Watch: Great Learning CEO Mohan Lakhamraju on life after being acquired by BYJU’s

The $600 million acquisition of Great Learning marked edtech major BYJU’s entry into professional skilling and life-long learning segment. It was also the first time Great Learning had stepped out to raise external capital for the platform, which ended in a strategic acquisition. 

CEO Mohan Lakhamraju who founded great Learning in 2013 with Hari Nair and Arjun Nair, said that the acquisition takes away the pressure to build out a portal for quality education over time. “Unlike a financial investor, there is no pressure to provide an exit,” Lakhamraju told TechCircle.  

While pandemic saw an immediate impact on the growth of edtech for the K-12 segment with schools remaining shut, it has had a more sustained impact on professional learning and higher education courses online. 

“Online education for kids is not sustainable…but the benefits of online education for adults is much higher and this will continue,” said Lakhamraju. 

Clearly, BYJU’s sees an opportunity in the space which includes newly minted unicorn upGrad, as well as Eruditus Learning. BYJU’s has also earmarked $400 million to grow its depth in the professional skilling segment. 

With the capital, Great Learning plans on expanding its geographical presence as well as offerings. The platform claims to have delivered 60 million hours of learning to 1.5 million learners across 170 countries.