Byju Raveendran is a teacher and engineer, and the founder of BYJU’S, once India’s most valuable edtech startup, valued at 22 billion dollars. Divya Gokulnath, his wife and co-founder, played a key role in shaping BYJU’S content and brand.
BYJU’S saw a rapid rise followed by a sharp fall due to financial losses, governance issues, and legal troubles. Its fast expansion and multiple acquisitions put pressure on its operations and finances. Regulatory investigations and investor backlash made things worse, leading to layoffs, insolvency concerns, and a damaged reputation.
In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Byju and Divya break their silence on the controversies surrounding them, from the $1.2 billion term loan case in the U.S. to legal battles and company acquisitions. Byju also opens up about the mistakes that led to the downfall of India’s edtech giant.
Will there be a BYJU’S 3.0? What is the couple up to now? Why are they in Dubai? The founders reveal it all in this tell-all podcast.
*Timestamps*
00:00 – Coming Up
00:00 – Introduction
01:02 – 'Fugitive' Tag
03:32 – Lookout Notice by ED
06:45 – $1.2 Billion Term Loan Case in the U.S.
10:53 – Fight with U.S. Lenders
17:46 – BYJU’S Legal Crisis
19:44 – BYJU’S: Rise and Fall
24:04 – Aakash Institute Acquisition
26:09 – WhiteHat Jr. Acquisition
29:35 – Work Culture at BYJU’S
31:13 – Sales Model of BYJU’S
34:19 – USP of BYJU’S
37:22 – Media Narratives on BYJU’S
42:24 – BYJU’S–BCCI Dispute
45:12 – BYJU’S Ad Deal with Messi & SRK
50:11 – India’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
54:20 – Parents’ Refund Complaints
59:28 – BYJU’S: Highs and Lows
1:02:41 – BYJU’S 3.0
1:08:06 – Impact of AI on Entrepreneurship
1:13:05 – Introduction to Co-Founder Divya Gokulnath
1:15:00 – Divya Gokulnath’s Family Background
1:21:37 – Divya & Byju’s Marriage
1:25:12 – BYJU’S ‘Education for All’ Initiative
1:30:00 – Byju's Family Under 'Threat'
1:37:56 – BYJU’S Insolvency
1:42:51 – ‘International Fugitive’ Tag
1:52:08 – BYJU’S 3.0
1:59:57 – The India Story
