The edtech startups reshaping India’s education scene

2020 was a year like no other for India’s thriving edtech scene. Nationwide lockdowns revamped school learning and catapulted the sector through the roof. Whether it was growth in new users, company valuation or funding — India’s edtech startups saw it all. Byjus went on to become the world’s most valued edtech startup, as four more edtech unicorns joined the club: Our client UpGrad, Unacademy, Eruditus and recently, Vedantu. Here are some of India’s edtech players that have caught our eye this year.  

1. Skillmatics

Founded in 2017 by Dhanvil Sheth, Skillmatics creates innovative edutainment toys and games for children between the ages of three and nine. Their products include write and wipe activity mats, educational games and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) based toys. In 2021, this booming startup also scored Series A funding worth $6 million with plans to grow their presence further in the US. So far, the company has sold close to three million units globally and is the first Indian brand to partner up with over 10,000 retailers in the US. 

2. Udayy 

For some, learning maths can be a bit dull — so adding an interactive element (or, as Udayy says, “creating magic in classrooms”) works the best. Udayy, a live learning platform, offers online interactive learning for kids with a focus on maths and communication. Co-founded in 2019 by Karan Varshney, Mahak Garg and Saumya Yadav, this startup kicked off its growth journey with a recent seed funding of $2.5 million. Team Udayy is on a mission: to promote personalised learning and interactive knowledge that can benefit a child for a lifetime. 

3. Kutuki 

The earlier, the better! Kutuki agrees. Pioneering India’s preschool edtech scene, Kutuki was founded by Sneha Sundaram and Bharath Bevinahally in 2017. The app (which is as cute as their name) offers hundreds of fun videos, rhymes, games, quizzes and interactive live classes for kids. Their goal is to nourish young minds and connect with their parents by providing contextual, interactive knowledge in multiple local Indian languages. Kutuki’s recent $2.2 million funding comes as no surprise as the app is loved by ten million users and 130+ kindergarten partners.

4. Toppr

Toppr puts students’ needs right at the heart of their one-stop school learning platform. Co-founded by Zishaan Hayath and Hemanth Gotet, Toppr offers students after-school learning with over 1.5 million educational pieces across different formats. A 360-degree learning experience backed by their AI and machine learning algorithms, students can also personalise both their study programs and learning paths. Toppr also recently collaborated with Google’s voice assistant to resolve students’ questions using voice commands. 

5. Extramarks

Alexa, it’s time to meet Alex. The first ever AI-based study bot launched by Extramarks that can create custom learning paths for students. Other than assisting with homework or exam prep, the platform can be utilised for setting academic goals, immersive learning and for helping parents and teachers track a student’s progress. Founded by Atul Kulshrestha, Extramarks goes the extra mile to ensure holistic learning for all —  including students, teachers and parents. This edtech startup also expanded its new app Lil One for (duh!) preschoolers. 

6. Classplus

With a sudden shift to online learning, schools and educational institutions across India had to adapt fast. Co-founded by Bhaswat Agarwal, Mukul Rustagi, Vatsal Rustagi, Bikash Dash and Nikhil Goel, Classplus is an edtech startup that equips educators with the digital tools and resources to create a seamless learning experience for their students. Their intuitive mobile app assists tutors and educational organisations with classroom management, attendance, parent-tutor communications, online tests and more. With one million coaching institutes using Classplus, this edtech startup also raised $65 million in a recent series C funding round for expanding their product line and tech hiring.