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Exclusive: PhysicsWallah in talks to acquire Drishti IAS for Rs 2,500 Cr

EntrackrEntrackr · 5m ago
Exclusive: PhysicsWallah in talks to acquire Drishti IAS for Rs 2,500 Cr
Medial

Edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah is in the advanced stages of acquiring offline coaching firm Drishti IAS Institute, according to three sources familiar with the matter. If finalized, this will mark the largest acquisition in the edtech space in the past couple of years. “PhysicsWallah is spending around Rs 2,500–3,000 crore to acquire the UPSC and state commissions preparatory platform,” said one of the sources, requesting anonymity. “The two companies have been in talks since January this year, and the deal is likely to be finalized soon.” The development comes at a time when PhysicsWallah is preparing for its initial public offering (IPO). The Noida-based company recently appointed three independent directors and is aiming to raise $500 million at a $5 billion valuation through the public listing. According to sources, the payment for the deal will be made in tranches and will be tied to future performance milestones. “Although we have been meeting several people from different organisations (IPO Bankers, PEs & Edtech founders) for our future plans, nothing has been finalized so far. The information you are talking about is just a rumour which shouldn't be taken seriously at all,” said Vivek Tiwari, CEO, Drishti IAS. Queries sent to PhysicsWallah did not elicit an immediate response. Drishti IAS, a 26-year-old educational platform that mainly provides offline coaching to help students prepare for the Civil Services Examination (CSE), reported Rs 405 crore in revenue with Rs 90 crore profit after tax (PAT) in FY24. Founded by Vikas Divyakirti, the Mukherjee Nagar Institute is the largest revenue contributor for Drishti IAS, accounting for 58% of the total coaching income, followed by Prayagraj, Jaipur, and Karol Bagh. On the other hand, nine-year-old PhysicsWallah has expanded into a full-fledged edtech platform offering live and recorded lectures, test series, study materials, and offline hybrid centers. The firm has raised over $300 million to date and was valued at around $2.8 billion during a $210 million Series B round in September last year. PhysicsWallah’s revenue from operations surged to Rs 1,940.4 crore in FY24, compared to Rs 744.3 crore in FY23. However, following the rising expenditure, its losses deepened over 13X to Rs 1,131 crore in FY24 against Rs 84 crore reported in FY23. The potential deal aligns with PhysicsWallah’s focus on offline coaching. Last year, the Lightspeed and WestBridge-backed company stated that it aims to achieve over Rs 1,000 crore in offline revenue by the end of FY25.

Exclusive: Physicswallah revenue crosses Rs 3,000 Cr in FY25, cuts losses by 80%

EntrackrEntrackr · 3d ago
Exclusive: Physicswallah revenue crosses Rs 3,000 Cr in FY25, cuts losses by 80%
Medial

Edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah (PW) recorded strong growth in FY25, with a sharp rise in revenue and a notable cut in losses, according to Entrackr sources familiar with the company’s financials. Physicswallah’s operating revenue grew by around 55% to over Rs 3,000 crore in the fiscal year ending March 2025. For background, the Delhi-based company recorded 140% year-on-year growth to Rs 1,940.4 crore in FY24 from Rs 744.3 crore in FY23. As per sources, the rebound was steered by the company’s offline push, which now contributes a major share of its topline. PW expanded its footprint to 200 centers in FY25 from 124 a year earlier. The growth was supported by a healthy teacher-student ratio and efficient seat allocation. By FY25, overall enrolments rose to 5 million from 3.6 million in FY24. The company has now expanded into over 30 test prep categories and increased offerings like more upskilling courses and IOI centers in multiple new cities, besides expanding its presence in the Gulf region. When it comes to the bottom line, the company narrowed losses in the range of 80% in the last fiscal year (FY25). Notably, PhysicsWallah’s losses widened over 13X to Rs 1,131 crore in FY24 due to one-time non-cash charges of Rs 756 crore booked as fair value loss on compulsorily convertible preference shares (CCPS). The financial improvements come as PW gears up to go public. The company has received SEBI’s nod to file its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) and is planning to raise around Rs 4,500 crore through the IPO. The listing could value the company in the range of Rs 35,000-40,000 crore, according to sources. Founded in 2016 by Alakh Pandey and Prateek Maheshwari, PhysicsWallah has emerged as one of the few scaled edtech firms to maintain positive cash flows in previous fiscal years. With losses now under control, rising enrolments, and strong offline traction, PW is positioning itself as a rare success story in India’s embattled edtech sector, one that could set the tone for investor sentiment ahead of its market debut.

Edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah receives SEBI nod for IPO

EntrackrEntrackr · 1m ago
Edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah receives SEBI nod for IPO
Medial

Edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah receives SEBI nod for IPO Backed by investors including Lightspeed, WestBridge, Hornbill Capital, and GSV Ventures, PhysicsWallah has an estimated valuation of $2.8 billion. Edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for its pre-IPO draft filing, clearing a major regulatory hurdle on its path to public markets. The Noida-based company submitted its draft under SEBI’s confidential route in March this year. With this approval, PhysicsWallah is set to raise around Rs 4,600 crore (about $533 million) through a mix of fresh issuance and an offer for sale, joining the pipeline of new-age tech firms eyeing the bourses in 2025. Backed by investors including Lightspeed, WestBridge, Hornbill Capital, and GSV Ventures, PhysicsWallah has an estimated valuation of $2.8 billion. It will also become the first edtech unicorn to hit the stock exchange. In March, the company inducted three independent directors to its board to align with public company norms and best practices. Last month, it also appointed Satish Sharma as Chief Marketing Officer to bolster its brand strategy and expansion plans. PhysicsWallah also completed its conversion to a public entity this year, a prerequisite for listing on the Indian stock exchanges. The move is part of the company’s broader strategy to institutionalize operations as it prepares for public scrutiny and capital market participation. While the company has yet to file its annual financial statements for FY25, it posted revenue of Rs 1,940.4 crore for FY24 with a loss of Rs 375 crore. The company has a deep focus on offline operations and expects to clock more than Rs 1,000 crore in revenue from this segment. It also plans to open more centres in both existing and new cities. The development comes at a time when the edtech sector is struggling in terms of fundraising and scaling. However, PhysicsWallah’s IPO will mark a significant milestone for the Indian edtech sector, potentially paving the way for more tech startups to test the public markets.

Exclusive: PhysicsWallah–Drishti IAS acquisition deal called off

EntrackrEntrackr · 2m ago
Exclusive: PhysicsWallah–Drishti IAS acquisition deal called off
Medial

Exclusive: PhysicsWallah–Drishti IAS acquisition deal called off In April 2025, Entrackr exclusively reported that PhysicsWallah was evaluating acquisitions to strengthen its presence in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) test preparation segment. The highly anticipated acquisition of Drishti IAS by edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah has been called off, according to two sources. The deal was in advanced stages but did not materialize due to multiple reasons. The deal was estimated at Rs 2,500-Rs 3,000 crore. Drishti IAS, along with other institutes like Chaitanya Academy, Rau's IAS Study Circle, and Sarrthi IAS were among the assets being considered for potential acquisition. “Drishti IAS considered the proposal after being approached by PhysicsWallah, but given its strong revenue and profitability, the company has decided to continue operating independently and is not looking to raise external funding and acquisition," said one of the sources requesting anonymity. Drishti IAS, founded in 1999, has established itself as a leading player in civil services preparation, particularly for Hindi-medium students. The Delhi-based institute reported a revenue of Rs 405 crore and a profit after tax of Rs 90 crore in FY24. Sources added that Drishti is expected to close FY25 with a decent growth in revenue as well as profit. PhysicsWallah, known for its affordable online coaching, has been expanding its offerings beyond engineering and medical entrance exams into the competitive UPSC coaching space. The potential acquisition of Drishti IAS was seen as a strategic move to bolster its offline presence and diversify its portfolio ahead of its planned IPO. PhysicsWallah declined to comment on the story, while Drishti IAS did not respond to queries until the time of publication. Media reports suggest that PhysicsWallah filed draft papers via confidential route in March to raise Rs 4,600 crore through an initial public offering (IPO). If successful, it will become the first edtech unicorn to be listed on the stock exchange.

FirstCry parent’s revenue crosses Rs 1,900 Cr in Q4 FY25; losses surge 74%

EntrackrEntrackr · 3m ago
FirstCry parent’s revenue crosses Rs 1,900 Cr in Q4 FY25; losses surge 74%
Medial

The parent company of FirstCry has released its quarterly report for the last financial year ending March 2025. The report highlights moderate growth, with a 16% year-on-year growth in scale while losses surged 74%. FirstCry's revenue from operations grew to Rs 1,930 crore in Q4 FY25 from Rs 1,667 crore in Q4 FY24, its financial statements sourced from the National Stock Exchange show. For the full fiscal year (FY25), BrainBees’s operating revenue increased 18% to Rs 7,660 crore in FY25 from Rs 6,481 crore in FY24. The sale of its products through offline stores and websites in India and the international market was the primary source of revenue, accounting for 69% of total operating revenue, while its subsidiary, GlobalBees, contributed Rs 398 crore income for Q4 FY25. The company also made Rs 48 crore from interest income which took its overall revenue to Rs 1,979 crore in Q4 FY25, compared to Rs 1,685 crore in Q4 FY24. For the omnichannel retailer, the cost of procurement of materials accounted for 58% of the overall expenditure which increased 14% quarter-on-quarter to Rs 1,206 crore in Q4 FY25 from Rs 1055 crore in Q4 FY24. FirstCry employee benefits stood at Rs 229 crore in Q4 FY25 which includes Rs 82 crore as ESOP cost. Marketing, legal, rent, and technology expenses were key overheads that drove total expenditure up to Rs 2,060 crore in Q4 FY25, compared to Rs 1,737 crore in the same quarter last year. For the fiscal year ending March 2025, the company’s total expenses rose to Rs 7,992 crore. BrainBees’ loss surged by 74% to Rs 75 crore in Q4 FY25. For FY25, the firm losses stood at 215 crore in FY25, down from Rs 321 crore in FY24. (We have excluded exceptional items amounting to Rs 37 crore from the loss calculation.) BrainBees debuted on the stock exchange at Rs 446 and is now trading at 376.5 on May 26, bringing its total market capitalization to Rs 19,631 crore.

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