Ed-tech companies in India have experienced significant growth since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2016, the industry was operating but not yet reaching its full potential. However, this has changed drastically thanks to advancements in internet and technology. Indian ed-tech companies now generate substantial profits by offering online educational services.
There are numerous ed-tech companies in India that we’ll take a closer look at in a moment. However, first, it’s essential to understand why ed-tech companies in India are highly sought after and how they’re transforming people’s lives.
So, without wasting any time, let’s delve into the specifics of ed-tech companies in India.
What is an Ed-Tech Company?
An ed-tech company has developed an online platform that connects tutors and learners, providing them with an opportunity to learn and teach. The platform aims to create a win-win situation for all the stakeholders. The founder makes all the initial investments and handles marketing to attract people to the ed-tech platform.
Teachers create courses within the platform, and students pay to access the content. When a transaction occurs between a student and a teacher, a small commission fee is charged by the platform provider.
Reason Why Ed-tech Companies in India is Growing So Fast
Simplilearn, an ed-tech company, has recently reported a net revenue of 500 crores in Q4 2021. You might be wondering how they managed to achieve such a high revenue.
The primary reason behind the fast growth of ed-tech companies in India is Covid-19. Since offline teaching was closed due to lockdown, online learning has become the norm, and ed-tech companies have taken full advantage of it.
Additionally, thanks to Jio, internet prices have become dirt-cheap, allowing users to consume more data in a day. Smartphones have also played a significant role in this process since not everyone can afford laptops.
So, the reasons why ed-tech companies in India become so profitable is because:
- Covid-19 and lockdown
- Cheap internet rates
- Learn from anywhere
- Affordable courses
- Easy accessibility
Benefits of Using Ed-tech Platforms
Learning from an online platform can give you several lucrative benefits. Let me explain how.
Firstly, online courses are generally more affordable compared to traditional classroom courses. You can learn from the comfort of your own home, which eliminates the need to commute, saving both time and money.
The flexibility to learn at your own pace and on your own schedule is another significant benefit. In case you miss a live session, you can access the recording later, so you won’t have to worry about missing out on important information.
However, it’s important to note that different ed-tech platforms have their own set of flaws. For a more detailed analysis, we will discuss the top ed-tech companies in India.
Top 5 Ed-Tech Companies in India
In this list, we will discuss active ed-tech companies in India.
1. IIM Skills
IIM Skills is an ed-tech institute that was founded in 2015 by Vaibhav Kakkar, an entrepreneur, and digital marketing expert. They provide four different courses and CAT coaching. Unlike other ed-tech platforms, IIM Skills focuses on quality rather than quantity.
The four courses offered at IIM Skills are:
- Content writing course
- Technical writing course
- Digital marketing course
- GST practitioner course
The prices of most courses are in the five-figure range, but you can contact them using the number given on their website to see if the EMI option is possible.
IIM Skills conducts zoom classes, where you will be learning the basics. You will get five days to complete the assignment. The IIM Skills teachers will review it and give you feedback. They will also point out what you can improve.
BMW, Amazon, HTC, Dell, and Genpact trust IIM Skills certified students, which speaks to the quality of their ed-tech platform.
IIM Skills offers several advantages, such as small batch sizes for effective learning, expert faculties with over 12+ years of experience, virtual interactive sessions, lifetime access to course content, certification, and support via call, WhatsApp, and email. Classes are held on Sundays only from 10 AM to 2 PM, making it easier for working professionals to attend.
In terms of support, IIM Skills is one of the best. You can call the teacher to get solutions to your problems, and their email response is also fast compared to any other ed-tech company in India. We cannot think of any disadvantages about IIM Skills, but if we find any, we will update this post.
2. Unacademy
Unacademy is one of the most successful ed-tech companies in India. It started as a Youtube channel in 2010 and was incorporated as an ed-tech platform in 2015. The founders of Unacademy are Gaurav Munjal, Roman Saini, and Hemesh Singh.
The vision of this platform is to provide education related to competitive exams like UPSC, JEE, NEET, and GATE. The platform has gained popularity due to the quality of education it provides. Unacademy also offers teaching classes for students in grades 6 – 12, with courses available for CBSE and Maharashtra board only.
From 2015 to 2020, Unacademy raised millions of dollars in funding and acquired other ed-tech startups like PrepLadder, CodeChef, and Kreatryx. They also launched a Graphy app, which allows users to create courses. These platforms are similar to Unacademy and are a part of the company’s strategy to increase revenue.
Advantages of Unacademy include live classes, interaction with teachers through chat or voice, coaching for demanding exams, monthly subscription plans, an easy-to-use interface, and a mobile app that allows learning from anywhere.
One disadvantage is that the platform requires payment of 12 months’ fees in advance for the monthly subscription plan. Additionally, only a few courses offer a one-month subscription option.
3. Simplilearn
Simplilearn is an Indian ed-tech start-up that began as a blog website. Thanks to the platform founder, Krishna Kumar’s efforts, Simplilearn has become one of the most tenacious competitors in the global market. In 2021, the platform has crossed its 500 crore revenues, and it’s not surprising considering the reasons below.
Simplilearn has focused on building authority and kept its offering niche-specific. The courses you’ll find on Simplilearn are related to titles like Cyber Security, Cloud Computing, Project Management, Digital Marketing, and Data Science.
Unlike Unacademy, this ed-tech platform does not offer knowledge of competitive exams. However, Simplilearn’s USP is that you can find post-graduate programs directly. Furthermore, Simplilearn has partnered with universities like Purdue University, UMass Amherst, and Caltech.
Later on, they started to collaborate with big MNCs like Amazon, Microsoft, IBM, and Facebook. You can find artificial intelligence courses created in collaboration with IBM, and all these courses are under post-graduate programs. While everything on this ed-tech platform is top-notch, the pricing is also high. Few of the courses have options for EMI, so financials shouldn’t be a barrier for most people.
Advantages of Simplilearn:
- Online postgraduate programs
- Learn from the international university teachers
- Online learning
- Certifications
- EMI option available in some courses
Disadvantage of Simplilearn:
- Pricey
4. Udemy
Udemy was established in 2009 by three entrepreneurs, namely Gagan Biyani, Oktay Caglar, and Eren Bali. Their goal was to provide online education, and they soon realized that people preferred learning at their own pace. With the advent of the internet in India, Udemy became the go-to platform for Indian users who wished to learn new skills in their free time.
Udemy’s success in the Indian market can be attributed to two major factors. Firstly, learners can learn at their own pace, and once they buy a course, they have lifetime access to its contents. Secondly, Udemy offers courses at much more affordable prices compared to Simplilearn and Unacademy.
Moreover, Udemy offers a wide range of courses on different topics, unlike Simplilearn, which is limited to certain courses. Tutors can also create and publish their courses on the platform and earn money. Currently, Udemy has over 46 million learners, 60,000 tutors, and 175,000 courses.
Although Udemy offers a vast quantity of courses, learners can use the filter system to find courses with good ratings. Udemy is an ideal platform for individuals who want to learn new skills at affordable prices. The content on the platform is well-organized and easy to navigate.
Advantages of Udemy include affordable pricing, lifetime access to course content, and the flexibility to learn at your own pace.
The only disadvantage of Udemy is that connecting with course creators is not always easy.
5. Byjus
Byjus is one of the leading ed-tech companies in India, with the highest market valuation in the country, even though it started after Unacademy. Founded by Byju Raveendran and Divya Gokulnath, the company’s primary goal is to provide education to K-12 (Kindergarten to 12th Class) students.
The company focuses on delivering quality content, teacher accessibility, and investments. In 2017, Byjus collaborated with Bollywood’s most famous actor, Shah Rukh Khan. This collaboration resulted in a high amount of profit for Byjus. As a result, the platform expanded its portfolio and covered more courses to gain more audience.
Byjus offers a variety of courses, including CBSE, ICSE, CAT, IAS, JEE, NEET, Commerce, JEE Main, NCERT, JEE Advanced, and K-12. As you can see, Byjus covers most in-demand courses. However, the pricing of these courses varies from field to field and can be quite expensive.
Some advantages of Byjus include quality learning, exam papers to solve, and support from teachers. However, the biggest disadvantage is the high cost of the courses.
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