In 2024 the lines between edtech and offline education services companies became blurred more than ever. If we were talking about acquisition of schools, colleges and tuition centres by edtech startups in 2020 and 2021, the last two years turned the narrative — with edtech startups on sale, looking to get acquired by offline education companies.

And this meant that the relevance of edtech was also up in the air for most of last year. Most edtech platforms had overlapping products and services and overestimated the total addressable market (TAM) particularly as the long-term impacts of the pandemic receded

The biggest impact was the downfall of BYJU’S, but ripple effects have been felt across the industry. Even as the investments in the edtech sector recovered to some extent in 2024 compared to a year ago, they were nowhere close to the peak of 2021 and 2022. And it’s been slow growing, which has impacted profitability as well.

The disruption from GenAI is also yet to be felt fully in edtech, as use-cases are still evolving.

Even so, 2025 promises to be not as bleak as 2023 and 2024 for the edtech sector. The year may also throw some surprising trends for the sector including the first public listing, but the resolution of the various issues at BYJU’S and the future of the company will also be keenly watched.

As we look ahead to 2025, here’s what investors, industry experts and edtech founders told Inc42 about the year ahead for India’s edtech industry.

The End Of The BYJU’S Saga

The fallen edtech giant pretty much dominated the headlines in the edtech sector throughout 2024, but all for the wrong reasons.

With numerous legal conflicts in the US and in India from creditors, investors and vendors, the edtech giant went into insolvency proceedings last year and this has diminished the hopes of a revival in 2025.

Even as CEO Byju Raveendran continues to talk about a comeback and with speculation about another education venture, the company seems to be on its last legs.

Raveendran’s former close confidantes and BYJU’S investors say the chances of a comeback are slim to none.

“There are too many legal hiccups now in India. He has made enemies out of some of the biggest VCs and the legal authorities have already been after him. Even his impending arrest in case ED finds anything suspicious in the money laundering case is not ruled out. Hence at least in 2025, there is a limited chance of Raveendran’s voluntary arrival in India,” an investor in BYJU’S wishing not to be named told us.

The fate of the erstwhile $22 Bn company is the most pertinent question in Indian edtech today and could still spell more bad news for the ecosystem.

The Supreme Court’s final decision on the petition filed by the US lenders is awaited. Plus, the NCLT’s earlier insolvency order against BYJU’S remains effective, and the possibility of the company being liquidated to recover debt and dues is high.

In all likelihood, BYJU’S may be unable to find a potential buyer in the time that the resolution profession and the committee of creditors still has on their hands. And in this situation, any assets would be auctioned off by authorities, ending the tumultuous chapter of the edtech startup.

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