Latest news with #Scaler
Mint
3 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Edtechs Simplilearn, UpGrad and Emeritus bank on B2B revenue as AI and GCC demand rises
As the edtech sector grapples with waning interest in its core, consumer-focused online learning courses post-pandemic, major edtech and upskilling companies like Simplilearn, upGrad, and Emeritus are strategically shifting gears towards enabling enterprise learning. Even as companies say that the conventional consumer model is still very much in vogue, they are working towards building their B2B (business to business) businesses, backed by corporations racing to upskill employees for the artificial intelligence (AI) age, and by the expansion of global capacity centres (GCCs) in India. The goals are lofty. Mumbai-based upGrad, a traditionally consumer-facing business, expects 30-35% of its business coming from B2B in the next few years, from 20% currently. Simplilearn, which has offices in the US, Singapore and Bengaluru, and offers courses ranging from AI to digital marketing, gets 30% of its revenue from its enterprise segment, and expects a 50:50 split in two to three years. And Bengaluru-based Scaler, which focuses on software development and data science courses and introduced a B2B vertical this year, expects it to contribute 10-20% of revenues in the first fiscal year (FY26). The details Let's start with Scaler. The startup, traditionally a direct-to-consumer player, is focusing its B2B business towards companies with a headcount of 2,000-20,000 employees and those that have set up a GCC in India. 'Most large enterprises outsource their software needs, and it lands in an Indian GCC," said Abhimanyu Saxena, co-founder of Scaler, identifying the training of GCC staff as a key revenue stream. 'In the first year, revenue from enterprise will be sizeable," Saxena said, adding that the company has already signed deals with a few Fortune 500 companies, but declined to share the names. Scaler closed FY24 with ₹384.5 crore in operating revenue, up from ₹316.6 crore in FY23, according to documents sourced from business insights provider Tofler. Scaler also slashed its losses in FY24 to ₹138.8 crore, down from ₹330.2 crore in FY23. Also Read | Staffing firms find it more profitable putting employees in GCCs than IT firms 'If edtechs are able to win contracts from GCCs, which have the potential to give big-ticket deals, they can end up becoming really profitable for companies," said Amit Nawka, technology deals partner at PwC India. Meanwhile, upGrad has been slowly building its muscle for enterprise-facing solutions through mergers and acquisitions over the past three years. While the edtech acquired Work Better and Centum Learning in 2022 to build its B2B segment, it was only in April 2024 that the company brought its B2B offerings under one banner, upGrad Enterprise, the company said. Srikanth Iyengar, chief executive officer of upGrad Enterprise, said B2B will help the company accelerate its growth in international markets through partnerships with global organisations. 'While consumer programmes typically allow individuals to learn at their own pace, enterprise learning is built on speed and precision–where organizations need their talent to acquire and apply skills to drive performance." upGrad clocked ₹1,875 crore in non-Indian Accounting Standards gross revenue in FY24, up ₹1,530 crore in the previous financial year, according to data shared by the company with Mint. It trimmed Ebitda (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) losses to ₹79 crore,down from ₹500 crore in the previous fiscal. Some of upGrad's B2B vertical clients are Reliance Retail, Hexaware Technologies, HCL Technologies and Walmart Global Tech India, according to the company. Pivotal role As for Simplilearn, company founder Krishna Kumar told Mint In an interview last year that the company would focus on reskilling for professionals and its B2B segment. 'We should reach a 50-50 split between our consumer and enterprise business in the next two to three years," Kumar said. According to data from the company's FY24 revenue announcement release, Simplilearn clocked ₹773 crore in revenue and trimmed Ebitda losses by 75% to ₹51 crore. Most of Simplilearn's enterprise business comes from four segments: IT and ITES, GCCs, public sector undertakings (PSUs) and government institutions, and manufacturing and BFSI (banking, financial services, insurance). The startup's B2B clients include Indian IT firm Mphasis and Swiss technology company Temenos. 'At IT and ITES companies, they hire fresh graduates who can't be put on projects from day one," Kumar said. 'They need extensive training that is part of their onboarding programme and we work with them to make sure they can be deployed on projects." On the other hand, at GCCs, the focus shifts to upskilling and reskilling the workforce, Kumar added. Post-pandemic shifts To be sure, edtech's troubles started to grow in 2022 as the pandemic waned and students began to return to their classrooms. Startups in the sector faced slower growth and looked to pivot to more viable options. Additionally, Byju's collapse hurt the ecosystem, in terms of both valuations and investor faith in the space. Also Read | Byju's startup lesson: Don't get carried away with winner-takes-all dreams While several edtech companies switched to an offline model, others have turned to B2B for consistent revenue. Yet, companies told Mint their D2C business is still alive and kicking. 'If you look at the higher education segment, I don't see any downturn. Even if you look at the players in the upskilling and reskilling segment, I don't see any of the players struggling," said Simplilearn's Kumar. In fact, PhysicsWallah is among the few profitable edtechs that has stuck by its D2C business. Increasing AI demand The change in the edtech revenue mix comes as AI increasingly takes centre stage and enterprises look to plug holes in this space, from both an adoption and staffing perspective. 'AI can be adopted well into GCCs because they're highly process-driven organisations with specific turnaround times as well as predictability of work. In that regard, GCCs will be the torchbearers of AI adoption," said Nawka of PwC. upGrad Enterprises' Iyengar said that the division has seen 100% jump in enterprise sign-ups for AI-focused training in the past six months, across India, North America, Europe and the Middle East. 'What's encouraging is that this isn't just a top-down push–we're seeing equal enthusiasm from employees," he added. Also Read | GenAI may pile pricing pressure on customer support and maintenance work of IT services companies Popular courses upGrad Enterprises' most popular courses include generative AI for quality assurance/quality engineering teams and coding agents, and advanced GenAI courses for professionals working with large language models. At Simplilearn, AI and GenAI have become big themes across the four verticals that use its services. It's the same at Emeritus. 'Additionally, topics such as executive presence, communication, and negotiation & influence are in high demand across leadership levels," said Morarji. The increased focus on AI comes as organisations look to automate tasks, putting entry-level jobs at risk. The Future of Jobs report 2025 by the World Economic Forum points out that 85% of the employers surveyed plan to upskill their workforce, while 70% expect to hire staff with new skills. At the same time, 40% of employers are reducing staff as their skills become less relevant and 50% are planning to transition staff to growing roles. 'I can't see a better time for edtechs to target B2B as a segment because AI is disrupting everything and everyone wants to be on top of their game," PwC India's Nawka said.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Scaler Innovation Lab ties up with Gahan AI to develop autonomous mobility solutions for mining sector
Scaler Innovation Lab has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bengaluru-based deep-tech startup Gahan AI to co-develop autonomous navigation systems tailored for the mining industry. The partnership aims to address the challenge of enabling autonomous vehicles to operate in unmapped, off-road environments without prior map data, including under adverse weather conditions. As part of the agreement, Gahan AI will operate from the Scaler Innovation Lab, where it will mentor early-stage startups and participate in regular showcases. Under the collaboration, select students from Scaler School of Technology and Scaler School of Business will work on research and development projects alongside Gahan AI's engineering team to build AI models and systems that can replicate decision-making in unstructured environments, a capability considered essential for operations in hazardous areas and disaster response scenarios. Abhimanyu Saxena, Co-founder, Scaler, said, 'This collaboration is a testament to our belief that real-world impact is the best classroom. We're excited to offer our students the opportunity to solve hard problems that matter, while empowering a homegrown startup like Gahan AI to fast-track innovation.' Gahan AI will conduct workshops and hackathons for Scaler students, as well as offer internship opportunities. Students will engage with real-world autonomous mobility problems and be mentored by Gahan AI's leadership. Mining safety as a priority The initiative is intended to address safety issues in the mining sector . According to the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), transportation-related incidents account for around 40 per cent of mining fatalities in India. Globally, the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) attributes over 70 per cent of surface mining deaths to vehicle interactions in unstructured environments. Uddalok Majumder, Co-founder, Gahan AI, said, 'At Gahan AI, we're committed to solving some of the most complex challenges in autonomous mobility — especially for real-world, unstructured environments like those at mining sites across the globe. Partnering with Scaler allows us to collaborate with some of the brightest young minds in engineering and business. We're excited to work with students who are not just learning theory, but actively building, testing, and innovating alongside us.'
Hans India
13-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Advanced AI engineering programme to bridge skill gap in emerging tech
In a move to address the growing demand for professionals skilled in applied Artificial Intelligence, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has partnered with edtech soonicorn Scaler to launch an Advanced AI Engineering Programme under the aegis of its Continuing Education Centre (CEC). The collaborative initiative is designed to equip learners with industry-relevant AI and machine learning skills through a practice-oriented curriculum developed jointly by IIT Roorkee faculty and industry experts. The programme, which is open to both tech and non-tech professionals, focuses on imparting real-world knowledge and tools necessary for high-impact roles in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. 'This programme is a step toward shaping the future of technical education by combining academic rigor with real-world application,' said Professor Kaushik Ghosh, Coordinator, CEC, IIT Roorkee. 'The successful rollout of this AI programme marks the beginning of many such initiatives in emerging fields.' The course covers core concepts of machine learning, deep learning, and applied generative AI. Modules include training on large language models (LLMs), tools like GitHub Copilot and Cursor, API integration (OpenAI, ChatCompletion), AI agent development, and sector-specific applications such as diagnostics and drug discovery in healthcare. Delivered through live online classes and hands-on projects, the program also features a two-day campus immersion at IIT Roorkee, allowing learners to access research labs and engage with faculty, peers, and industry leaders. Upon completion, participants receive a joint certificate from IIT Roorkee's CEC and Scaler, validating their expertise for roles such as AI Engineer, Data Scientist, or Software Developer. 'The mission is to build future-ready tech talent,' said Abhimanyu Saxena, co-founder of Scaler. 'This programme is only the beginning of a broader initiative to deliver top-tier education in high-growth tech domains.'
Hans India
12-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
IIT Roorkee and Scaler Sign MOU to launch advanced AI-focused programs to bridge industry skill gaps
In a move to address the growing demand for professionals skilled in applied Artificial Intelligence, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has partnered with edtech soonicorn Scaler to launch an Advanced AI Engineering Programme under the aegis of its Continuing Education Centre (CEC). The collaborative initiative is designed to equip learners with industry-relevant AI and machine learning skills through a practice-oriented curriculum developed jointly by IIT Roorkee faculty and industry experts. The programme, which is open to both tech and non-tech professionals, focuses on imparting real-world knowledge and tools necessary for high-impact roles in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. "This programme is a step toward shaping the future of technical education by combining academic rigor with real-world application,' said Professor Kaushik Ghosh, Coordinator, CEC, IIT Roorkee. 'The successful rollout of this AI programme marks the beginning of many such initiatives in emerging fields.' The course covers core concepts of machine learning, deep learning, and applied generative AI. Modules include training on large language models (LLMs), tools like GitHub Copilot and Cursor, API integration (OpenAI, ChatCompletion), AI agent development, and sector-specific applications such as diagnostics and drug discovery in healthcare. Delivered through live online classes and hands-on projects, the program also features a two-day campus immersion at IIT Roorkee, allowing learners to access research labs and engage with faculty, peers, and industry leaders. Upon completion, participants receive a joint certificate from IIT Roorkee's CEC and Scaler, validating their expertise for roles such as AI Engineer, Data Scientist, or Software Developer. 'The mission is to build future-ready tech talent,' said Abhimanyu Saxena, co-founder of Scaler. 'This programme is only the beginning of a broader initiative to deliver top-tier education in high-growth tech domains.'
Hindustan Times
28-04-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Why industry-driven, tailored courses are an alternative to bachelor's degrees
What do Bengaluru's Scaler, Gurugram's Master's Union, Bengaluru's Mesa, Kolkata's Nexis and Mumbai's IIDE (Indian Institute of Digital Education) have in common? To begin with, all are 'booster shots' or even alternative ways to spend one's time after completing school (Class XII) instead of enrolling in a regular bachelor's degree - which has been reduced in many instances to a worthless piece of paper - in one of the country's myriad but mostly indifferent quality colleges. Some Pros Another commonality is that all these companies are exploiting the inability of Indian colleges, with their dated syllabuses, to keep up with the times. All of them offer an experience different from the usual fare dished out at legacy universities around India, be it teaching by industry professionals or internships in companies that are in sectors students intend to join, making those who graduate job-ready, industry-aligned and skill-focused. Instead of waiting for students to get a taste of real life after their bachelor's and during an MBA or another Master's level programme, these new institutes are trying to grab the student early if he or she has a reasonable idea of which field they wish to pursue.. While traditional universities and colleges continue to lay strong academic foundations, today's job market demands digital-first skills, adaptability, and a professional portfolio. Employers no longer seek just graduates but professionals who can hit the ground running from day one so that those who hire them are spared the trouble of training and teaching them the initial ropes. That's where industry-driven UG programmes, offering a curriculum that integrates real-world exposure, industry mentorship, and applied learnings are coming in. The inability of Indian colleges to keep their content relevant is being exploited eagerly by the new companies. These are options that make you work-ready at 21; at 18 and 19, the internships they will do will give them a taste of what is to come when they seek permanent employment. All these courses encourage students to obtain an online degree on the premise that the traditional bachelor's degree as we knew is dying and ask students to make better use of their time by attending offline classes on their campuses where the students will be exposed to 'real life' problems and solutions, often delivered by the best in the business. 'The stamp of a bachelor's can literally be acquired from anywhere. Options like we are offering will allow you to acquire that stamp regardless but gain a more all rounded education in digital marketing at our campus by interacting directly with future employers and industry stalwarts', said IIDE's Karan Shah, a recent entrant to this club. IIDE has an alumni base of 8000 through four shorter duration courses offered on its campus in Mumbai and has placed a majority of its students with companies that require deep digital skills like Kinnect, FoxyMoron, ToggleHead, WebShakers, Schbang, Socheers, Mumbai Foodie, Mindshift, White Rivers Media, BigMouth and Gozoop among others. Many of these companies spawned recently as social media begun to dominate the marketing landscape. Also, often replacing the old, stodgy bespectacled professor who comes in and starts reading in monotones from his notes to deliver a lecture to somnolent students will be a young, nattily dressed and somewhat brash teacher - in the form of an entrepreneur of start-ups or CEO of a unicorn who have already made their millions by the time they touch 30. So, it will not be uncommon to visit one of the campuses of these newbies and find Binny Bansal or Bhavish Agarwal holding a session on app-based sales, digital sales or marketing techniques. In other words, your lecture might be directly delivered by your future employer. Further, all are trying to be masters of one trade and not jack of all. So, while Scaler is focussed on computer science and artificial intelligence, IIDE is set to make a digital marketeer out of you, Master's Union gets you deeper into the psychology of marketing while Mesa (Bengaluru) is in the business of nurturing future entrepreneurs. The school offers students at least three-four-month internships with real-life start up entrepreneurs during the course of the four-year programme, which will help them gain an insight into what they might need in case they choose to follow in their footsteps. In some cases, students are being promised opportunities for 'global immersion' in Silicon Valley or closer home in Dubai. Since all the new companies are small in scale - so far, the student intake is between 60 to 300 students a year - finding placements is not difficult as it is at the premier Indian institutions like IITs and even ISBs. In many cases, since the batch will be interacting and even interning at some of the new age companies and with their founders, many will be made entry-level offers through this process itself. The premise is clear for the founders and CEOs: the student who has already picked his or her area of interest and gained some real work experience would be more work-ready than graduates from regular colleges. 'Traditionally, degrees were often paired with professional certifications like CA or CFA, seen as essential for climbing the corporate ladder. But as aspirations shift, particularly among younger generations drawn to entrepreneurship and the digital economy, the landscape is changing' said Shah, saying that a CA and CFA are being seen as 'stodgy and has-been' options now. He pointed out that today, job portals like are flooded with listings for roles in digital marketing (as high as 5x in comparison to jobs like CA and CFA), content creation, and product management - areas once considered niche. For students, these programmes translate into higher employability, hands-on experience, and fewer 'fresher' rejections. For institutions pioneering these programmes, this is a chance to carve out a permanent place in mainstream higher education without the red tape involved in setting up a college or university that has in place regulations required to bestow degrees. Higher education remains a fairly regulated sector, especially when it comes to conferring degrees. Some Cons Almost all the new institutes come with a hefty price tag, when compared with public universities. Even today, the fees at SRCC - the premier commerce and economics college in India - is just above ₹1 lakh for three years (non- residential). However, even with hostels, the public colleges rarely exceed ₹2 lakh per year. The cost of studying at new certificate-based courses vary widely with the lowest available at around 7.5 lakh while the more expensive ones are equivalent to a degree from private colleges at ₹40 lakh for the duration of the course. So, affordability and whether these newbies are 'value for money' becomes a big question. Since most of the offerings are still in the early stage, there is no precedent to go by. As a result, they remain uncharted territory. Unlike Delhi University or a number of state colleges, these don't have a vast alumni network for graduates to tap into. If the lack of an alumni base is a drawback, so is the threat of competition, especially from the online edtech firms. There are a number of players in the purely online space, some of which are established and have already mastered the placement game. For instance, in the technology space, there are several established players charging lower fees and offering a range of pay-after-placement options. One online entrant in 2016, Masai School, offers students five courses including one in full stack development or coding, data analytics, automation and testing among others and has a zero upfront fee policy. Students take a test, are interviewed to assess their interest and drive and then admitted to the 11/11/6 course (11 am to 11 pm, 6 days a week) for six months, after completing which they are placed in jobs which typically start at ₹5 lakh per annum. The school even offers a stipend of ₹10,000 a month to students who need it and payment for the course is made by the student only after he or she is placed. Flash in the Pan Versus Here to Stay The million-dollar question is whether these new institutions and programmes will last the test of time. Those vested in the higher education sector point out that the first job for a graduate from any institution is only a stepping stone to a long journey and the alumni and network built while studying is usually the reason many opt for the institution, more than the academic learning imparted. IIM-A alumni Roy K. Cherian, who is currently anchoring the askIIMA portal for the institute, an initiative that will allow the institute's alumni to give career advice to anyone who needs it, said that most of these programmes are aimed at targeting 'affluent' parents whose children failed to make it into any premier colleges. 'The quality of an institution or a programme depends on the student intake. If the intake is a bunch of sub-par students, the outcome is unlikely to be much better', he said. Abhijit Bhaumik, an independent consultant and a former IIM-A graduate, said that trying to teach management or business to 18-19-year-olds is unlikely to work in whatever form it might be packaged. 'Even for an MBA, most institutes require or want students to have a minimum 3-4 years of work experience. Trying to teach business to just out of high school novices is in my view a non-starter', he said, adding that the same goes for entrepreneurship : one needs the maturity to understand entrepreneurship comprehensively. Most founders will face many failures before and if they finally hit success and there are no shortcuts available, he added. It is here that the bigger issue of whether the authorities should be regulating such courses and institutes comes in. Experts in the sector said that in the absence of clear guidelines, the market becomes a 'free for all' and episodes like Byju's will continue to recur both in the K12 and in the higher education space. The reality is that India suffers from an acute shortage of good quality higher education options and now with the US and overseas options shrinking or looking less attractive, it is to be expected that many more newcomers will jump in. Some will bait anxious parents and students and fizzle out while others might be here to stay and herein lies the rub: separating the wheat from the chaff is easier said than done.
