Long before emerging as the figurehead of India’s edtech revolution, Byju Raveendran was raised in the village of Azhikode in a household rooted in teaching and academics. Born on January 5, 1980, Raveendran was raised by parents who were both teachers; his father taught physics while his mother taught mathematics at a Malayalam-medium school. Friends and former classmates have often described his childhood as one centred around numbers, problem-solving and sports rather than conventional classroom discipline. Despite reportedly skipping classes frequently to play football and cricket, he excelled academically and later pursued engineering at the Government College of Engineering in Kannur. Before entering education full-time, he worked as a service engineer with a multinational shipping company.
How BYJU’S Was Founded? Raveendran’s entry into teaching happened almost accidentally. In 2003, while helping friends prepare for the Common Admission Test (CAT), he himself took the exam and reportedly scored exceptionally well. Word quickly spread about his teaching style, and what began as informal coaching sessions soon transformed into packed auditoriums and stadium-sized classes across Indian cities. In 2007, he formally launched Byju’s Classes. A few years later, in 2011, he co-founded Think & Learn Pvt Ltd with his wife Divya Gokulnath.
The company would later become the parent entity of BYJU’S. The company launched its flagship learning app in 2015, focusing on video-based lessons in mathematics and science for school students and competitive exam aspirants. Headquartered in Bengaluru, BYJU’S rapidly expanded during India’s digital education boom and became one of the country’s most recognised startups.
The Meteoric Rise – From Startup To $22 Billion Giant: During the Covid-19 pandemic, online learning platforms witnessed explosive growth, and BYJU’S emerged as the biggest beneficiary in India’s edtech sector. The company acquired several education platforms, expanded globally and secured investments from major international firms. In 2022, BYJU’S reached a peak valuation of $22 billion, making it India’s most valuable edtech startup. Raveendran’s personal fortune rose alongside the company. According to Forbes, his net worth stood at approximately Rs 17,545 crore ($2.1 billion) in 2023. At one stage, he was celebrated as a symbol of India’s startup revolution, a former teacher who had built a global education empire.
The Collapse – Net Worth Falls To Zero: The company’s troubles began surfacing after delayed financial disclosures, mounting debt, layoffs and governance concerns triggered investor anxiety. Legal disputes with lenders escalated across multiple countries, while allegations emerged regarding the handling of a $1.2 billion term loan raised in the United States. Creditors accused company executives of diverting funds, allegations Raveendran has repeatedly denied. As BYJU’S valuation collapsed, so did Raveendran’s fortune. By 2024, Forbes had removed him from its Billionaires Index entirely, estimating his net worth at zero. The dramatic fall marked one of the steepest reversals in India’s startup history.
Where Is Byju Raveendran Now? Raveendran is currently believed to be based in Dubai rather than India. Court filings and international legal proceedings in recent years have repeatedly referenced his stay in the UAE. According to reports from US bankruptcy proceedings, he cited legal complications and travel restrictions linked to ongoing disputes as reasons for not appearing in certain hearings. Despite the controversies, Raveendran has continued to publicly defend himself and has claimed that discussions with lenders and investors are ongoing.
Singapore Court Sentences Raveendran To Jail: The latest setback came on May 27, when a Singapore court sentenced Raveendran to six months in jail in a contempt of court case linked to asset-related orders dating back to 2024. According to reports citing people familiar with the matter, the court held that he had repeatedly failed to comply with directives related to disclosure and asset proceedings. The development adds to a growing list of legal troubles surrounding the embattled edtech founder, whose company once symbolised India’s startup ambitions. Hours after reports of the sentencing emerged, Raveendran reportedly stated that settlement discussions with lenders, including GLAS Trust and the Qatar Investment Authority, were nearing completion.
For years, Byju Raveendran represented the rise of India’s digital entrepreneurship ecosystem, a teacher who transformed coaching classes into a global edtech brand. Today, however, the collapse of BYJU’S has become a case study in rapid expansion, governance failures, aggressive borrowing and investor scrutiny. What was once India’s most celebrated startup success story is now being examined as one of its most dramatic corporate downfalls.
