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Hello readers,
Like many of us, I pursued a traditional education growing up. My primary school days to my tertiary education years were mostly spent in physical classrooms and lecture theaters – enclosed spaces that often left me feeling stifled.
To quell my boredom, I regularly took to doodling or napping, although these tendencies waned as I discovered my interest in gender studies and creative writing. With online learning gaining popularity amid the pandemic, though, how are edtech platforms ensuring that students don’t fall prey to distractions and how do they continue to create content that matters?
Today we look at:
- The potential of Indian edtech startup upGrad
- The Rocket Internet-backed coffee startup that’s going places
- Other newsy highlights such as Canva’s US$15 billion valuation and the launch of Carousell’s auto unit
PREMIUM SUMMARY
Lifelong learning, rejigged
What sets one edtech firm apart from the rest? For Mumbai-based startup upGrad, it’s the company’s focus on bringing in the human touch – with coaches, mentors, graders, and peers – rather than pushing out plenty of digital content Netflix-style in hopes that something will stick. If a learner has an interview with an ecommerce major like Amazon, for example, an expert will help prep the student for it.
- Instant upGrad(e): UpGrad was founded in 2015 and has some 1 million learners from over 50 countries. Apart from offering online degree programs in partnership with established universities, the startup also has courses for working professionals. Last year, upGrad recorded 100% revenue growth.
- Borderless learning: According to Zubin Gandevia, CEO of upGrad’s APAC operations, the startup’s technology model and learning-focused approach are transferable assets that are country- and culture-agnostic. The proof is in the pudding: upGrad recently appointed a general manager to look after its presence in North America following a good response from students there.
- Localization is key: Higher education platforms are hardly new territory – Indonesia’s HarukaEdu and Vietnam’s Topica are just two competitors in the space – but Gandevia believes upGrad’s 360-degree solution is unique to them. The firm makes sure that content is localized by working closely with universities to create the curriculum and courses, 70% of which is then taught by industry experts.
Read more: Indian edtech startup hopes to shake up lifelong learning in Southeast Asia
STARTUP SPOTLIGHT
Off in a flash
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