Rohit Dagar

Unacademy, one of India’s prominent edtech firms, is reportedly in advanced discussions with Allen Institute for a potential merger. If finalized, the deal could value Unacademy at $800 million, a significant drop from its peak valuation of $3.4 billion. Unacademy, based in Bengaluru, initially an online-only platform for nearly a decade, has recently pivoted to include offline operations. Meanwhile, Allen Career Institute, known for its coaching centers in Kota and beyond, has faced profitability challenges amidst a dip in the Kota ecosystem's business. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/gpJfWxpJ #unacademy #alleninstitute #edtech #mergerandacquisition #startupstory

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🚀 Schoolnet Acquires Genius Teacher, Learning App Co-Founded by Advitiya Sharma. Schoolnet, an education technology company, has acquired Genius Teacher, a learning app co-founded by Advitiya Sharma, who is also a co-founder of Housing.com. 🔍 Acquisition Details: - Acquired By: Schoolnet - Acquisition Target: Genius Teacher - Co-Founder: Advitiya Sharma (also co-founder of Housing.com) 🚀 Strategic Implications: - Enhanced Offerings: The acquisition will enable Schoolnet to integrate Genius Teacher’s innovative learning solutions into its existing educational platform, enhancing its service offerings. - EdTech Expansion: This move underscores Schoolnet's commitment to expanding its footprint in the edtech sector and providing comprehensive learning solutions to students. 📈 Market Potential: - EdTech Growth: The edtech sector continues to grow rapidly, driven by increasing adoption of digital learning tools and platforms. - Innovative Solutions: Genius Teacher’s unique approach to personalized learning will complement Schoolnet’s mission to deliver quality education through technology. 🔮 Future Outlook: - Synergies: The acquisition is expected to create synergies between Schoolnet and Genius Teacher, fostering innovation and improving learning outcomes for students. - Market Leadership: By incorporating Genius Teacher’s capabilities, Schoolnet aims to solidify its position as a leader in the edtech industry. Schoolnet’s acquisition of Genius Teacher highlights its strategic focus on expanding and enhancing its educational offerings through innovative technology solutions. Schoolnet India Limited | Genius Teacher #Schoolnet #GeniusTeacher #EdTech #Acquisition #AdvitiyaSharma #BusinessGrowth #StartupNews #MicroShots #NewsUpdates

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Unacademy, the Gaurav Munjal-led edtech startup, has reported a significant reduction in its standalone net loss for the financial year ending March 31, 2024 (FY24). The company trimmed its net loss by a remarkable 82.09%, falling to INR 285 crore, compared to INR 1,592 crore in the previous fiscal year. This improvement can largely be attributed to a strategic reduction in overall expenditures, demonstrating the company's continued efforts to streamline operations and optimize costs. Read More :- https://lnkd.in/gjdVAsFz #Unacademy #Edtech #FinancialPerformance #CostOptimization #NetLossReduction #FY24Results #RevenueDiversification #EducationalGrowth #IndianEdtech #EdtechLeadership #GauravMunjal #OnlineLearning #EdtechInnovation #LearningPlatform #TechInEducation #EdtechSubsidiaries #RevenueGrowth #FutureOfLearning #EducationInIndia #UnacademyExpansion #EdtechSuccess

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The edtech industry is facing a challenging time, marked by waning investor interest and reduced demand for online learning in the aftermath of the pandemic. Amid this, Alakh Pandey-led edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah (PW) has bagged $210 million in a Series B funding round led by investment firm Hornbill Capital, with a sizable participation from venture capital firm Lightspeed Venture Partners.   Scaling operations:  With the latest funding round, PW’s post-money valuation has soared to $2.8 billion, making it the third-most valued edtech firm, trailing only Unacademy ($3.4 billion) and Eruditus ($3.2 billion), based on their last valuations. PW will use the funds for market consolidation, with the potential for “one large deal” in the next 12 months, according to Co-founder Prateek Maheshwari. PW, which initially focused on test-prep, has rapidly diversified its educational offerings to encompass everything, from school education to skills training. It has also acquired firms like PrepOnline and Altis Vortex to enhance its NEET, GATE, and related categories. #edtechcompany #funding #equityfunding

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Securing a spot in any top global school is undoubtedly challenging, but building a strong portfolio can significantly enhance your chances. Starting early is crucial to this process. By beginning early, students have ample time to engage in meaningful extracurricular activities, pursue internships, undertake research projects, and develop unique skills that set them apart. Early preparation allows for thoughtful reflection on personal achievements and areas for improvement, enabling a more comprehensive and compelling presentation of one's capabilities. Moreover, it provides the opportunity to seek guidance from mentors, gather impactful recommendations, and polish application materials to perfection. A well-crafted portfolio, meticulously developed over time, can make all the difference in gaining admission to the world’s most prestigious educational institutions. Whether your child/student ends up staying in India or desires to go abroad such programs help build a Internationally recognized portfolio. ETEducation shares an article on how research has become key to get into prestigious schools.

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𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐬𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 $210 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐁 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠! Edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah has secured significant investment amidst a challenging funding environment in the Indian ed-tech space. 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒂 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘: 🔹𝑭𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑹𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒅: $210 million in a Series B round led by Hornbill Capital. 🔹𝑽𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑱𝒖𝒎𝒑: Post-money valuation surged to $2.8 billion, a 2.5x increase from the previous valuation of $1.1 billion. 🔹𝑲𝒆𝒚 𝑰𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔: Hornbill Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, GSV Ventures, and WestBridge Capital. 🔹𝑷𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆: To expand operations, bolster cash reserves, and consolidate its position in the education market. 🔹𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒚'𝒔 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒕𝒉: PhysicsWallah now produces 9,500 hours of educational content weekly, covering 18,808 pin codes in India. 🔹𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑻𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒕: Expected to turn profitable in FY 2025. 🔹𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝑽𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏: CEO Alakh Pandey and Co-founder Prateek Maheshwari aim to enhance technological capabilities and continue delivering top-notch learning experiences. PhysicsWallah's success showcases resilience and investor confidence in democratizing education across India! #EdTech #Startup #Funding #PhysicsWallah #Growth #Education #Innovation #jobs #fundingnews #investing #investmentnews #businesstoday #trending #breakingnews #latestnews #physicswallah #alakhpandey

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Most EdTech companies, like Byju’s, are struggling due to excessive spending outweighing their revenue. They often burn through their funds without achieving proportional returns. This mismanagement leads to wasted investments and financial instability. Effective cost management and sustainable growth strategies are crucial for the longevity and success of EdTech ventures.

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Gamified Learning: Youth Innovations in India 📱 App Development in EdTech: 1️⃣ Interactive Learning Platforms: Apps providing interactive learning experiences, personalized tutoring, and extensive educational resources are on the rise. 2️⃣ Gamified Learning: Incorporating gamification, these apps include quizzes, challenges, and rewards to make learning more engaging and fun. #EdTech #Innovation #YoungEntrepreneurs #GamifiedLearning #InteractiveLearning

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Why did Byjus fail, and Indian EdTech so far fail to live up to the hype ? Enjoyed this article by Daniel Pianko & Archish Mittal - strongly agree with them that EdTech should focus on making orthodox ed (ie teacher in school classroom) work better, not "reimagining" the system so it's everyone learning at home on a device (it will fail). However, I think they miss/underplay a couple of key reasons: 1. The Indian market - if you define it as those able to use and pay for EdTech like middle class westerners - is much smaller than people think. You are looking at a market of more like 19M students than 190M (albeit growing fast). Tier 1 India is - for now - like a big European country and a much smaller market than the US or China. That's why we at English Quest have built for the (vast) middle class. 2. Byjus (and others) failed on business model as much as pedagogy. They never found product market fit that would drive sustainable CLTV:CAC. EdTech has low barriers to entry, limited network/scale effects, and low switching costs. It will never be an industry that is worth spending billions to win the race to be market leader in. Anyway, enjoy the article ! https://lnkd.in/dtAyYycK

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While meeting budding Edtech founders and product managers one question always arises : Question-When do we get to realize that our product is now market fit and ready to roll in market? Answer - When we see our own, friend's/relative's kids willing to use it,re-use it and consequently with learning impact. PS-Our retention rate is highest with least marketing budget #myedubag #edtech

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🚀 Lessons from BYJU'S Rise and Fall: A Product Management Perspective by Pranav P Byju’s, once a global Ed-Tech leader with a valuation of $22 billion, showcased exceptional product management strategies that addressed key customer pain points—such as lack of personalized learning and engagement in education. With over 150 million downloads, 85% retention, and significant improvements in student performance, it was a revolutionary solution. However, despite a solid product, Byju's faced challenges that led to a drastic decline in valuation, currently between $1-2 billion. Key factors included post-COVID growth struggles, misleading advertising, and unmet customer expectations. Key takeaways for product managers: Customer-Centric Innovation – Byju’s product nailed personalized learning and interactivity, which are crucial in solving customer pain points. Transparent Communication – Always align your product’s value with customer expectations to maintain trust. Sustainability – Strong products also require continuous adaptation to changing market conditions and customer needs. Explore more insights on what BYJU'S did right and where it went wrong in the full article below. 👇 #ProductManagement #EdTech #CustomerEngagement #BusinessStrategy #Byjus

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How difficult is it to create a category in the EdTech business? Extremely hard! ‘K-10 Skilling’ is the category we are creating through a highly scalable, self-learning digital platform. But what is K-10 Skilling? For ages, schools have bundled certain vital activities under the heading of ‘extra/co-curricular activities.’ In most cases these are ‘OPTIONAL’ for students to choose. This has masked the real meaning of skilling. If every educationist out there is saying that skills are more important than knowledge, then why are we not standardizing skill learning? The answer is ‘Lack of Standardised learning tools or PLATFORM’. We created this category and standardized skill learning in schools. Today, over 200,000 students engage in skill learning through Ulipsu every single day across 500+ schools. Here is a video of me speaking on exactly this topic. #skilling #k10skilling #edtech #schools #learning

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Edtech unicorn Vedantu has successfully raised ₹19.25 crore ($2.3 million) in debt and equity capital from Stride Ventures, marking its first funding infusion since a $100 million round that valued the company at approximately $1.1 billion. This capital will help Vedantu navigate challenging market conditions, extending its financial runway amid struggles faced by the broader edtech sector. Vedantu is set to acquire the remaining 9.32% stake in Ahmedabad-based Pedagogy, issuing 87,198 equity shares worth ₹1.53 crore to the co-founders. While Vedantu's revenue from operations declined by 7.8% to ₹153 crore in FY23, it managed to narrow its losses by 46.4% to ₹373 crore. #Vedantu #Edtech #Funding #StrideVentures #Acquisition #Pedagogy #StartupNews #EducationalInnovation #OnlineLearning #InvestmentNews #FinancialGrowth #CompetitiveExams #LearningCenters #BengaluruStartups #TigerGlobal

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Analysis of Allen Institute’s Potential Acquisition of Unacademy The proposed $800 million acquisition of Unacademy by Allen Institute represents a significant milestone in the Indian edtech and test-prep ecosystem. Here’s a crisp analysis from a strategic and financial perspective: Strategic Synergies 1. Complementary Strengths: Allen’s expertise lies in traditional classroom-based test preparation, particularly for medical and engineering entrance exams. Unacademy, on the other hand, thrives in the online learning space with a robust platform for competitive exams like UPSC, GATE, and CAT. This acquisition could enable Allen to leapfrog into the digital domain, combining its strong offline brand equity with Unacademy's tech-enabled scalability. 2. Market Expansion: For Unacademy, this deal provides a chance to stabilize its business model and access Allen’s loyal customer base in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, which are crucial growth markets for edtech. Conversely, Allen can leverage Unacademy’s digital infrastructure to reduce its dependence on physical centers. Financial Challenges 1.Valuation Dynamics: Unacademy’s revenue grew 80% to ₹719 crore in FY22, but its losses also ballooned by 85% to ₹2,848 crore, reflecting unsustainable cash burn. The valuation of $800 million implies a significant markdown from its previous $3.4 billion valuation. 2. Cost Concerns: While Unacademy has implemented cost-cutting measures (e.g., workforce reduction and marketing cuts), its heavy reliance on educator payouts and ESOP liabilities remains a challenge. Allen must carefully integrate operations to prevent these losses from eroding its profitability. Broader Implications for Edtech 1. Consolidation in Edtech: This deal underscores the industry’s shift from growth-at-any-cost to sustainable scaling. It may set a precedent for more M&A activity as players like Byju’s(Aakash) and Vedantu reassess their operations amid funding crunches. 2. Hybrid Learning Models: A successful merger could validate hybrid models combining online and offline approaches, setting the tone for the next wave of education delivery in India. Key Considerations - Can Allen absorb Unacademy’s financial strain without diluting its core profitability? - Will the integration address the growing competition from other edtech giants like Byju’s, or create conflicts in operational strategies? This acquisition has the potential to redefine the test-prep landscape if executed strategically. But as with any merger, the devil lies in the details of integration. thoughts? Unacademy ALLEN #edtech #acquisition #merger #startup #education

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Late night healthy conversation between two Edtech Startups at Draper Startup House Hyderabad, these kind of discussions helps to see the gap between two different startups from two different states and cities to understand our target 🎯 audience based on regional markets #startups #edtech #mindset

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