India's Leverage Edu Helps Students Amid Visa Crackdowns

Navigating Global Education Shifts: How Leverage Edu Adapts to Changing Landscapes

As international student mobility faces obstacles due to visa restrictions and evolving diplomatic relations, Leverage Edu, an Indian company, is successfully guiding students toward alternative educational pathways. The company is facilitating transitions – from Canada to Germany, and from India to nations like Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

Responding to Increased Uncertainty in International Admissions

Students in emerging markets are currently experiencing heightened uncertainty regarding international college admissions. Altered visa regulations and diplomatic challenges – including the 2023-2024 India-Canada dispute and emerging tensions in India-U.S. relations concerning trade and immigration – have created disruptions in application processes and eligibility criteria for numerous students.

Countries such as Canada and Australia have implemented more stringent student visa policies, often unexpectedly. Traditional study-abroad consultancies have found it challenging to adjust to these changes. However, Leverage Edu has proactively assisted students in identifying viable alternative destinations and swiftly adapting their plans.

Strategic Rerouting and Expansion

Leverage Edu quickly responded to the deterioration of India-Canada relations by assisting Indian students in redirecting their applications to Germany. Simultaneously, the company aided Canadian universities in recruiting students from Nigeria, effectively maintaining student enrollment in both regions.

The company is now applying a similar strategy in light of ongoing complexities in U.S.-India relations. While continuing to facilitate student placements in the U.S., a larger proportion of demand is now originating from countries like Brazil and Vietnam, where interest in American universities remains robust, according to founder and CEO Akshay Chaturvedi.

Global Footprint and Service Diversification

This adaptability is now a core component of Leverage’s growth strategy. In the past two months, the startup has expanded its operations into Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Vietnam, and Malaysia – emerging markets with a growing number of students seeking international education but lacking comprehensive admissions support.

Leverage Edu now operates in 16 countries, assisting students with applications to universities in 11 different destination countries. Beyond application support, the company, based in Noida, is evolving into a comprehensive platform for international education.

A Full-Service Platform for International Students

Leverage Edu offers assistance with planning, financing, and managing the entire study abroad experience. Its suite of tools includes a mobile application, an AI-driven course search engine, a university matching tool called UniConnect, and a new SaaS platform for universities, branded as Univalley.ai.

The startup has also broadened its service offerings to include Leverage MBBS for medical students, Fly Finance for education loans, Fly Homes for student accommodation, and other services under the Leverage Careers and Compass brands.

Growth and Organic Acquisition

Currently, Leverage Edu facilitates placements for over 10,000 students annually, a significant increase from approximately 1,500 just a few years ago. A substantial portion of this growth is driven by organic demand, with 60% of student acquisitions requiring no customer acquisition cost.

“We have closed the gap with most of our global competitors, whether they are large, publicly listed companies or those that have secured substantial funding rounds,” Chaturvedi stated in an interview with TechCrunch.

Financial Performance and Profitability

Leverage Edu has experienced considerable financial growth and achieved profitability for the first time this year, a notable accomplishment within India’s edtech sector.

The company concluded fiscal year 2025 with revenue exceeding ₹1.8 billion (approximately $20 million), doubling the ₹900 million (around $10 million) reported in the previous fiscal year. Between April and September of fiscal year 2026, it generated over ₹2 billion (roughly $23 million) and is projected to reach ₹3.7-₹3.8 billion (about $45 million) in revenue by the end of the fiscal year.

Leverage Edu recorded a profit after tax of ₹120-130 million (approximately $1.4-1.5 million) and anticipates surpassing ₹250 million ($2.8 million) by the end of fiscal year 2026, representing a 256% improvement from a full-year loss of ₹800 million in fiscal year 2025.

Revenue Streams and Key Markets

Approximately 25% of Leverage’s revenue is generated from its platform businesses, which provide students with value-added services such as loans, money transfers, housing, and internship/job placement assistance. The remaining 75% comes from its core education services – student placement and counseling.

Within the core business, around 20% of revenue is derived directly from students, while 55% comes from university commissions.

India remains Leverage’s primary source market, accounting for 58% of its student base. Within India, the company focuses on states like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Punjab, which consistently send a large number of students abroad.

Destination Preferences and Future Outlook

The U.K. is currently Leverage’s largest destination market, representing 52% of student placements, followed by Germany at 22%. Italy, experiencing the fastest growth this summer, is also gaining prominence.

North America currently accounts for less than 5% of total placements, reflecting recent visa challenges and diplomatic issues. The startup anticipates this share will increase as it expands its presence in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

Potential Indian IPO for Leverage Anticipated by 2026

Driven by increasing revenues and a broadening international presence, the company is currently evaluating a possible initial public offering (IPO) in India, potentially as soon as the following year.

Investment banking firms have already begun presenting preliminary proposals, according to sources with knowledge of the situation who spoke with TechCrunch.

Strategic Considerations for Funding

While acknowledging the possibility of going public, Founder and CEO Chaturvedi indicated that Leverage will determine whether to proceed with an IPO or seek additional external funding once it achieves a $100 million revenue target.

The company anticipates reaching this financial benchmark around 2026.

Current Financial Standing and Global Reach

To date, Leverage has secured under $50 million in equity financing.

The organization maintains operations in 27 nations, supported by a network of over 50 offices globally.

Currently, Leverage employs approximately 800 individuals.

Key Highlights:

• Potential IPO timing: 2026
• Revenue milestone for decision: $100 million
• Current equity raised: Less than $50 million
• Global presence: 27 countries, 50+ offices
• Employee count: Approximately 800