Latest news with #Unacademy
Time Business News
2 days ago
- Time Business News
Top 8 Online Learning Apps in India Transforming Education
The face of education in India has undergone a remarkable transformation in the past decade, driven largely by the explosive growth of smartphones, affordable internet, and a nationwide hunger for knowledge. Online learning apps have emerged as powerful tools in democratizing education, enabling students from all corners of India to access world-class resources. Whether you're preparing for competitive exams, learning a new language, or upskilling for your career, there's an app for that! Here's a look at some of the top-rated online learning apps that are redefining the Indian education ecosystem: Arguably the most recognized name in Indian EdTech, BYJU'S offers highly engaging and personalized learning journeys for students from kindergarten to competitive exams like JEE, NEET, and UPSC. The app combines video lessons, quizzes, and real-world examples to simplify complex topics. Its adaptive learning path ensures that students progress at their own pace. Key Features: Interactive video content Personalized learning paths Extensive exam prep modules Unacademy has rapidly grown into a go-to platform for aspirants of competitive exams such as UPSC, SSC, CAT, and State PSCs. The app provides live classes by top educators, structured courses, and doubt-clearing sessions. Its subscription model offers access to a vast range of subjects and educators. Why It Stands Out: Live classes with top educators Daily practice questions and mock tests Dedicated channels for exam-specific prep Vedantu specializes in live, interactive classes for school students (Grades 1–12) as well as JEE/NEET aspirants. Its WAVE platform (Whiteboard Audio Video Environment) makes virtual classrooms feel highly engaging. The platform also offers masterclasses and revision courses tailored to CBSE, ICSE, and state boards. Top Benefits: Real-time interaction with teachers Instant doubt-solving Performance tracking dashboards Toppr is tailored for school students and focuses on delivering a customized learning experience. It includes videos, practice tests, and performance analytics. With over 10 million students using the platform, Toppr also helps with test series and board exam preparation. Highlights: AI-driven adaptive learning Extensive coverage of school syllabi Boards + competitive exams under one roof A non-profit platform offering free, high-quality education, Khan Academy is especially popular among students looking for clarity in subjects like math, science, and economics. Its collaboration with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) makes it a credible resource for school-goers. What's Unique: 100% free content Conceptual clarity with short video lessons Multilingual content availability Doubtnut has carved a niche among students who struggle with math and science problems. You simply take a photo of your question, and the app returns a step-by-step video solution. It's extremely popular among Hindi-speaking students and tier-2/3 city learners. Noteworthy Features: Doubt resolution via image recognition Free video solutions Covers NCERT, IIT-JEE, and more Targeted at children aged 6–18, WhiteHat Jr focuses on teaching coding through live online classes. It offers programs in app development, game design, and AI, sparking creativity and critical thinking in young minds. Why Parents Love It: One-on-one coding classes Structured curriculum aligned with global standards Encourages early STEM skills While not India-specific, Udemy remains a top choice for working professionals and college students seeking upskilling courses in IT, business, personal development, and more. With thousands of paid and free courses, it offers flexibility and affordability. Best For: Career upskilling Learning at your own pace Certificates of completion From exam prep to professional skill development, India's top-rated learning apps are closing educational gaps and creating equal opportunities. As the EdTech space continues to expand, learners of all ages can look forward to smarter, more personalized, and more accessible education. Whether you're a student, parent, or lifelong learner, there's never been a better time to explore what online education in India has to offer. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Business Standard
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Delhi startup Launches Chanakya AI, introducing AI Teachers that Analyses Answers and Gives Smarter Feedback
VMPL New Delhi [India], July 7: What if your child could instantly know exactly where they went wrong in a chapter--and how to fix it? Neurobridge Tech Pvt Ltd today announced the official launch of Chanakya AI, India's first AI platform analyzing handwritten CBSE exam answers and providing personalized feedback. This breakthrough technology bridges a long-standing gap in India's ₹3,74,000 crore ($50.31 billion) K-12 education market by delivering one-on-one guidance previously available only through costly private tutoring. Chanakya AI has shown remarkable results during its year-long beta phase, with over 500 students across multiple states reporting grade improvements. Delhi student Kiran Kumar's math scores improved from 28% to 45%, while Pune students reported jumps from 72% to 84%. Unlike conventional education methods--which merely assign marks and indicate if answers are right or wrong--Chanakya AI identifies why students make particular mistakes. After students upload photos of their handwritten answers, the AI system analyzes their work, highlighting error patterns, identifying conceptual gaps, and calculating marks lost due to repeated mistakes. "Traditional methods simply tell students how many marks they've scored or lost," explained Garvit Kothari, CEO and Co-founder. "We go further. For example, if a student consistently mixes up velocity and acceleration concepts, we not only show them they've lost 8 marks because of this recurring mistake but also create targeted interventions addressing this conceptual confusion." This approach represents a fundamental improvement over traditional educational systems and current edtech platforms like Byju's, Unacademy, and Vedantu, which provide standardized lectures and multiple-choice questions, rather than personalized insights into handwritten answers. Chanakya AI's process involves students practicing questions and uploading photos of their handwritten answers via the app. Proprietary AI interprets handwritten answers with 92% accuracy (targeting 95%+ by year-end), identifies mistakes across conceptual, procedural, and calculation categories, then recommends targeted reviews, specific practice problems, and guided content. The system tracks progress in real-time, dynamically adjusting difficulty to help students master concepts. "My mother serves as principal of a government school and constantly shares stories of bright students struggling due to one-size-fits-all teaching methods," said Atharv Garg, COO and Co-founder. "With class sizes often reaching up to 45 students per teacher, it's humanly impossible for teachers to identify and correct every student's unique learning challenges. That's the gap our AI fills--by providing personalized interventions to every student, no matter how large the class size." Early user experiences demonstrate tangible improvements. "My son's grades improved from 72% to 84% in just two months. Chanakya's personalized feedback finally made the difference," said Priya Sharma, mother of a 10th grader from Delhi. "My math scores improved by 20 marks after using Chanakya. The AI clearly explained where I went wrong and gave precise steps to practice," said Ananya R., a Grade 10 student from Pune. Chanakya AI plans expansion by Q4 2025, covering grades 6-8 and all subjects for grades 11-12. Voice and video interaction capabilities launching in August 2025 will create India's first omnichannel AI tutoring experience. "Students will soon speak directly with their AI tutors, demonstrate their problem-solving process visually, and receive real-time verbal feedback," said Garg. Additionally, Chanakya AI is developing B2B solutions for schools, automating the examination lifecycle--from test creation and grading to performance analytics. Self-funded to date, the company aims to raise Series A capital in Q4 2025 to accelerate development and market reach. Built on proprietary CBSE-aligned Large Language Models trained on over 100,000 question-answer pairs, Chanakya AI is accessible via across smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. Priced at ₹1,500 monthly--a fraction of traditional private tutoring costs--the platform provides analytical insights previously accessible only to affluent students. "Every success story like Kiran Kumar's symbolizes thousands of students across India who simply need the right support to thrive academically," noted Garg. "Our mission is making personalized learning support universally accessible." Chanakya AI enters India's rapidly expanding online education market, projected to grow from ₹21,700 crore ($2.92 billion) in 2024 to ₹1,55,900 crore ($20.98 billion) by 2033, representing a 24.50% compound annual growth rate. "With India's 261 million students across 1.5 million schools, our handwritten analysis and personalized learning approach addresses a critical need traditional education simply cannot meet," said Kothari. "We're targeting 2.6 million students within the next three years." Founded in May 2023 and headquartered in Delhi, Neurobridge Tech is pioneering the intersection of artificial intelligence and education in India. The company's flagship product, Chanakya AI, represents the first platform capable of analyzing handwritten student work to deliver personalized learning experiences at scale. More information is available at
Entrepreneur
29-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Unacademy Co-founders Set to Exit, Shift Focus to New Venture AirLearn
You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. In a significant leadership shift at Indian edtech unicorn Unacademy, co-founders Gaurav Munjal and Roman Saini are reportedly stepping down to dedicate their efforts to a new venture, AirLearn, a language learning app. This move marks a rare instance of original co-founders exiting a major Indian edtech company. Their departure follows that of the third co-founder, Hemesh Singh, who left in June 2023. Sumit Jain, co-founder of Unacademy's subsidiary Graphy, is expected to assume the leadership role. Jain joined Unacademy in 2020 after the acquisition of his startup Opentalk. According to The Economic Times, Munjal and Saini are now focused on scaling AirLearn, which has already achieved an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of USD 400,000 in the US, just months after its launch. Unacademy's board comprises representatives from SoftBank, General Atlantic, Bhavin Turakhia (Zeta), Sujeet Kumar (Udaan), along with Munjal and Saini. Data from TheKredible indicates the three original co-founders together held a 15% stake in the company. The leadership transition signals a new era for Unacademy, which is aiming to sustain and grow amid evolving market conditions. Munjal recently noted that the company has significantly reduced its core business cash burn—from over INR 1,000 crore annually to under INR 200 crore. With INR 1,200 crore in reserves and profitable units like Graphy and PrepLadder, Unacademy remains financially stable. The exit of its founding trio could usher in a fresh strategic direction for the edtech firm.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Unacademy founders exit operations amid strategic shift; Sumit Jain named CEO: Report
Unacademy, one of India's prominent edtech platforms, is undergoing a major leadership overhaul as co-founder and CEO Gaurav Munjal prepares to step down, with Sumit Jain set to take over, according to an Economic Times report citing people familiar with the matter. The transition marks a pivotal moment for the Bengaluru-based company, coming amid a broader strategic reset, an abandoned acquisition bid, and a shift in focus toward AirLearn- its emerging language learning application. Munjal's departure follows that of fellow co-founders Roman Saini and Hemesh Singh, effectively ending the operational involvement of the trio that started Unacademy as a YouTube channel a decade ago. Singh exited the company in June 2024, while Saini is now also stepping back from active duties. ET sources indicated that extensive conversations between the board and Munjal led to the decision. "The board and Munjal have been aligned on his exit, as he has been reluctant to lead the company's offline coaching expansion,' said one person cited in the report. The founders are expected to receive cash payouts while continuing to retain their equity. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Resort com tudo incluído na Bahia Palladium Hotel Group Undo Unacademy's pivot from online test preparation to offline coaching centres has proved challenging in a post-pandemic edtech landscape marked by reduced funding and consumer pullback. The company had explored an acquisition by Allen Career Institute in 2023 at a valuation of $800 million—far below its $3.4 billion peak—but talks collapsed over valuation disagreements. Sumit Jain, a current board member and former founder of Opentalk (acquired by Unacademy in 2020), will assume the role of CEO. He previously co-founded Commonfloor, later acquired by Quikr in 2016. The company's board includes high-profile investors such as SoftBank, General Atlantic, Nexus Venture Partners, Peak XV Partners, and prominent entrepreneurs Bhavin Turakhia and Sujeet Kumar. Tracxn data shows Munjal and Saini each own 3.4 percent, Singh holds 2.2 percent, while institutional investors collectively control significant stakes—Nexus and Peak XV at ~14 percent each, SoftBank at 12 percent, and General Atlantic at 11 percent. Unacademy has raised $880 million in total funding, including a $440 million round led by Temasek in 2021, with participation from Tiger Global, Dragoneer Investment Group, and Mirae Asset. Munjal is now expected to focus on AirLearn, formerly Unacademy Languages, which is being incubated under Unacademy Inc, a Delaware-registered entity. The app, positioned to rival Duolingo, has grown to 70,000 daily active users and achieved $2 million in annualised revenue. Preliminary funding talks for AirLearn are underway, and it may see backing from existing Unacademy investors. The company has also taken steps to stabilise its financials. For FY24, Unacademy reported a 7 per cent decline in operating revenue to Rs 840 crore, while net losses narrowed by 62 per cent to Rs 631 crore, attributed to aggressive cost-cutting and layoffs. In a recent townhall, Munjal said annual cash burn has dropped from over Rs 1,000 crore to under Rs 200 crore. The company currently holds reserves of Rs 1,200 crore (approximately $140–150 million), he confirmed. The leadership changes come as Unacademy faces mounting competition from Byju's- owned Aakash Institute and PhysicsWallah, which has filed confidential IPO papers at an estimated valuation of Rs 35,000–40,000 crore. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
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Business Standard
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Unacademy co-founders may step back, refocus on new edtech venture Airlearn
Unacademy's top brass is preparing for a leadership reshuffle, with co-founders Gaurav Munjal and Roman Saini expected to step back from day-to-day operations in the coming two to three months, according to people familiar with the matter. The pair is reportedly engaged in high-level talks with the company's board and key investors to carve out Airlearn—the edtech firm's language learning platform—into an independent entity. The third co-founder, Hemesh Singh, stepped down in June 2024. The trio had originally launched Unacademy nearly a decade ago, starting out as a YouTube channel before evolving into one of India's leading edtech platforms. Sumit Jain, founder of Graphy and elevated to partner at Unacademy following Hemesh Singh's departure last year, is poised to take charge of the company's offline operations, according to people familiar with the transition. At the same time, Unacademy is in the final stages of appointing new leadership to oversee its core online education business, according to the sources. An email query to Unacademy remained unanswered till press time. Jain joined Unacademy in 2020 following the acquisition of his startup Opentalk. In 2023, Unacademy promoted Jain, head of its Graphy division, to the role of partner—a designation internally likened to a late-stage co-founder. Jain co-founded Graphy, a platform that enables educators and content creators to build and sell their own online courses. Before his tenure at Unacademy, Jain co-founded real estate portal CommonFloor in 2007 and served as its chief executive officer. It was later acquired by classifieds platform Quikr in 2016. Notably, CommonFloor had earlier acquired an accommodation platform founded by Unacademy's Gaurav Munjal, in 2015. specialised in helping students and young professionals find housing in new cities. Munjal and Saini plan to devote their efforts to scaling Airlearn, Unacademy's language learning venture, which positions itself as a competitor to Duolingo, according to the sources. As of April, the app had attracted 70,000 daily active users and nearly 300,000 monthly users, according to a company update shared by Munjal on social media. Of those, 17,500 are paying subscribers, contributing to an annual recurring revenue of $2 million. The majority of Airlearn's user base hails from the US, UK, and Germany. Over the past year, users have completed more than 20 million lessons on the platform. The app currently offers 13 language courses, with English-to-Spanish, English-to-French, and English-to-Korean emerging as the most in demand. Unacademy's board includes representatives from global investors SoftBank and General Atlantic, as well as prominent entrepreneurs Bhavin Turakhia of Zeta and Sujeet Kumar of Udaan, alongside co-founders Gaurav Munjal and Roman Saini. The edtech company has secured approximately $880 million in total funding, according to data provider Tracxn. In 2021, it raised $440 million in a funding round led by Temasek, with super pro-rata participation from General Atlantic, Tiger Global, and SoftBank Vision Fund, taking the company's valuation to $3.44 billion. The three original co-founders collectively retain a roughly 15 per cent stake in the company. Unacademy recorded Rs 988.4 crore in total revenue during FY24, a 5.33 per cent decline compared to Rs 1,044 crore in FY23, according to Entrackr. However, the SoftBank-backed firm cut its losses by 62 per cent, reducing them to Rs 631 crore in the fiscal year ending March 2024 from Rs 1,678 crore in FY23. Munjal recently claimed that Unacademy has reduced its cash burn in the core business from over Rs 1,000 crore annually three years ago to under Rs 200 crore this calendar year. He added that Unacademy has Rs 1,200 crore in the bank and is financially stable. Some of its businesses, like Graphy and PrepLadder, are making money every month.
