With another $30 million fresh funding, Mark Zuckerberg-backed Ed-Tech firm Byju's has global investors betting big on it. Here's why

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With another $30 million fresh funding, Mark Zuckerberg-backed Ed-Tech firm Byju's has global investors betting big on it. Here's why Zuckerberg-backed Ed-tech giant BYJU’S, also one of India’s largest ed-tech company, has recently raised $30 million funding from Verlinvest, a large Belgian family-owned, consumer-focused, diversification investment holding company.
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As many as 8 million students between classes 4-12 are learning from the BYJU’S app today. This new round will help boost BYJU’S international expansion and acquisition plans.

Verlinvest has invested in India before as well - winemaker Sula Vineyards, speciality food maker Veeba Food Services Pvt. Ltd, Drums Food International Pvt. Ltd, the maker of Hokey Pokey ice-cream and Future Consumer Enterprise Ltd.

Frederic de Mevius, Chairman of the Board, Verlinvest said, “We are excited to join hands with Byju Raveendran on his inspiring journey to bring effective learning online. We believe online learning has great potential globally and the BYJU’S product addresses this with an innovative and compelling proposition. Verlinvest prides itself on being a daring investor in the consumer world and enabling entrepreneurs through inspiring journeys. Byju fits well within this vision.”

Nicholas Cator, Executive Director, Verlinvest added, “We are very happy to partner with the talented team at BYJU’S to expand in India and abroad. A 1:1 learning experience is a dream ratio, and it is very encouraging to see that an Indian company has created a product which closely addresses this need by offering engaging and personalized learning experiences enabled by technology. We have seen a lot of edtech companies, but BYJU’S offers personalized learning to an extent which we haven’t seen in any product across the globe. We look forward to supporting the management team to expand to new markets and to further build the brand.”

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Meanwhile, this is what the man behind Byju's had to say. “Our partnership with Verlinvest will further boost our aspiration to change the way students learn across the globe. In the last 18 months, we have witnessed exponential growth in India. While these numbers are very exciting, there is a long way to go before we can call it a revolution. The fact that we are still reaching to less than 1% of the student population, shows the immense potential and the impact we can create. In fact, our teams are continuously working towards creating learning products that will enable our efforts to make learning more accessible, engaging and personalized for students,” said Byju Raveendran.

Why investors are betting big on BYJU's

From test prep classes to one of the most effective learning apps –brand BYJU’S is redefining learning by using technology as an enabler; in fact, all the products are completely made in-house.

Offering personalized learning experiences based on pace and style of learning of every student through technology, BYJU’S is creating new learning experiences for students across grades. The learning app has seen a high annual renewal rate of 90%, which is a big validation of its effectiveness.

Clearly, at a time when startups are shutting shops, Byju’s has been one of the few growth stage start-ups to have raised multiple rounds of funds - $75 million from Sequoia Capital and Belgian family office Sofina in March 2016. In September, Byju’s raised $50 million in a round led by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, becoming the first Asian investment for the personal fund set up by Facebook Inc. founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan.

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In December, the company raised another $15 million from World Bank arm International Finance Corp.

Byju’s also raised an undisclosed amount in venture debt from InnoVen Capital. Besides, Lightspeed Venture Partners invested about $20 million in the firm earlier in 2016 in a secondary transaction which saw Aarin Capital partially selling its stake. This took the total capital infusion in Byju’s last year to at least $160 million. The company, founded by Byju Raveendran in November 2011, has so far raised close to $200 million in equity and debt funding since inception.