'The plan is profitability first, followed by IPO’
Financial Express Mumbai|January 09, 2025
With an eye on profitability, edtech firm Unacademy is charting a steady path forward as it competes with industry heavyweights in a rapidly evolving market.
Gaurav Munjal

Co-founder & CEO Gaurav Munjal, in an interview with Anees Hussain, discusses the firm's pivot to offline learning and plans for sustainable growth. Excerpts:

In the past, you've been vocal about staying online-only. But today, Unacademy is aggressively expanding offline. What has changed?

When we launched in 2015, offline wasn't even on our radar. But as we listened to our customers, especially Class 11 and 12 students, it became clear that some preferred offline learning. By 2024, offline contributed 40% of our revenue, so it's now a major part of our strategy. Initially, there was resistance, but we adapted, and now we're very bullish on it.

How has the online learning business performed in the meantime?

Our goal with online was profitability, which meant making tough choices. We shut down certain categories like SSC and state PSC exams, focusing instead on long-tail brackets like JEE, UPSC, CA and CAT. This led to a 20% degrowth in 2024, but we're expecting some growth in 2025.The priority for online remains staying close to profitability and we're on track.

Isn't the offline push a capexheavy initiative for a traditionallyonline company like Unacademy? Not really. Offline's challenges are more about operating expenses like rent and educator costs, rather than capital expenditure. The key is running the centres efficiently, producing results and ensuring quality teaching.

Does your online business provide an advantage in identifying locations for offline centres?

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM FINANCIAL EXPRESS MUMBAIView all
Financial Express Mumbai

Lanka project not cancelled: Adani

TARIFF REVIEW PART OF STANDARD PROCESS: GROUP

time-read
1 min  |
January 25, 2025
Financial Express Mumbai

Equity indices report losses for third consecutive week

@Investor wealth shrinks by ₹9.2L cr over the week

time-read
1 min  |
January 25, 2025
Financial Express Mumbai

No tax liability on receiving money from NRI relative

@YOUR QUERIES: INCOME TAX

time-read
1 min  |
January 25, 2025
Financial Express Mumbai

ECB repayment turns dearer for India Inc as rupee falls

THE FALL IN the rupee's value is expected to increase the financial burden on Indian companies that have borrowed funds from overseas lenders.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 25, 2025
Financial Express Mumbai

Amul reduces milk prices by ₹1

GUJARAT COOPERATIVE MILK Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which markets dairy products under the Amul brand, has reduced milk prices by ₹1 per litre across India. However, the reduction in prices is only for one-litre packs.

time-read
1 min  |
January 25, 2025
Financial Express Mumbai

Roadster-ready, or scrambling for adventure?

SCRAM 440 vs GUERRILLA 450

time-read
1 min  |
January 25, 2025
Financial Express Mumbai

Flash PMI at 14-month low as services slump

The HSBC FLASH India Composite Output Index, or Flash PMI, fell to a 14-month low of 57.9 in January from 59.2 in December, due to weak expansion in services activity, a release by S&P Global said.

time-read
1 min  |
January 25, 2025
Financial Express Mumbai

Davos meet ends, leaders call for rule-based trading

The World Trade Organisation on Friday pitched for strengthening the rule based multilateral trading system in view of increasing geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation and threats of unilateral measures.

time-read
1 min  |
January 25, 2025
Financial Express Mumbai

Al videos from China are coming for the world

CHINESE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE companies are laser-focused on closing the development gap with the US. Despite Washington's efforts to hold the industry back, it's proving it can stay competitive with Silicon Valley.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 25, 2025
Financial Express Mumbai

OpenAI faces another copyright case in India

INDIAN BOOK PUBLISHERS and their international counterparts have filed a copyright lawsuit against OpenAI in New Delhi, a representative said on Friday, the latest in a series of global cases seeking to stop the ChatGPT chatbot accessing proprietary content.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 25, 2025