Connect with us

Entrepreneur Stories

Upgrad Raises $60 Million from Temasek at a $2.25 Billion Valuation!

Published

on

Upgrad Raises $60 Million from Temasek at a $2.25 Billion Valuation!,Startup Stories,Startup Stories India,Latest Technology News and Updates,2024 Technology News,Tech News,Upgrad,funding news,Temasek investment,startup valuation,education technology,EdTech funding,Series funding,online learning,investment round,valuation of Upgrad,venture capital,growth funding,tech startups,digital education,Upgrad Updates,Upgrad Latest News

Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund Temasek has injected an additional $60 million into the edtech startup Upgrad, maintaining its valuation at $2.25 billion, according to sources familiar with the development. This funding comes at a critical time as Upgrad is gearing up for an IPO within the next two years.

Strategic Moves by Upgrad

In a parallel move, Upgrad’s founder and chairman, Ronnie Screwvala, has purchased Bharti Enterprises’ 1% stake in the company for $20 million. This acquisition follows Upgrad’s 2022 stock-swap deal to acquire Centum Learning, a skilling and training solutions company. With this buyout, Screwvala now holds a 45% stake in Upgrad, further solidifying his control over the firm.

Leadership Changes

Screwvala, a veteran entrepreneur known for founding UTV, has taken a more hands-on role at Upgrad following the exit of co-founder Mayank Kumar, as reported by The Economic Times on October 16. His re-engagement aligns with Upgrad’s IPO ambitions and is expected to reassure public market investors about the company’s leadership and direction.

“The funding round has now closed. Ronnie’s increased stake reflects his commitment to the company’s future, especially with recent leadership changes,” said a source close to the developments.

Investment Landscape

Temasek and IFC continue to be significant investors in Upgrad, alongside Screwvala, who now stands among the few entrepreneurs with the largest personal stakes in a venture-backed startup. The total funding round of $80 million, which includes both the primary investment and Screwvala’s secondary share purchase, marks one of the largest recent funding rounds in the edtech sector.

Comparisons with Other Funding Rounds

This funding round is significant in a market that has seen a sharp decline in investment after the pandemic-induced boom. For context:

  • PhysicsWallah recently closed a $210 million funding round.
  • Executive education firm Eruditus raised $150 million at a valuation of $3.2 billion.

Prior to this equity funding, Upgrad also secured $35 million in debt financing from Evolution X, a joint venture between DBS and Temasek.

Market Trends and Challenges

Edtech startups have seen around $650 million in funding so far this year compared to $4.1 billion in 2021—the peak for the sector aided by COVID-19 tailwinds. However, this is still higher than just $315 million for edtech for all of 2023, reflecting an 87% decline from the $2.4 billion raised in 2022.

Focus on Enterprise Growth

“Centum Learning is now part of Upgrad Enterprise and that’s the fastest-growing vertical at Upgrad,” another source noted. A report from investor 360 One highlighted key achievements:

  • “Upgrad achieved profitability in its skilling, reskilling, and placement services in Q4.”
  • The consumer segment’s acquisition cost improved from ~30% in FY23 to ~22% in FY24.
  • Non-university program revenue in Q4 FY24 grew ~22% quarter-over-quarter and ~81% year-over-year.

Educational Offerings

Upgrad has established partnerships with over 20 tier-I and tier-II universities, offering more than 70 programs across various fields including data science, management, technology, law, and digital transformation.

Future Plans

As Upgrad moves closer to its IPO, its focus on sustainable growth and profitability appears well-positioned to attract both investors and public markets. The company’s strategy emphasizes leveraging partnerships and expanding its educational offerings to meet evolving market demands.

Conclusion

With Temasek’s investment and Screwvala’s increased stake, Upgrad is poised for significant growth in the competitive edtech landscape. The combination of strategic partnerships, innovative educational solutions, and strong financial backing will likely play a crucial role in shaping Upgrad’s future trajectory as it seeks to capitalize on emerging opportunities within both domestic and international markets.

As it prepares for an IPO, Upgrad aims to solidify its status as a leader in the education technology sector while addressing challenges posed by market fluctuations and evolving consumer needs.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Entrepreneur Stories

From Digital Wallet to Stock Market: MobiKwik Expands Its Horizons with New Brokerage Venture

Published

on

From Digital Wallet to Stock Market: MobiKwik Expands Its Horizons with New Brokerage Venture

MobiKwik is venturing into the stock broking sector with the launch of its subsidiary, MobiKwik Securities Broking Private Limited (MSBPL), following approval from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on March 3, 2025. This move aims to diversify MobiKwik’s offerings beyond its core digital payments services and compete with established players like Zerodha and Groww.

MSBPL will provide a range of brokerage services, including trading in shares, securities, commodities, and derivatives. The subsidiary has an initial capital of Rs 1 lakh, with plans for an additional Rs 2 crore investment to support its operations.

As MobiKwik enters this competitive market, it brings a substantial user base of 172 million and a merchant network of 5 million. Despite recent financial challenges, including a reported loss of Rs 55.2 crore in Q3 FY25, the company aims to leverage its existing infrastructure and user engagement to capture a share of the growing investment technology market, projected to reach $74 billion by 2030.

This strategic expansion aligns with MobiKwik’s broader goals of enhancing its financial service

Continue Reading

Entrepreneur Stories

Strategic Shift: Nazara Sells Entire Stake in Sports Unity Amid Financial Challenges

Published

on

Strategic Shift: Nazara Sells Entire Stake in Sports Unity Amid Financial Challenges

Nazara Technologies has sold its entire 71.54% stake in Sports Unity Private Limited, the company behind the multiplayer quiz game ‘Qunami’, for INR 7.15 lakh. This divestment, effective March 25, 2025, signifies a strategic shift for Nazara, which had previously acquired a controlling interest in Sports Unity in 2019 for INR 7.5 crore.

The decision to offload the stake comes as Sports Unity has faced financial difficulties, reporting no active business operations and a negative net worth of INR 0.45 crore at the end of FY24. This move aligns with Nazara’s broader strategy to streamline its operations and concentrate on more profitable ventures within the gaming sector.

This sale follows Nazara’s recent divestment of a 94.85% stake in another subsidiary, Open Play, to Moonshine Technologies for INR 104.33 crore. Despite reporting record quarterly revenue of INR 544.7 crore in Q3 FY25, Nazara experienced a 53.5% decline in net profit year-over-year.

Nazara continues to focus on enhancing its portfolio through strategic acquisitions and investments in high-potential gaming platforms while navigating the competitive landscape of the gaming industry.

Continue Reading

Entrepreneur Stories

Bengaluru’s Hypergro.ai Raises Rs 7 Crore to Enhance AI-Powered Advertising Solutions

Published

on

StartupStories

Hypergro.ai, a Bengaluru-based marketing technology startup, has raised Rs 7 crore in seed funding led by Silverneedle Ventures, with participation from Huddle, TDV Partners, HME Ventures, Dholakia Ventures, FiiRE, and angel investors. Founded in 2022 by Rituraj Biswas, Neha Soman, Abhijeet Kumar, and Arijit Mukhopadhyay, the company aims to revolutionize digital marketing by addressing challenges like high Customer Acquisition Costs (CAC) and low Return on Ad Spend (ROAS).

 

The startup leverages AI to create hyper-personalized video ads using user-generated content (UGC). The fresh capital will be used to enhance Hypergro.ai’s AI capabilities, expand operations, and build a specialized team focusing on data analysis, predictive algorithms, and automation.

 

Since its inception, Hypergro.ai has collaborated with over 70 brands, including several from Shark Tank India. The company’s innovative approach has led to its selection for Google’s Startups Accelerator: AI First (India) program in July 2024, providing access to critical training, mentorship, and state-of-the-art AI tools.

 

Hypergro.ai’s platform now supports a community of over 300,000 creators across India and has partnered with more than 100 brands, significantly enhancing its AI model’s accuracy and improving revenue generation for clients. As it continues to expand and refine its AI-powered marketing solutions, Hypergro.ai is set to transform the digital advertising landscape, offering businesses more effective and efficient customer acquisition and engagement strategies.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Recent Posts

Advertisement