India Gets Its Second Edtech Unicorn As Unacademy Joins The Prestigious Club Founded in 2015, Unacademy started as a YouTube channel before launching its own platform and a mobile app

By Debarghya Sil

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Unacademy
Unacademy Co-Founders Roman Saini, Hemesh Singh and Gaurav Munjal (L-R)

In yet another instance of an Indian edtech startup reaching new highs, Bangalore-based Unacademy entered the coveted Unicorn Club after raising $150 million in a round led by Softbank. The fresh funding valued the edtech player at $1.45 billion. Existing investors such as General Atlantic, Sequoia India, Nexus, Facebook and Blue, too, participated in the round.

Confirming the development in a tweet, Gaurav Munjal, co-founder and chief executive officer of Unacademy, wrote: "Our goal always has been to democratise knowledge and make it more affordable and accessible by getting the best experts of the world to help everyone achieve their goals."

He thanked his team members, educators, and learners for supporting them to build something "iconic'.

The startup has also become the official partner of the popular T20 tournament Indian Premier League for three seasons.

The startup became Unicorn almost two years after its rival Byju's led by Byju Raveendran joined the prestigious club. Byju's is currently the most valued edtech startup in the world with an estimated valuation of $10.5 billion after it raised a fresh round of funding in June.

Founded in 2015, Unacademy started as a YouTube channel before launching its own platform and a mobile app. The platform currently has more than 1 million videos from over 10,000 educators across the country. Its app now has over 10 million downloads on the Google Play Store.

Unacademy in the past couple of months recorded a 100 per cent increase in its paid subscriber base. The company witnessed a 100 per cent steep growth in the daily average watch time across platforms.

In 2018, Unacademy acquired WiFiStudy, an online learning platform on YouTube for an undisclosed amount and said that both were cash-and-stock deals.

Earlier this year, the Bengaluru-based firm bagged $110 million from Facebook and General Atlantic and others, and later went on to acquire Kreatryx and CodeChef as part of its inorganic growth strategy.

Wavy Line
Debarghya Sil

Entrepreneur Staff

Former Correspondent

Related Topics

Business News

After Being Told They Could Work From Home Forever, Employees Made Major Life Changes. Then, a New CEO Ordered Them Back to the Office.

Farmers Group CEO Raul Vargas is facing backlash for the change, but he says being in the office brings more "collaboration" and "innovation."

Growing a Business

10 Growth Strategies Every Business Owner Should Know

Effective growth strategies are vital for businesses aiming to achieve sustainable growth and long-term success.

Fundraising

How I Raised $2 Million Without Knowing Any Venture Capitalists

Without having built a network of VCs, I successfully raised $2 million in six months by using the strategies I outline in this article.

Leadership

5 Traits and Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs in 2023

Entrepreneurship has become the new trending topic in the business world. In 2023, the entrepreneurial world is expected to flourish more than ever, and it will take a certain set of skills to be a successful entrepreneur. This article highlights what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur in 2023.

Money & Finance

3 Secrets to Streamlining Your Accounts Payable Process

Not all AP automation software is created equal. Leveraging the right AP solution that aligns with your unique vision and available resources will ensure your business grows without compromising its individuality.