Bengaluru-based edtech startup BYJU’S has raised INR 2,322 crores ($328 million) in series F round of funding from Canada Pension board’s investment division CPPIB Investment Board Private Holdings, General Atlantic Singapore TL Pvt Ltd and Naspers Ventures BV. BYJU’S has raised a total of $244 million (around INR 1,762 crores) across all funding rounds since 2008. With this latest investment, the valuation of BYJU’S has touched INR 28,918 crores ($4 billion) according to data platform Paper.vc. The firm entered the unicorn club in March this year.
Startup Wonders analyzed the BYJU’s filing with MCA and here is the breakdown of the funding round. Naspers Ventures BV subscribed to 1,59,352 shares for around INR 1,236.65 crores ($171 million). Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Private Holdings bought 1,13,823 shares for around INR 886.43 crores ($122.59 million). General Atlantic Singapore subscribed to 27,431 shares for INR 199.12 crores ($27.53 million).
Media reports have published different data when it comes to the valuation of the firm. Economic Times suggested that BYJU’S raised $400 million at a valuation of $3.6 billion whereas a Livemint report said that the startup has raised 400 million at a valuation of nearly $4 billion. With this, Byju’s valuation soared, as it entered the leagues of the top five most valuable startup in India – namely Flipkart ($22 billion), Paytm ($16 billion), Oyo ($5 billion) and Ola ($4 billion).
Founded by Byjy Raveendran and Divya Gokulnath in 2008, the platform offers a learning application for students of classes four to twelve. It provides courses to help students prepare for competitive exams like NEET, CAT, IAS, GRE and GMAT. BYJU’S was started as an offline CAT coaching centre and the founder himself took classes for students in Bengaluru. He developed a brand image and reputation quickly and students started visiting Bengaluru from other cities to attend his classes. He then started travelling to take classes in auditoriums across Pune, Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.
He started making money but realized that travelling to teach was not a scalable model. And he founded BYJU’S with a team of 25 in 2011. Since then, BYJU’S has raised money from big investors like Tencent, Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative, Verlinvest, Sequoia Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Aarin Capital. The firm has tripled its valuation in the following nine months.
