Edtech isn’t an entirely new industry. Notable players in the space like Byju’s, Ruangguru, and Zenius have been around since the 2010s, and they’re seeing user numbers and revenues grow rapidly.

However, the Covid-19 pandemic has propelled the industry into the spotlight. In Southeast Asia, edtech adoption increased more than 3x from 2019 to 2020 – from 6 million app installs to 20 million. Last year, edtech startups in the region raised a total of US$54 million in disclosed funding – certainly no small amount of money.

With the rising interest in edtech, several questions have surfaced: What does it mean to be an edtech company? What problems can edtech solve? And will it ever be a true replacement for the offline learning experience?

In this episode of Tech in Asia Explains, we answer all these questions – and more – with the help of Tech in Asia journalist Nikita Puri, Zenius CEO Rohan Monga, as well as Dimitra Taslim, the vice president of GGV Capital (an investor in edtech company Ruangguru). Together, our guests dig deep into the sector, breaking down what it is, what it does, and what it has the potential to be.

Tech in Asia Explains is a Tech in Asia Originals series that dives into the latest trends in the tech and startup scene, getting insights from leading personalities from within the industry.

Transcript:

Nathaniel:
Some say that education is the path to success. However, it’s a path that’s sometimes not available to the people who need it most. And that’s where edtech is coming in to try and fill the gaps.

Edtech startups have been making waves in recent years. India’s Byju’s, Indonesia’s Zenius and Ruangguru, and Vietnam’s Topica are all names that have made headlines.

But things are shifting in the edtech world. The Chinese government’s new regulations surrounding edtech firms has led to some shockwaves throughout the sector.

But what exactly is edtech? How are these companies trying to change up education? And how do they stack up in the larger story of learning? Well, class is in session, as Tech in Asia Explains: Edtech.