Zerodha and Zomato founders bet on Sparkl Edventure "I've been wondering for a long time if students will have different outcomes if they have access to education that is more personalised and customised," said Kamath

By Entrepreneur Staff

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Freepik

Aakash Chaudhry, founder of Aakash Institute, has secured USD 4 million in seed funding for his latest edtech venture, Sparkl Edventure, with participation from Zomato's Deepinder Goyal and Zerodha's Nithin Kamath. The funding round, led by Kamath's Rainmatter fund, is expected to see more investors joining, according to media reports.

Sparkl, which launched in October, focuses on one-on-one online tutoring for students in grades 6 to 12, targeting International Baccalaureate (IB) and Cambridge curricula.

"Our vision at Sparkl is to empower students with personalised, one-on-one learning that adapts to their individual needs. With the support of visionary leaders like Nithin Kamath and Deepinder Goyal, we are poised to revolutionise the tutoring landscape," Chaudhry said in a statement.

Chaudhry co-founded Sparkl alongside Meritnation.com's Pavan Chauhan and Ritesh Hemrajani, leveraging experience from Meritnation – an edtech platform acquired by Aakash Educational Services Ltd (AESL) in 2020.

"I've been wondering for a long time if students will have different outcomes if they have access to education that is more personalised and customised. When I heard what Aakash and his team were planning, I was convinced that something like this should be available for students. We are happy to join them in this journey," Kamath explained.

The new venture comes after AESL's USD 950 million acquisition by Byju's in 2021, one of India's largest edtech deals, in which Chaudhry retains an 11 per cent stake.

"The platform was initially slated for a 2025 launch, but with the product ready ahead of schedule, the timeline was fast-tracked," Chaudhry said.

Sparkl is already operational, enrolling students from Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, and Singapore. Unlike AESL's offline test-prep model, Sparkl operates fully online and focuses on international curricula, with an added emphasis on mental health support through monthly well-being sessions.

The funding is expected to accelerate expansion efforts and further develop the platform's technology.


Entrepreneur Staff

Entrepreneur Staff

Editor

For more than 30 years, Entrepreneur has set the course for success for millions of entrepreneurs and small business owners. We'll teach you the secrets of the winners and give you exactly what you need to lay the groundwork for success.
Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

News and Trends

Google Launches its Largest Office in India to Fuel AI Innovations

The new campus in Bengaluru marks a significant milestone in Google's journey, marking the technological paradigm shift underway with AI

News and Trends

Healthfab Secures USD 1 Mn Funding to Advance Sustainable Menstrual Care

The brand plans to use the fresh capital to expand its reach across metro and Tier II cities while strengthening its R&D efforts.

News and Trends

IN-SPACe Launches Technology Adoption Fund to Boost Space Industry

This initiative aims to transition early-stage innovations from concept to commercial viability, empowering Non-Government Entities (NGEs), including startups and MSMEs, to enhance India's self-reliance in space technology.

News and Trends

India's Foreign Direct Investment Rebounds, But Net Inflows Remain a Concern

The services sector remained the top recipient, accounting for 19.1 per cent of total equity inflows in the first half of FY25.

News and Trends

Probus Smart Things Closes USD 5 Mn Funding Led by Unicorn India Ventures

With the fresh funds, Probus aims to scale its smart grid communication tech, integrate AI into networking solutions, and expand dual communication modules for smart metering across multiple Indian states.