When we talk about the Indian education system, we are highlighting a country that is home to over 26.5 crores of students who belong to different regions, cultures, and different backgrounds. According to some sources, the Indian education landscape is continuously developing with over 15 lakh schools in the country. As more and more people become aware of the need for an educated future, the importance of ed-tech has been felt. This article aims to provide details of some ed-tech startups that we believe will grow in the coming years. With the required use of technology, these startups are making it possible for any student to empower themselves in various disciplines. 

Students who cannot adhere to the strict schedules of the traditional school system can receive high-quality education thanks to edtech, which offers access to education on demand. India is one of those countries that is leading in the ed-tech space around the world.

Here is the list of startups that are making it possible:

1. Byjus:

Founded by Byju Raveendran and Divya Gokulnath in 2011, it grew into India’s largest ed-tech company. In 2015, Byju launched its learning application which started live learning classes and soon gripped about 9 lakhs of subscribers. As per Startup Talky, the application is used by 15 million students. Today, it assists School Students and even IT and Management aspirants. 

2. UpGrad

Launched in 2015, upGrad, the brainchild of three co-founders, has since evolved with each taking on distinct leadership roles. Mayank, an alumnus of IIT-Delhi, spearheads overall growth, strategic partnerships, and team development within the organization. Today, upGrad stands as South Asia’s largest online higher education technology company, offering an extensive selection of over 100 courses in collaboration with prestigious global universities like Duke Corporate Education (US), Michigan State University (US), Liverpool John Moores University (UK), Deakin Business School (Australia), Swiss School of Business Management (Geneva), IIT Madras (India), IIM Kozhikode (India), and various others. Its commitment to quality education makes upGrad a formidable player in the edtech sector.

3. Jobaaj Learnings

Founded in 2019, Jobaaj Learnings is an ed-tech subsidiary of the Jobaaj Group, established by Saksham Agarwal, and is dedicated to delivering top-notch industry-focused programs to students. With a diverse range of courses such as product management, performance marketing, and management consulting, Jobaaj Learnings ensures learners receive a well-rounded education. What sets their programs apart is their holistic approach, as they not only focus on providing education but also emphasize placement assistance, ensuring that students are well-prepared to embark on their careers. This commitment to both learning and successful placement positions Jobaaj Learnings as a valuable asset in the realm of education and professional development.

4. Vedantu

Vedantu is an Indian multinational online tutoring platform, headquartered in Bengaluru, India, that was established in 2014. Founded by IIT alumni, including Vamsi Krishna (CEO), Pulkit Jain (Head of Product), Saurabh Saxena, and Anand Prakash, Vedantu primarily offers educational services to students in grades 4 to 12 following the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) and Central Board of Secondary Education curriculum. Its core focus lies in live online tutoring across various subjects, including STEM, languages (Hindi, English, Sanskrit, German, and French), as well as environmental science and social science.

5. Unacademy

Unacademy is an Indian multinational educational technology company headquartered in Bangalore, founded in 2015 by Gaurav Munjal, Hemesh Singh, and Roman Saini. It offers a diverse online educational platform, catering to students preparing for competitive exams such as JEE, NEET, UPSC, and more. Additionally, Unacademy provides K-12 foundational courses and skill-building programs like programming and entrepreneurship. In 2019, it introduced the subscription-based Unacademy Plus, offering access to live courses in various Indian languages. Unacademy’s value reached $3.44 billion as of May 2022. It began as a YouTube channel and later launched the Unacademy app, expanding its offline learning centers in several Indian cities.

6. Simplilearn

Founded in 2010 by Krishna Kumar, Simplilearn is an online learning platform providing a diverse array of educational offerings. The Simplilearn website hosts online certification courses, master’s programs, job guarantee programs, and post-graduate diplomas across various fields, including cyber security, digital marketing, business analytics, cloud computing, project management, and artificial intelligence. Catering to both individuals and corporations, Simplilearn offers training solutions through self-paced courses and boot camps. Their approach combines self-paced learning with live instructor-based sessions, as evident in Simplilearn reviews. The platform’s hands-on projects and practice exercises enhance learner engagement, making it a comprehensive resource for skill development and professional growth.

7. Coursera

Established in 2012 by Stanford University computer science professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller, Coursera collaborates with universities and institutions to provide a vast array of online courses, certifications, and degrees spanning various subjects. By 2023, Coursera boasts partnerships with over 275 universities and companies, offering a comprehensive catalog of more than 4,000 courses. Notably, in 2014, Coursera garnered recognition, winning the prestigious Webby and People’s Voice awards in the Education category. In March 2021, the company filed for an IPO, having generated around $293 million in revenue for the fiscal year ending in December 2020, marking a 59% growth rate since 2019, though net losses increased to approximately $66.8 million.

8. Udemy

Udemy, Inc., an educational technology company, was founded in May 2010 by Eren Bali, Gagan Biyani, and Oktay Caglar. As of June 2023, the platform boasts a substantial user base, with 64 million learners accessing over 210,000 courses and learning from more than 75,000 instructors offering classes in nearly 75 languages, accumulating over 870 million course enrollments. Notably, Udemy serves more than 14,900 Udemy Business customers, including over 50% of the Fortune 100. These business customers have access to a vast library of over 24,000 courses, aiding in the development of job-related skills and technical certifications. Udemy is headquartered in San Francisco, with additional hubs in Denver, Dublin, Austin, Melbourne, Istanbul, and Gurgaon.

9. TestBook

Testbook, headquartered in Mumbai, India, is an Indian educational technology company that was established in January 2014 by a group of IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi alumni. The company focuses on preparing students for various competitive exams, including GATE, State PSC, SBI PO, IBPS PO, UPSC IAS Exam, Engineering Recruitment Exams, and SSC Exams. Founded by Ashutosh Kumar, Narendra Agrawal, Manoj Munna, and Praveen Agrawal, all IIT alumni, Testbook has secured funding from various sources, including LetsVenture, Ah! Ventures, Matrix Partners, S. Chand, Utsav Somani of AngelList, and Iron Pillar. Testbook also enjoys partnerships with prestigious educational institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), including IIT Madras, IIT Ropar, and IIT Gandhinagar.

10. EdX

Founded in 2012, EdX is a prominent American MOOC (massive open online course) provider, offering online courses and certification programs that empower learners worldwide to enhance their skills. With over 100 million enrollments in EdX courses, including both paid certificate programs and free courses, the platform is committed to democratizing education and improving both online and on-campus teaching and learning processes. Collaborating with over 160 institutions and universities, EdX offers a vast catalog of more than 3,600 online courses and certificate programs, ensuring that quality education is accessible to all, irrespective of their location.