Education in India is witnessing an impressive evolution, thanks to a blossoming batch of innovative education companies. These organisations are not only redefining the educational landscape but are also making quality learning accessible across geographical boundaries.
For a broader perspective on how these education companies compare with others in the sector, you may want to visit our dedicated page on education companies in India for a comprehensive overview.
You’ll find it intriguing how these top ten education companies are transforming traditional teaching models, integrating technology into classrooms and offering novel learning solutions. By harnessing the power of digital platforms, they’re creating wave upon wave of transformation in the Indian education sector.
Whether you’re looking to enroll your child in a reputable institution or planning to invest in the booming ed-tech market, knowing about these trailblazers could be useful. So, let’s dive deeper into understanding what makes these companies stand out from the rest. Each one offers unique strengths and innovative approaches that set new benchmarks for others to follow.
Education Industry in India
- The education industry in India was valued at around $117 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach $225 billion by 2025.
- India has over 1.5 million schools and more than 250 million students enrolled in K-12 education, making it the world’s second largest school system.
- The gross enrolment ratio stands at 99% at the primary school level, 77% at the upper primary level, and 51% at the secondary level as of 2018.
- Literacy rate has increased from 18.3% in 1951 to 74.4% in 2021. However, the female literacy rate is still lower at 70.3% compared to male literacy rate of 84.7% .
- Government spending on education stands at around 3% of GDP, lower than many other developing countries.
- Around 26% of India’s population is in the age group 0-14 years, presenting a huge demand for education.
- Key trends include growth of online education, focus on vocational training, personalized learning, and emphasis on STEM education as per the new National Education Policy 2020.
The integration of IT solutions in educational platforms has been pivotal in advancing online learning. For a deeper insight into this synergy, readers might find it valuable to explore the leading IT companies in India, many of which collaborate with educational institutions to enhance digital learning.
Education Companies in India
Here are the top 10 education companies in India :
- BYJU’S
- Unacademy
- upGrad
- Vedantu
- Simplilearn
- Toppr
- Extramarks
- WhiteHat Jr
- Meritnation
- Cuemath
| Company Name | Revenue |
|---|---|
| BYJU’S | Nearly ₹10,000 crore |
| Unacademy | INR 719 crore |
| upGrad | ₹692 crore |
| Vedantu | INR 169 crore |
| Simplilearn | INR 492 crore |
| Toppr | Rs 50crore (~$6.5M) |
| WhiteHat Jr | Rs 483 crore (~$60 million) |
| Extramarks | ₹300 crore (US$38 million) |
| Meritnation | Rs 21 crore (around $3.2 million) |
| Cuemath | ₹152 crores |
1. BYJU’S
Let’s dive into the fascinating world of BYJU’S, one of India’s top educational companies. Founded in 2008 by Byju Raveendran and Divya Gokulnath, this Bengaluru-based powerhouse has revolutionised the learning experience for students across the globe. With its innovative approach to education, it’s captured a significant share of the Indian market.
From competitive exams like JEE, NEET, CAT, IAS, GRE and GMAT to regular school curriculum for classes 4-12 (K-12), BYJU’S offers a wide range of learning programmes. They’ve also ventured into partnerships with several schools and educational institutions around the globe.
In FY 2022 alone, their gross revenues nearly touched ₹10,000 crore! And as of April 2023, they boast an employee strength of over 35k people.
One thing that sets them apart is their commitment to creating original content. They don’t just rely on traditional teaching methods; instead they bring interactive videos, simulations and animations into play – making learning fun and engaging for students!
In fact back in spring 2022 their Learning App featuring Disney scooped up the Smart Choice category at the Academics’ Choice Awards! Not only that but they’ve even been featured as a case study in Harvard Business School’s curriculum.
In 2019 they acquired Osmo for $120 million to expand globally and followed it up with yet another noteworthy acquisition; Epic – a digital reading platform aimed at under-12 children which cost them $500 million.
Shahrukh Khan, the prominent Bollywood actor is their brand ambassador With over 22 million downloads and 1.4 million annual paid subscriptions as of 2023, it’s clear that they’re making waves in the industry.
As BYJU’S and other edtech platforms expand their digital reach, there is a growing demand for consumer electronics. This demand is fulfilled by a range of consumer durable companies in India, which provide the necessary hardware for online learning.
2. Unacademy
Unacademy, a major player in the Indian Edtech space, has seen phenomenal growth over recent years. The company reported an impressive 80% surge in revenue from operations, soaring to INR 719 crores in FY22 from INR 398 crores the previous year. However, it’s worth noting that the company’s losses also expanded by 85%, rising to INR 2,848 crores in FY22 from INR 1,537 crores in FY21.
| Financial Year | Revenue (INR Crore) | Losses (INR Crore) |
|---|---|---|
| FY21 | 398 | 1537 |
| FY22 | 719 | 2848 |
Founded back in 2015 by Gaurav Munjal, Dr. Roman Saini and Hemesh Singh, Unacademy initially began as an educational YouTube channel before evolving into one of India’s leading education companies. Today, they employ a whopping total of over seven thousand individuals – precisely speaking – a team of around 7,557 people as of April 2023.
Their main services include offering a diverse range of courses covering various subjects and competitive exams such as GATE and ESE. Their audience primarily consists of students preparing for these competitive exams and entrance tests.
The company is headquartered in Bengaluru but its reach extends far beyond this southern city. Through strategic partnerships with renowned institutions and expert educators along with key influencers endorsements, Unacademy has managed to expand its footprint across India.
One significant milestone being when Unacademy achieved unicorn status back in September 2020. The firm’s portfolio now includes twelve other companies acquired to expand its offerings which includes names such as GATE ACADEMY, Kreatryx, PrepLadder, and CodeChef.
The company continually invests in Research and Development as well. One of its major initiatives has been the pivot to a generative AI content model. This move is aimed to cash in on the hype around ChatGPT and AI-generated content.
In conclusion, Unacademy’s story is one of rapid growth and ambitious expansion. Despite the challenges faced by many companies in this industry, their commitment to delivering quality education to students across India remains strong.
3. upGrad
Let’s delve into the impressive world of upGrad, a leading education company in India. Founded by Ronnie Screwvala, Mayank Kumar, and Phalgun Kompalli back in 2015, upGrad started with a vision – to help working professionals upgrade their skills without disrupting their work schedule. Today, it stands tall as one of the top education companies in India and has an impressive workforce of over 11,000.
In FY22 alone, they reported consolidated revenues of ₹692 crore. That’s a stunning increase of 111% from the previous year’s ₹328 crore. The company also saw its net loss widen to ₹627 crore during this period.
| FY21 | FY22 | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue (in Cr) | ₹328 | ₹692 |
| Net Loss (in Cr) | — | ₹627 |
upGrad offers quality online higher education programs across various fields like data science, technology management and law. The uniqueness lies in its collaborations with globally renowned universities such as Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona.
This approach seems to be paying off quite well for them. So far they’ve impacted more than 1 million registered learners across over 50 countries worldwide and achieved an Annual Revenue Run Rate (ARR) of ₹1,200 crore in 2023.
They’ve joined hands with institutions like Clark University and Golden Gate University – San Francisco to offer different master’s degree programs.
While headquartered in Mumbai India upGrad boasts an audience composition that is fairly balanced at around two-thirds male and one-third female students.
They bagged the Best Career Planning Platform award at EdTech x 11th Indian Education Awards 2021 and were ranked first on LinkedIn’s Top Startups 2020 list.
What’s clear is that upGrad isn’t just transforming education in India – it’s redefining what it means to learn while you earn!
4. Vedantu
Stepping into the edtech spotlight, we find Vedantu. From its humble beginnings in 2011, this Bengaluru-based online tutoring platform has come a long way. Founded by Vamshi Krishna, Pulkit Jain, Saurabh Saxena and Anand Prakash, it’s now grown to an impressive workforce of 640 employees.
Offering courses for CBSE, ICSE and other boards isn’t all they do. They’ve also got doubt-clearing sessions available for students across all grades – a game changer in the education landscape indeed! It’s no wonder that they serve over 35 million monthly active users primarily from grades 6 to 12.
Vedantu’s operating revenue for FY22 was INR 169 crores (though with a loss of INR 696 crores). But it didn’t stop from growing as their annual revenue run rate is around INR 480 crores.
They partnered with the Global Shapers’ Project Sankalp and received a $100K scholarship grant for students’ academic learning tools and devices.
Their students have achieved remarkable success in various exams with a whopping number of them scoring above 95% in Grade 10 ICSE and CBSE exams.
Vedantu acquired Deeksha in October 2022, a significant stride towards becoming an even bigger player in the edtech market. Despite the lack of explicit mention of its market share, there’s no denying that with a valuation of $1 billion, Vedantu is undeniably one of India’s top education companies.
5. Simplilearn
Hailing from San Francisco, California, with additional offices in Raleigh, North Carolina and Bangalore, India, Simplilearn is an influential player in the online education sector. With a workforce of 1,800 employees globally, this leading platform focuses on providing professional certification courses. The offerings range from Cyber Security and Cloud Computing to Project Management and Digital Marketing. There’s also Data Science as well as AI and Machine Learning.
Simplilearn has made significant strides since its inception in 2010 by Krishna Kumar. What started as a humble blog quickly transformed into an expansive learning platform for professional certifications. Today, it holds a market share of 0.05% in the learning management systems market.
The financial year of 2022 saw Simplilearn reporting total revenue of INR492.8 crores – that’s quite an increase from the previous year’s INR346 crores! There was a reported loss of INR149.9 crores during FY22 compared to FY21’s smaller loss of INR5.6 crores.
When it comes to partnerships and collaborations, they’ve partnered up with high-profile higher education institutions such as Duke University and Rutgers University among others:
- Duke University
- University of Massachusetts
- Amherst
- University of Georgia
- Purdue University
- Rutgers University
But their collaborations don’t stop at universities – they’ve also acquired Market Motive (a Silicon Valley-based leader in digital marketing training) along with Fullstack Academy Inc., thereby broadening their course offering.
It’s clear that they’re dedicated to staying on top of industry trends by constantly updating their course content through research development efforts.
With over 400K trained professionals across 150 countries under its belt already, it’s no wonder that Simplify has been recognised multiple times within the industry. Their accolades include the 2021 Stevie Silver Award for Customer Service Success and multiple EC-Council Global Awards.
From a celebrity endorsement from actor Irrfan Khan to their CEO Krishna Kumar’s thought leadership in the edu-tech sector, Simplilearn continues to make its mark as one of India’s top education companies.
6. Toppr
Dive into the world of Toppr, one of India’s leading education technology companies. Founded in 2013 by Zishaan Hayath and Hemanth Goteti, this Mumbai-based company has come a long way. It’s now among the top 3-4 players in the Indian online test prep space.
Toppr specialises in offering an adaptive learning app equipped with video lectures, notes, tests and more. This platform is particularly popular for its test preparation services for exams like JEE, NEET, CBSE and ICSE. The company also offers homework help, doubt solving and tutoring services making it a comprehensive solution for students’ academic needs.
Their B2C business model is focused on students while they’ve also partnered with schools to provide curriculum learning apps. They’ve achieved impressive milestones along the way such as over 1 crore registered students by 2020 and expanding their offerings beyond just JEE/NEET to all major competitive exams.
The year 2021 marked a significant development for Toppr as it was acquired by Byju’s for $150 million. Prior to this acquisition, Toppr itself had acquired test prep platform EasyPrep in 2015 and knowledge platform Manch in 2016.
But it’s not all been smooth sailing. The company faced some challenges financially as their revenue dropped from Rs 84.32 crore ($10.8 million) in FY20 to Rs50.6 crore ($6.5 million) in FY21 marking a fall of about 40%. Furthermore, they have never been profitable seeing losses rise by around 13% that same year.
| Year | Revenue | Profit/Loss |
|---|---|---|
| FY21 | Rs50.6 crore ($6.5M) | Loss increased by 13% |
| FY20 | Rs84.32 crore ($10.8M) | Profit N/A |
In terms of employees, Toppr’s workforce has undergone a reduction. From around 650 in 2020 to between 300-400 as of 2022. Despite these hurdles, the company remains a strong player in the ed-tech industry.
Toppr also boasts noteworthy partnerships and projects with giants like Google for improving education search results and MSDF, providing subsidised education to low-income families. Plus, they hold a strong focus on R&D with AI, ML and data science at its core – about 40% of their team was focused on R&D as of 2020.
The company has been recognised for their contributions to education technology too. They were featured in Gartner Hype Cycle for Education in 2018 which speaks volumes about their impact on the industry.
To sum it up, Toppr is an influential name within India’s ed-tech landscape despite experiencing some bumps along the road. Their commitment to using advanced technology and making quality education accessible continues to drive their success amidst fierce competition.
7. WhiteHat Jr
With a staggering 25X growth from FY20 to FY21, WhiteHat Jr is making waves in the Indian education sector. Despite registering a loss of Rs 1,690 crore (~$210 million) in FY21, this firm’s revenue shot up to an impressive Rs 483.9 crore (~$60 million), showcasing its immense potential.
Employing over 3,700 people as of June 2022, WhiteHat Jr offers live online coding classes for kids aged between six and eighteen years old. Its key offerings aren’t just limited to coding courses though; they’ve recently branched out into math and music lessons too. There’s no doubt that this ambitious B2C model has brought them success – their students have created over one lakh apps and games!
Headquartered in Mumbai, India, they’ve managed to expand globally within just two years of inception. That’s not all – their achievements caught the attention of Byju’s who acquired them for a cool $300 million back in August 2020.
Their budding partnership with cricket legend Kapil Dev on a cricket-based coding project and real-world projects with Sonam Wangchuk are testaments to their innovative approach. Recognition from India’s HRD Minister for creating an anti-bullying app stands among their many laurels.
Founded by Karan Bajaj in 2018, WhiteHat Jr ranks among India’s top coding education startups alongside Camp K12 and Coding Ninjas etc., commanding significant market share.
With strong backing from parent company Byju’s and exciting collaborations on board like those with Kapil Dev and Sonam Wangchuk, it seems that the sky is truly the limit for WhiteHat Jr!
WhiteHat Jr’s expansion into coding for kids aligns with the growing interest in game development. To understand this industry better, especially its educational aspect, exploring game development companies in India can offer valuable insights.
8. Extramarks
Topping the charts as one of India’s leading edtech firms, Extramarks has made significant strides in transforming education across several countries. They’ve been shaping the future of learning since their inception back in 2007 by Atul Kulshrestha and have expanded their reach far beyond Indian shores.
From humble beginnings, they’ve scaled to impressive heights with a revenue of ₹300 crore (US$38 million) in 2021. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic year, they managed to secure a net profit of ₹720K (US$10,800) in FY2020. Today, Extramarks boasts an impressive workforce exceeding 4,500 employees split across different subsidiaries like NX Block Trades Pvt Ltd., Extramarks Education Singapore Pte Ltd., and Extramarks Education India Pvt Ltd.
Their main offerings encompass digital learning solutions aimed at schools (B2B), which includes smart classes solution with pre-loaded educational content on LED screens. On the B2C side, they’re lauded for ‘Extramarks – The Learning App’, tailored for K12 students and test prep enthusiasts alike. Their client list is as diverse as it is extensive; over 10k government and private schools spanning India, Singapore, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar and South Africa rely on them.
Operating out of Noida in Uttar Pradesh – India’s IT hub – Extramarks has clinched some notable achievements along its journey. It was listed among Global50 Education Companies by Tyton Global Growth50 in 2018 and bagged both Best Education Brand and Best K–12 Learning App awards this year.
Notable partnerships that deserve mention include collaboration with over 16k schools to install LED screens by next year; a tie-up with BSNL back in 2017; and work alongside Power Grid Corporation of India undertaken during 2018.
| Year | Revenue | Net Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ₹300 crore (US$38 million) | NA |
| 2020 | NA | ₹720K (US$10,800) |
With a market share that’s growing by leaps and bounds, Extramarks is shaping up to be a formidable player in the edtech arena. Their journey from a start-up founded in 2007 to becoming an internationally recognised brand with operations spanning continents – including Singapore, Indonesia, Ghana, South Africa, US and Middle East .
Their commitment to providing quality education has bagged them numerous recognitions such as the Best Education Brand and Best K-12 Learning App awards in 2022. As we move ahead into an increasingly digital era, you can bet Extramarks will continue to redefine education for students across the globe.
9. Meritnation
Delving into the world of online education, we encounter Meritnation. An Indian company that’s made waves in the sector with its innovative learning solutions. Founded in 2007 by IIM Bangalore alumni Pavan Chauhan and Ritesh Hemrajani, this New Delhi based company has grown exponentially over the years.
Focusing on their finances, it’s worth noting that Meritnation reported operating revenues of Rs 21.59 crore (around $3.2 million) for FY15, marking a 6.45% increase from Rs 20.28 crore in FY14. However, they faced some financial challenges as well with a loss of Rs 25.2 crore (around $3.7 million) registered in FY22 against a profit of Rs 49.04 lakh in FY21.
A closer look at their team reveals that around 566 talented individuals make up the workforce behind Meritnation as of 2022.
What makes them stand out is their extensive range of products and services tailored to K-12 students across CBSE, ICSE and state boards for classes 1-12 including:
- Live classes
- Study material
- Animated videos
- Sample papers
- Solutions
- Revision notes
And it seems these offerings have struck a chord with learners as they’ve managed to enrol over two crores students from India and the Middle East.
They pioneered live online classes delivering over an impressive total of more than 80,000 hours on their platform making them India’s largest online learning portal for school students.
Their reach is nothing short of commendable either; boasting popularity among K-12 students across India with over seven point six million users underlining their position as one of India’s most popular online education platforms.
After operating independently for a number of years, Meritnation was acquired by Aakash Educational Services in 2020. They’ve also been backed by InfoEdge as an investor since 2008, that has poured in around Rs 150 crore till 2017.
To keep up with the ever-evolving education landscape, Meritnation continues to innovate in content delivery, assessments and gamification – keeping students engaged and making learning fun.
In short, the company’s journey from its inception to where it stands now is a testament to its commitment towards enhancing the learning experience.
10. Cuemath
Let’s delve into the world of Cuemath, an international online learning platform that’s making waves in the education sector. With a focus on maths and coding programs for K-to-10 students, it’s become a lynchpin for learners across 80 countries worldwide.
Based out of Bengaluru, Karnataka, this innovative EdTech company was founded back in 2013 by Manan Khurma and Jagjit Khurma. Since its inception, Cuemath has been steadfastly committed to improving its proprietary learning system and technology platform – efforts that have positively impacted their growth trajectory.
Here are some key facts about Cuemath’s financial performance:
| Financial Performance | FY22 |
|---|---|
| Revenue | ₹152 crores |
| Profit/Loss | Loss of ₹216.6 crores |
Despite posting a loss in FY22, the company saw a significant revenue increase of 63.3% compared to the previous fiscal year. It’s clear that they’re investing heavily in their mission with a dedicated team of 733 employees driving their vision forward.
Cuemath’s commitment to providing excellent educational services hasn’t gone unnoticed either! They were named one of the world’s most innovative EdTech companies at the prestigious ASU + GSV Summit 2023.
It proudly carries STEM.org’s Accredited Educational Experience Trustmark – testament to its global recognition as an effective learning tool.
Notably, Cuemath is also leading from the front when it comes to partnerships; they’re currently standing strong as India’s first EdTech company partnering with Google for Education’s accreditation program. This partnership showcases their drive towards offering accredited and quality education experiences for students across continents.
Conclusion on Education Companies in India
We’ve taken you through a fascinating journey of the top 10 education companies in India. It’s clear from our exploration that these organisations are not just powerhouses of knowledge, but they’re also driving revolutionary changes in the way we learn.
From traditional classroom setups to digital platforms, these education giants have harnessed technology and innovation to break down barriers to learning. They’ve provided millions with an opportunity for quality education regardless of geographical location or socio-economic status.
You’ve seen how these remarkable firms are shaping our future generation through their innovative platforms and services. They’re not only enhancing student experiences but also contributing significantly towards achieving inclusive growth and development.
In short, this list is testament to how diverse yet dynamic India’s educational landscape is – constantly evolving while staying true to its core mission of empowering learners everywhere.
In parallel to the growth of educational companies, the health sector, particularly pharmaceutical companies in India, plays a crucial role in supporting the overall wellbeing and development of the nation’s youth and students.
