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Byju’s acquires Aakash Educational Services for nearly $1 billion
NEW DELHI: Aiming to bolster its presence in the offline test preparation segment, Indian ed-tech leader Byju's has acquired Aakash Educational Services (AESL). The deal is apparently worth $1 billion, making it the biggest acquisition by Byju's to date.
Aakash Educational Services is a 33-year-old chain of physical coaching centers, and with this acquisition, Byju's hopes to accelerate its offline growth. Backed by Blackstone, Aakash has more than 200 operational physical tutoring centers in India.
"This will be the largest integration in the education space in India, especially in the startup space. Covid has really opened the gates to online education significantly and going forward, we believe that all kinds of models in education will exist in K-12, test prep, and even higher education," AESL managing director Aakash Chaudhry told PTI.
Chaudhry added that the merger could help to deliver education through multiple channels, both offline and online. He asserted that Byju's will make further investments to accelerate the growth of Aakash after the integration. AESL will continue operating as a separate entity and will expand its operations in the country, he clarified.
"Our complementary strengths will enable us to build capabilities, create engaging and personalised learning programs. The future of learning is hybrid and this union will bring together the best of offline and online learning, as we combine our expertise to create impactful experiences for students," said Byju's CEO Byju Raveendran, as quoted by The Times of India.
Already touted as the biggest player in India’s booming ed-tech space, Byju's had acquired TutorVista and Edurite from Pearson in 2017, and Osmo in 2019. Last year, the company bought up coding training platform Whitehat Jr for $300 million.
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Madhu Soman joins Crestoria Global advisory board role
Former WION, Zee Business executive pivots to mentorship platform
MUMBAI: Madhu Soman, former chief business officer at WION and Zee Business, has joined the board of advisors at Crestoria Global, marking a shift from newsroom leadership to mentorship and education.
Soman, who brings close to three decades of experience across journalism and media management, said the move reflects a growing focus on shaping the next generation through guidance and real-world insight. His career spans leadership roles at organisations including Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters and Reuters, covering markets from India to Asia-Pacific.
“Across 28 years in the news business, one idea kept resurfacing as a meaningful off-ramp, teaching, mentorship, and helping shape the next generation,” said Soman. “Crestoria sits right at that intersection.”
Crestoria Global, which positions itself as a long-term education and career advisory platform, focuses on helping students navigate global opportunities through structured guidance, research-led insights and personalised mentorship. The company said its approach goes beyond university admissions to focus on long-term career positioning.
Soman added that the platform’s philosophy of designing success with intent, rather than leaving it to chance, resonated with his own outlook on impact and influence.
The advisory board brings together professionals from diverse fields, including academia, media and corporate leadership, aimed at offering students a broader perspective on career pathways in an increasingly complex global landscape.
As he steps into this new role, Soman’s move signals a wider trend of seasoned industry leaders turning towards mentorship, where experience is not just shared, but scaled for the next generation.
