Leadership Transition at Unacademy: A New Chapter Begins
Significant Leadership Shift
In a notable change within the landscape of Indian edtech, Gaurav Munjal and Roman Saini, co-founders of Unacademy, are stepping down from their roles to concentrate on a new initiative—AirLearn, a language learning application. This decision is particularly significant as it marks one of the rare instances where original co-founders have exited a major Indian edtech enterprise.
Changes in Executive Roles
This leadership shift follows the earlier departure of the third co-founder, Hemesh Singh, in June 2023. The responsibility of leading the company is expected to fall to Sumit Jain, who co-founded Unacademy’s subsidiary, Graphy. Jain has been part of Unacademy since 2020, following the acquisition of his startup, Opentalk.
Focus on New Ventures
According to a report by The Economic Times, Munjal and Saini are now channeling their efforts towards scaling AirLearn, which has reportedly achieved an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of USD 400,000 in the United States shortly after its market introduction.
Unacademy’s Financial Standing
In light of these transitions, Unacademy is navigating a pivotal phase, working on maintaining its growth amidst shifting market dynamics. Munjal recently highlighted that the company has significantly cut its core business cash burn, reducing it from over INR 1,000 crore annually to below INR 200 crore. With INR 1,200 crore in reserves and profitable subsidiaries like Graphy and PrepLadder, Unacademy is positioned to remain financially resilient.
Implications of the Transition
The exit of these founding members may pave the way for a fresh strategic outlook for Unacademy. Their focus now lies on fostering innovation and expansion in their new endeavor, AirLearn, potentially influencing the educational landscape further.
