Overview of the Funding Round

• Funding Announcement: Sparkl Edventure, an online education startup co-founded by Aakash Chaudhry, has raised $4 million in a seed funding round.
• Key Investors: The funding was led by Deepinder Goyal (Zomato founder) and Nithin Kamath (Zerodha founder), through his sustainability-focused fund, Rainmatter.
• Founder’s Background: Chaudhry, known for his role in Aakash Educational Services Ltd.’s (AESL) $950 million acquisition by Byju’s, launched Sparkl in October 2024.

Focus on Personalized Tutoring for IB and Cambridge Students

Specialized Tutoring Services

• Target Audience: The platform offers one-on-one tutoring for students pursuing International Baccalaureate (IB) and Cambridge curricula, markets underserved in India.
• Addressing Gaps: Many parents struggle to find qualified tutors for these international boards, which differ significantly from CBSE and ICSE syllabi.

Subject Offerings

• Sparkl covers core subjects like mathematics, science, and languages.
• Future plans include expanding into SAT/ACT coaching and global standardized test preparation.

Geographic Reach and Expansion Plans

• Current student base includes regions such as Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, and Singapore.
• The startup aims to expand internationally by the 2025-26 academic year.

Aakash Chaudhry’s Entrepreneurial Journey

Legacy in Edtech

• AESL Leadership: Chaudhry played a pivotal role in growing Aakash Educational Services Ltd. (AESL), founded by his father, J.C. Chaudhry, into a leading test-prep provider.
• Strategic Acquisitions: Under his leadership, AESL acquired Meritnation.com, whose co-founders, Pavan Chauhan and Ritesh Hemrajani, are now part of Sparkl’s leadership team.

Vision for Sparkl Edventure

• Retained Stake in AESL: Chaudhry continues to hold an 11% stake in AESL after its acquisition by Byju’s.
• Global Ambitions: He aims to establish Sparkl as a global player in the $2 billion IB/Cambridge tutoring market.