Narendra Singh’s Post

"From Boom to Bust: The Unfiltered Truth Behind BYJU's and Paytm's Rollercoaster Ride" 🎢 #StartupRealities #LessonsLearned #TechTitans #BusinessUpsAndDowns 🚀 Discover the Untold Stories of BYJU's and Paytm 📚 Ever wondered what sets apart the startups that soar from those that stumble? Let's delve into the captivating tales of BYJU's and Paytm, two giants in their domains, to uncover valuable insights that could shape the future of your own entrepreneurial journey. 💡 🔍 Fundraising vs. Sustainability: While hefty investments can fuel growth, overreliance on funding can mask underlying operational flaws. Learn why striking the balance between fundraising and sustainable growth strategies is the ultimate game-changer. 🌟 Market Saturation and Competition: Witness how both BYJU's and Paytm encountered fierce competition as their markets matured. Hint: It's all about innovation and setting yourself apart in a sea of rivals. Take BYJU's, for instance, branching out to acquire startups like Akash Institute and Great Learning to expand their horizons. 🚀 📜 Regulatory Hurdles: Government policies can either be a boon or a bane. Explore the challenges Paytm faced in the fintech space and how BYJU's expansion plans hit regulatory roadblocks. Find out why navigating through such hurdles requires finesse and adaptability. 🔒 Customer Trust and Brand Perception: Trust is the currency of success. Dive into the lessons learned from data privacy concerns that shook the foundations of both BYJU's and Paytm. Hint: Transparency and proactive measures are non-negotiables when it comes to rebuilding trust. 🔄 Adaptability is Key: In the fast-paced tech landscape, standing still is not an option. Uncover the secrets behind staying ahead of the curve with resilience, agility, and a relentless focus on the customer. The narratives of BYJU's and Paytm serve as powerful reminders of the importance of resilience, innovation, and trust in crafting a roadmap to success. So, are you ready to rewrite your own success story? 🚀 #StartupSuccess #InnovationJourney #ResilientLeadership #BusinessInsights #BYJUs #Paytm #TechTales

startup decoding Byju's, once hailed as a trailblazer in #ed-tech, has experienced a meteoric rise and a dramatic fall. Founded by Byju #Raveendran, the company redefined online learning, operating on a premium subscription-based model that promised quality education at scale. However, the journey from being a unicorn to being declared "worth zero" has been nothing short of a cautionary tale. In March 2018, Byju's entered the #unicorn club with a valuation of $1 billion. By June 2020, it became a decacorn, valued at $10.5 billion, following an investment from Bond Capital. The growth continued, and by November 2020, #BlackRock and T. Rowe Price led a funding round that raised its valuation to $12 billion. The peak came in March 2022 when Byju's secured $800 million, catapulting its valuation to an astounding $22 billion. However, cracks began to appear as the company faced mounting financial and operational challenges. In October 2022, BlackRock slashed Byju's valuation to $1 billion-a staggering 95% drop. By October 2024, founder Byju Raveendran admitted that the company was now worth zero. The #downfall can be attributed to several factors: delayed financial reporting, legal disputes, corporate governance issues, and a loss of investor confidence. These challenges highlight the risks of rapid scaling without robust operational foundations. Byju's story serves as a stark reminder of the volatile nature of startups. While innovation and growth are celebrated, sustainability and governance are equally crucial for long-term #success. #byjus #pw #alakhpandey #rajapillai

Are you FAIR to your Stakeholders ? How do I react to such articles. Just read as any other story or think about experiences people are having due to whats happening in these companies. As a Investor I have lost lacs due to share market collapse of Paytm. The question is if Paytm has been Fair to their Stakeholders ( investors, employee, partners, customers). Many Stakeholders would have faced different challenges with what happened at Paytm. For some it may be financial loss, for some it may have created mental and physical challenges etc. Same is true for Byju. How are Stakeholders experiencing them and did they deliver to " Value as Promised". I have many questions to ask -Can their situation could have been avoided -Have these leaders listened to what their Stakeholders have felt -Have they been transparent and Fair -What are lessons learnt for these companies and others FayrEdge helps organise to measure and elevate Stakeholders experiences. By listening to voice of Stakeholders these and many similar situations can be avoided. Our platform helps with early warning pointers and if acted upon such or similar situations can be avoided. Poornima Parameswaran Batish Sukanya Choudhury Kalaiselvan Palani Lipika Chatterjee Uddipan Nath

Have started this on Exhibit Instagram and every Saturday we drop something called #Saturday #ScrewUps and what lessons can be be learnt! 1. Financial mismanagement - Despite having a valuation of $22 Billion in 2022, once the star boy of Indian startup systems, #byjuraveendran brought it down to absolutely nothing with stupid marketing deals amidst financial losses. #messi ambassadorship in 2022 was criticised as they were set to lay off more than 2,500 employees. And did you know that even #shahrukhkhan actually refused to renew his deal? So, don’t go overboard with marketing, especially during a financial crisis and when you know there are layoffs. 2. Culture is the Company! Raveendran allegedly had to mortgage his personal properties to pay his employees’ salaries, which is a great sign but too late in the day. Employees reported they worked even while extremely sick, were not allowed to leave until after 10 pm and faced constant verbal abuse. Fostering a safe work culture is key to smooth workflow. 3. Short-term Success and Looking Far - During COVID, Byju’s did grow, but they should have known it was short-lived and adapted to the changing environment. Offline methods were back in action and Byju’s couldn’t keep up. Therefore, it is important to learn how to adapt to rapid changes. They owe more than US$ 200 million in debt. They have shut all offices barring one and only Aakash institute which was bought for US$ 1 Billion continues to be a jewel. Byju’s shareholders today are calling for a change in leadership. How will Byju’s future look like now? Comment your thoughts below or tag someone who has ever worked with Byju’s to know their thoughts…. P.S it’s not a dig at any company or people, it’s an opinion and an entrepreneurial lesson! #byjus #byjusthelearningapp #leadership #screwups #startup #startuplife #unicorn #entrepreneurship

From $2.1 Billion to Zero: Byju Raveendran's Rise & Fall Byju Raveendran's journey began with a vision to transform education through technology. In Kerala, he started teaching friends for competitive exams, laying the groundwork for something big. In 2011, Raveendran founded Byju's in Bengaluru. It was initially an offline coaching center, focusing on test preparation. The launch of the Byju's app in 2015 marked a turning point. The app used videos and interactive tools to make learning engaging, attracting millions of users. Byju's growth was meteoric. Its innovative approach to education helped it become India's most valuable startup. Investors flocked, and Byju's valuation soared to $22 billion. Raveendran was hailed as a pioneer in ed-tech. However, challenges lurked beneath the surface. Reports of aggressive sales tactics and pressure on families began to emerge. As the pandemic's impact on online learning waned, Byju's faced a liquidity crisis. The shift in demand led to financial strains. Investor confidence wavered as Byju's struggled with capital. The valuation was drastically cut to about $1 billion. Legal troubles and government scrutiny added to the woes. Layoffs and a tarnished reputation followed. In a dramatic turn, Forbes reported Raveendran's net worth had fallen to zero. Once a billionaire, his financial status was now in question. Will he prevail over the pain this time? We will see. Emerging startups will need to brainstorm on how can startups balance rapid growth with sustainable practices? What role does corporate governance play in ensuring a company's longevity? #edtech #startups #entrepreneurship #valuation #billionaire #forbes #byjus

Byju Raveendran, founder of Byju's, has seen his net worth vanish according to the latest Forbes Billionaire Index. Previously listed with a net worth of ₹17.545 crore ($2.1 billion), but the 2024 Index shows him at zero. This dramatic drop coincides with a steep decline in Byju's valuation, which has fallen from a peak of $22 billion to just $1 billion. Several factors are believed to have contributed to this turn of events, including a series of crises faced by Byju's and a significant reduction in its valuation by major investors like BlackRock. BYJU'S BYJU’S Learning BYJU'S (GCC Region) Forbes Forbes India #BYJU's #Loss #Education #startup #India

Byju's and the list of its growing troubles... The #chinese smartphone manufacturer OPPO (OPPO India) recently filed a case with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) worth  ₹1 Crore taking the tally to  ₹190 Crores. Other major entities include; 📌 Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI): ₹158.9 Crores 📌 Cogent E Services: ₹6.7 Crores 📌 Teleperformance: ₹5 Crores These claims are over and above the drag by collation investors such as Prosus Ventures, Owl Ventures, General Atlantic, Peak XV Partners etc. fighting against the raise of $200 Million via rights issue slashing down the valuation by 99% from its peak valuation of $22 Billion. Think and Learn Pvt. Ltd paid salaries for the month of April except for the Sales Team. The sales team isn't on the payroll but more of a channel sales where employees will be paid basis of their weekly sales. Since the salaries are largely performance-based, there are no targets attached! BYJU'S has vacated all the premises and moved to the Work From Home (WFH) model. Post-pandemic, it has become increasingly difficult to sell #edtech courses especially BYJU'S Learning courses and material given the preference for offline tuition classes! Also, the salaries are brought down to levels under ₹6 LPA while Most of the higher-paid employees are asked either to take a deep discount or to leave. Though Byju Raveendran is leaving no stone unturned with 3.0, the revival looks far-fetched! More about Byju's from my recent posts; 🔗 De-UNICORNisation of #byjus: https://lnkd.in/d-wGFbKs 🔗 Everything wrong at Byju's: https://lnkd.in/dEKdM4WF 🔗 Slashing down Byju's valuation: https://lnkd.in/dGxkXD98 🔗 Byju's Alpha Unit closure & Pay to Play trick: https://lnkd.in/dDVEPH7z I am Faraz Wadhwania, I write about #startups, #vcfunding, #investments #fundraising, #venturecapital, #privateequity,#familyoffice etc. React/Share + Follow + Send Connection Request + 🔔

In my opinion, the failure of Paytm and Byjus reflects their failure to prioritize customers and employees. They seemed more interested in building a billion-dollar company and lacked basic business ethics, and moral values. They could have done better by focusing on morals and genuine care for all stakeholders. It's a lesson that success should be built on ethics and empathy over time, not just overnight financial gains. But unfortunately, that's the common Indian business mindset that needs to be changed. These videos by Akash Banerjee explain it really well: Byjus Story - https://lnkd.in/gb35rWVK Paytm Story - https://lnkd.in/gKidzPft #ethicalbusiness #profitoverpeople #customercentricity #employeewellbeing #lessonslearned

In a series of tweets, Unacademy CEO Gaurav Munjal recently shared his thoughts on Twitter (a.k.a. X) highlighting the factors contributing to BYJU'S downfall. His insights offer valuable lessons for entrepreneurs on the importance of humility, accepting sound advice, and maintaining financial discipline. Munjal's critique of Byju Raveendran, Byju's founder, focused on his leadership style. He stated, "Byju failed because he didn't listen to anyone. He put himself on a pedestal and stopped listening. Don't do that. Never do that." Munjal emphasized the need for leaders to remain open to feedback, adding, "Don't listen to everyone but have people who can give you blunt feedback." The Unacademy CEO went on to share lessons from his recent experiences, as he stressed the importance of understanding unit economics from the start and highlighted the varying impact of investors, noting that some are assets while others are liabilities. He advised entrepreneurs to identify and listen to truly beneficial investors. Once a prominent player in the edtech industry, Byju’s is embattled as its valuation has plunged and Byju Raveendran’s own net worth, which was pegged at ₹ 17,545 crore ($2.1 billion) as recently as a year ago, has plummeted to zero as per the recently released Forbes Billionaire Index 2024. But there is perhaps some solace for Byju’s after all, as Gaurav Munjal closed out his tweets by reminding us that there are no shortcuts to building a business, and that there are “some rules you cannot defy”, while imploring us to not give up. In that kernel of wisdom, is a takeaway for all of us. Link - https://lnkd.in/dRzqRj54 #byjus #unacademy #india #vedantu #upsc #ssc #startupindia #neet #currentaffairs #instagram #education #ola #bhfyp #oyo #adda #zomato #oyorooms #ssccgl #memes #follow #olacabs #indianstartups #covid #memesdaily #gradeup #softbank #generalknowledge #testbook #jee #startup

For those who are unaware, Byju's had a peak valuation of around Rs 182884 crore and it is now valued less than Rs 1662 crore.   This means Divya Gokulnath's startup lost Rs 180806 crore in terms of valuation.   A teacher from the age of 21, Divya adeptly taught subjects such as mathematics, english, and logical reasoning. She created BYJU’s along with Byju Raveendranin 2011.   Now, close to being ousted from her own company, Divya Gokulnath was once one of India's richest woman entrepreneurs with a net worth of Rs 4550 crore as per Kotak Hurun survey.     Amidst all the chaos at BYJU'S, reports are rife that its founder, Byju Raveendran has pledged his family home and an under-construction villa in Bengaluru to pay the salaries of his dedicated employees.   As per the reports, the total sum of both houses is around Rs. 100 crores. The entrepreneur plans to serve both the expensive homes for a loan of Rs. 100 crores to settle the salaries of around 15,000 employees.   Divya Gokulnath’s BYJU'S became a success in India because it helped students understand complex topics in a relatively easy way through the use of technology.   However, in recent years, the company shifted its entire focus to increasing sales instead of improving the quality of teachers.   The introduction of Bollywood superstar, Shah Rukh Khan and legendary footballer, Lionel Messi as BYJU'S brand ambassadors after spending hefty money also turned too heavy on the company's finances.   In fact, Raveendran is merely a metaphor for an Indian and international elite that proclaims that India is about to leapfrog its decades-long social and human deficiencies through digital magic.   That hype ignores, even scorns, the needs and hardships of multitudes of struggling families.   This case study leaves the Indian Startup Ecosystem with important lessons regarding trust, culture and compliance   It will be interesting to see whether grit, perseverance and right decisions can help Divya bring a turnabout to Byju’s   #asksumit #startup #India #byjus #sketch