities. 🚀 IMPACT: - Industry Support: Investors like Matrix Partners and Lightspeed recognize the potential of Beyond Odds in revolutionizing vocational education and addressing workforce challenges. - Innovation in Education: The startup's approach to vocational training and recruitment could significantly impact the future of education, particularly in emerging sectors. 💡 INSIGHTS: - Founder's Experience: Vivek Sinha's experience as the former COO of Unacademy brings valuable insights and expertise to Beyond Odds Technologies. - Strategic Partnerships: The startup's collaboration with public and private partners demonstrates its commitment to enhancing skill development initiatives. 🔮 OUTLOOK: - Future Growth: With strong investor backing and a clear mission, Beyond Odds Technologies is poised to make significant strides in addressing the skill gap and transforming vocational education in India. Vivek Sinha #VivekSinha #BeyondOddsTechnologies #EdtechVenture #SkillDevelopment #VocationalEducation #SeedFunding #StartUpNews #BusinessNews #MicroShots #NewsUpdates

Venture Funding in Indian Edtech Startups Byjus was once the most valuable Edtech private company in the world. That's history now. The founder claims to be bankrupt, and the company is insolvent. The Byju #founders have set a terrible example. Its implosion shows an utter disregard for corporate governance and honesty. No one expected a $20B startup to behave like this. In the aftermath of Byju's disaster, most Edtech founders feared that global investors would stop #investing in the education sector. Byju's collapse indicated difficulties in building technology companies in the education sector. Everyone was digitising offline classes and content. There is a natural limit to this model. Investments in early-stage #startups have come down in the past 2 years because of the Funding Winter, but the edtech industry has been hit worst in the wake of Byju Gate. The industry needs fresher business models. Foreign education could be one such area. More than a million Indians go abroad every year for higher studies. This number is increasing steadily. As per TOI, more than 1.3M Indian students went abroad for higher studies between January and July 2024. I was astonished to read that more than 9,000 Indians study in Bangladesh. I can't imagine why anyone would choose Bangladesh for higher studies, but 9,000+ students disagree with me. Study Abroad is a big industry that's exploding. Demand not only comes from Tier 1 cities but also from Tier 2 & 3 towns. Hence, it's not surprising that some smart founders are working towards making this easier and seamless. Zinc Money, an edu-wealth startup, is one such player. It helps parents plan and save for their children's global education. It's a new company, launched in October 2023. However, it just raised a $25M seed round at a $100M valuation from a group of global VC funds. A $25M seed round is unheard of in #India where most founders struggle to raise $1M in seed money. This is by far the largest seed investment in this year. Why did it happen? 1. Study Abroad is a big, profitable, high-growth industry in India. 2. However, no VC would give you or me even $2.5M in seed money. VCs back founders more than businesses. Their job is to identify extraordinary founders, give them money and let them build businesses. In the #VentureCapital industry, track record shouts louder than everything else. Prashanth Ranganathan, Zinc's founder, is a celebrated entrepreneur. He sold his last company, PaySense, for $185M to PayU Credit in 2020. He then served as the CEO of PayU Credit for almost 4 years before starting Zinc. By writing a $25M cheque, VCs are saying, "We believe in Prashant and expect him to build another successful business". Success in startup investing comes from backing the best people. I conduct workshops teaching founders how to raise capital. The next one is on the 9th & 10th of November. Email me at [email protected] if you would like to know more about it.

What happened with Indian EdTech startups that were once unicorns and secured funding in crores? Today, let's take a deep dive into the captivating narrative of Indian EdTech space. Byju, once worth a whopping $22 billion, is now dead. This story isn't unique—it's a trend among many edtech startups. But there were days like when names like Byju's and Unacademy were unicorns, and millions poured into the industry? So, why did Edtech rise so fast and fall even faster? First, let's see why edtech had an edge over traditional coaching centers Imagine running a coaching center - you have to pay teachers, staff, rent, and hefty marketing costs. Plus, you're limited to students in your geographical area. But with Edtech, a teacher records a course once and sells it nationwide using social media marketing. Also, the profit margins of EdTech start ups were way better when compared to offline coaching centres. And looking at these factors, VCs (Venture Capatalists) funded these start ups generously. But as the barrier of entry went down, more competitors entered the space (thanks to YouTube and Physics Wallah(PW) 😉 ), which increased the customer acquisition costs for these startups. As a result their margins became thinner and thinner until they converted into losses. And when the pandemic ended, schools, colleges and coaching centres returned to normal operations, leading to the downfall of the EdTech industry in India. Are you aware of any other contributing factor to the decline of the Edtech industry? Then please share your thoughts below in the comments👇 Found this interesting ? Then do follow Nitish Jha for more such Startup stories 🧠 #14week14cases #Edtechstartups #Edtechcasestudies #marketing

All About the Current Landscape of Edtech in India! India's edtech sector has undergone significant turmoil since the peak of its growth during the pandemic, leading to a challenging landscape for many startups. Here’s an overview of the current state of the industry, focusing on key players and trends. Market Challenges: -Post-Pandemic Decline: After experiencing rapid growth during the pandemic, many edtech companies are now facing a downturn. This shift is attributed to a move from online to offline learning, which has been particularly difficult for companies that expanded aggressively during the pandemic. -Funding Issues: The sector saw a dramatic drop in funding, with year-over-year funding decreasing by 88% in 2023. While some companies like Physics Wallah have managed to secure significant funding, others struggle with cash flow and governance issues. Key Players and Their Fates: -BYJU'S: Once a leader in the edtech space, BYJU'S has faced severe financial difficulties, reportedly burning through $6 billion in funding and facing potential bankruptcy. The founder, Byju Raveendran, has relocated to Dubai amid legal troubles related to alleged money laundering. -Unacademy: This company has experienced significant leadership turnover and is exploring potential mergers or acquisitions due to stagnant revenue growth despite efforts to reduce losses. -Vedantu: After struggling post-pandemic, Vedantu's attempts to pivot towards offline learning have not yielded the desired results. The company faces challenges in regaining market relevance. -PW (PhysicsWallah): In contrast to its peers, Physics Wallah has maintained a more stable trajectory, focusing on both online and offline education. The company remains profitable and is expanding its operations. Future Outlook: The edtech sector is at a crossroads. While some believe it can recover by focusing on skill development and higher education—areas that have shown resilience—others remain skeptical about the sustainability of many existing business models. The need for unique solutions tailored to diverse educational needs is critical for future success. In summary, India's edtech ecosystem is undergoing a significant reset after a period of rapid expansion. The future will depend on how these companies adapt to changing market conditions and whether they can innovate beyond the pandemic-driven models that led to their initial success. #edtech #india #education #startups #technology #business #learning #pandemic #funding #growth #entrepreneurship #onlineeducation #physicswallah #byjus #unacademy #vedantu #futureofeducation #markettrends #innovation

PW (PhysicsWallah) Physics Wallah is an edtech company that started as YouTube channel in 2014. It has over 46 million subscribers across more than 112 YouTube channels in five Indian languages. The company also operates in 105 cities in India through technology-enabled offline and hybrid centers. Physics Wallah is among the few edtech unicorns -- a startup with a valuation of more than $1 billion -- to be profitable. While the company is yet to disclose its FY24 financials, it reported a revenue of Rs 771.76 crore in FY23 to be profitable for a third consecutive year. The company expects its best year in terms of EBITDA profitability in FY25. (EBITDA is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) Physics Wallah’s last fundraise made it the third largest edtech firm in terms of valuation, replacing upGrad . Unacademy and Eruditus occupy the top two slots after BYJU'S’s went into insolvency. In 2022, Byju’s was valued at $22 billion. Physics Wallah closed a $210 million series B funding round last month, with its post-money valuation increasing to $2.8 billion. The round was led by Hornbill Capital, with significant participation from Lightspeed Venture Partners, alongside existing investors, GSV Ventures and WestBridge Capital. According to media reports the company is eyeing a potential issue size of $400-500 million. Physics Wallah, which was founded by Alakh Pandey and Prateek Maheshwari , would become India’s first publicly listed edtech company when its IPO is done.It has selected four investment banking firms for its proposed initial public offering (IPO): AXIS (AXIS Capital) , Kotak Mahindra capital ,Goldman Sachs , and J.P. Morgan . The edtech startup is planning to raise around $400 million to $500 million through the IPO, which will likely be a mix of fresh shares and an offer for sale. #innovation #startup #edtech #physicswallah #entreprenuership #ecell #IITBombay #nec E-Cell, IIT Bombay

Indian Ed-Tech Startup PW (PhysicsWallah) Bags $2.8 Billion Valuation Amid Sector Troubles In a landscape where many EdTech companies are facing financial headwinds, PW (PhysicsWallah) has emerged as a standout performer, securing a valuation of $2.8 billion. Founded by Alakh Pandey (PhysicsWallah) in 2016, PW (PhysicsWallah)'s success can be attributed to several strategic choices that distinguish it from competitors like BYJU'S and some of them from my point of view are: - 1. Customer-Centric Approach PW (PhysicsWallah) focuses on the needs of students preparing for competitive exams, offering affordable and high-quality education. This contrasts with BYJU'S aggressive expansion, which prioritized growth at the expense of stability. 2. Affordability as a Core Value With courses priced between ₹3,500 and ₹5,000, PW (PhysicsWallah) makes education accessible to students from Tier 2 and 3 cities. BYJU'S premium pricing strategy, by contrast, limited its reach and alienated many potential users. 3. Sustainable, Bootstrapped Growth PW (PhysicsWallah) grew steadily, focusing on financial discipline rather than aggressive fundraising. BYJU'S venture-heavy model, while initially successful, created financial pressure when external funding slowed down. 4. Simple, Effective Technology PW (PhysicsWallah) leverages technology to provide an intuitive learning experience, avoiding the costly over-engineering seen in competitors like BYJU'S. 5. Founder-Led Authenticity Alakh Pandey (PhysicsWallah)’s continued involvement as a teacher gives PW (PhysicsWallah) a personal touch, setting it apart from more corporate-driven competitors like BYJU'S. In the race of raising more and more capital and delivering under the pressure of the Investors, many founders forget to look at what the Business actually requires. Follow Maharshi Ganatra for Businesses, Investment and Finance tips. #Business #Investment #physicswallah #valuation #edtech #startup #sectortroubles #Byju’s

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗕𝘂𝗯𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴? India’s EdTech sector is at a turning point. The latest headline-maker? ALLEN Career Institute is reportedly in talks to acquire Unacademy at a valuation of $800 million. Once valued at $3.44 billion, Unacademy’s story mirrors the highs and lows of the EdTech boom. The COVID-19 era saw online learning platforms surge, but as the dust settles, the sector is facing a reality check. Here’s what’s shaping the landscape: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝘆𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝘀: Pure online learning is no longer enough. Parents and students now prefer a mix of online convenience and offline interaction for personalized support and accountability. Hybrid models bridge the gap, leveraging digital tools while maintaining the trust and effectiveness of physical classrooms. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵-𝗮𝘁-𝗔𝗹𝗹-𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀: EdTech startups are shifting their focus from hyper-growth and cash burn to sustainable, scalable business practices. Investors and acquirers like Allen are prioritizing companies with clear paths to profitability over lofty valuations. 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁: To expand reach, EdTech platforms are localizing their offerings and addressing the diverse needs of Tier 2, 3, and 4 cities. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿: With declining funding rounds, industry consolidation is becoming the norm. Established players like Allen are absorbing struggling competitors, leading to fewer but stronger players in the market. This potential acquisition underscores the evolving priorities in Indian EdTech: from flashy valuations to sustainable, impactful education models. Are hybrid models the future of education in India? Will the current wave of consolidation create a more resilient EdTech sector? Please share your thoughts in comments below. #startups #edtech #acquisition

Indian VCs are slowly coming back, and the worst of funding winter is over. The biggest sign of this renewed investor interest is venture dollars are again flowing into the Indian Edtech sector. Three years ago, Edtech #startups were the darling of Investors. Founders were raising money left, right, and centre. Then came the funding winter. Unfortunately for the Indian edtech sector, it was a double whammy because this coincided with Byju's debacle. Over time, the world's most valuable private company lurched from one catastrophe to another. Byjus wiped out tens of billions of dollars of VC wealth. The edtech industry became a pariah. Smart founders struggled to raise #VentureCapital and stay afloat. Dozens had to shut shops. Now, it seems like the Edtech dark ages are getting over. Bhanzu, an edtech platform, recently announced a $16.5M Series B round. This funding is the latest in a series of large fundraises by growth-stage edtech startups like upGrad, Eruditus, and PhysicsWallah. VCs are again backing Indian edtech companies, at least the well-known ones. This is a good sign for early-stage founders. If VCs are fine #investing tens of millions in growing companies, they will soon start writing smaller cheques at earlier stages. I hope we will see more innovative edtech models now. We had enough of digitising offline classes, selling online courses, and building platforms to connect students, schools, teachers, etc. It's time for a new generation of #founders to step up and change the status quo. It's time for them to disrupt these online courses and platform startups. We are conducting our next podcast this Thursday, 14th November at 4 PM India time. In this episode, Sandeep and I pick Arjun's brain on growing your D2C brand and learning how investors evaluate D2C startups. The link is in the comments. Arjun Vaidya Sandeep Balaji

The EdTech Startup Wave in India: A Movement in the Making India is rapidly becoming a breeding ground for some of the most innovative EdTech startups, and there's never been a better time to be part of this growing ecosystem. What was once a niche market is now transforming education for millions. But how do you ride this wave? The path for any startup in this space isn’t just about an idea. It’s about execution. Take the ‘Startup Playbook’ approach—focus on these key phases: 👉 Identify the Gap: Start with a deep understanding of where the current educational system falls short. A lot of the big EdTech players today, like Byju's and Unacademy, began by addressing very specific needs—making education more accessible and flexible for students across India. 👉 Build Your MVP (Minimum Viable Product): Launch quickly, but smartly. Don't wait for perfection. Take the example of Vedantu—they didn’t start with a fully polished product. 👉 User-Centric Development: Success in EdTech doesn’t come from tech alone—it’s the value provided to the learner. The real differentiator is how effectively your solution engages the user, not just through technology but by solving real, day-to-day learning challenges. 👉 Scale and Adapt: The Indian market is vast and diverse, meaning a solution that works in one city or demographic might not work in another. EdTech startups. With government initiatives and a young, tech-savvy population, India is in a prime position to witness an EdTech revolution. India isn’t just watching this trend—it’s living it. The question is: are you ready to be a part of it? #startup #mentor #virtualmentor #learning