Byju’s Pursues New Funding Round

Byju’s, a leading edtech company in India, which secured over $1 billion in funding last year due to increased demand for online learning during the pandemic, is initiating another fundraising effort.

Valuation Increase

Discussions are underway for a new financing round exceeding $600 million. This would value the Indian startup at $15 billion.

This represents a significant increase from its valuation of approximately $11 billion in late 2020 and $5.75 billion in July 2019.

Investor Communication

Byju Raveendran, co-founder and CEO of the company, notified existing investors last month of plans to raise a substantial amount of capital this month.

The fundraising is reportedly in advanced stages, with the potential for a larger final amount. Participation from new investors is anticipated.

Company Response

A spokesperson for Byju’s declined to provide comment when contacted last month and again earlier this week.

Acquisition Plans

The newly acquired capital will be partially allocated to acquiring other companies.

Byju’s is currently evaluating a potential acquisition of a U.S.-based firm, the identity of which remains undisclosed. Due diligence is also being conducted on Indian coaching centers Aakash and online learning platform Toppr.

Previously, Byju’s acquired WhiteHat Jr., an online coding education provider, for $300 million a year ago.

Expanding Educational Scope

Byju’s initially focused on preparing students for higher education entrance exams.

However, the company has broadened its offerings to encompass educational resources for students at all school levels. The platform utilizes relatable examples, like pizza and cake, to explain complex concepts.

Pandemic-Driven Growth

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting nationwide lockdowns in New Delhi, which led to school closures, significantly accelerated Byju’s growth.

This growth was mirrored by other online learning platforms, including Unacademy and Vedantu.

User Base and Revenue

Byju’s has accumulated over 80 million users, with 5.5 million being paying subscribers.

The company is profitable and generated over $100 million in revenue within the U.S. last year, according to Deborah Quazzo, managing partner of GSV Ventures.

Revenue Projections

Company executives recently stated at a UBS event that Byju’s current revenue run rate is $800 million.

They anticipate this figure will reach $1 billion within the next 12 to 15 months.

Market Position

Currently, Byju’s is the second most valuable startup in India, trailing only Paytm, which was valued at $16 billion during its last funding round.