An teacher-turned-edtech entrepreneur from India has become a billionaire through the success of his learning app.
Byju Raveendran created the Byju’s app seven years ago and CNBC has now reported that his business now has a $5.7 billion (£4.7 billion) valuation, with his personal wealth exceeding $1 billion.
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He holds a 21 per cent stake in the education technology company, which is backed by investors including the Qatar Investment Authority and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
Mr Raveendran grew up in a village in southern India before going to university and becoming an engineer.
But he also discovered a talent for teaching and helping pupils with entrance exams to engineering and management schools.
Byju’s - The Learning App, is an online education platform for children aged five to 16 built around interactive videos, games and quizzes.
It now has 35 million users in India and Mr Raveendran intends to expand to the United Kingdom and US following the formation of a partnership with Disney to use its characters.
“We are customising Disney Byju’s to the American and British school curriculum,” Mr Raveendran said. “The characters have universal appeal.”
Byju’s website describes it as is the world’s most valuable edtech company with 2.4 million paid subscriptions that offer students “a learning platform where they can learn, engage and be excited about charting their own path to discover the world”.
