MAM
Byju’s acquires US start-up Epic for $500 mn
New Delhi: Signalling its bid to expand its global footprint, edtech major Byju’s has announced that it has acquired Epic, US based digital reading platform for kids for $500 million.
The company said it will invest an additional $1 billion in the US to strengthen its vision of “helping students fall in love with learning”.
The acquisition will enable the ed-tech major to bolster its presence in the US market by providing access to the more than two million teachers and 50 million kids in Epic’s existing global user-base, which has more than doubled over the last year, Byju’s said in a statement. It will also enable it to create engaging and interactive reading and learning experiences for children globally.
“Our mission is to fuel curiosity and make students fall in love with learning. Knowing that Epic and its products are rooted in the same mission, it was a natural fit. Together, we have the opportunity to create impactful experiences for children to become lifelong learners,” said Byju’s founder and CEO, Byju Raveendran.
Epic CEO Suren Markosian and co-founder Kevin Donahue will continue in their current roles.
“The alignment of missions and shared passion makes Byju’s the perfect partner, as Epic is confident that this acquisition will ignite excitement for learning around the world,” said Epic co-founder, Markosian. “Together, we can help empower future generations of kids by fostering a lifetime love for reading and learning.”
Byju’s has aggressive plans for international and US market expansion, and the acquisition with Epic will not only lead to significant investments in technology that will help to further personalised learning for students but also enable Byju’s to become a natural part of America”s learning culture, the statement said
MAM
DB Group names Abhay Dubey as chief brand marketing
Seasoned marketer brings regional muscle and launch savvy to DB
LUCKNOW: Dainik Bhaskar Group has appointed Abhay Dubey as chief brand marketing, strengthening its leadership bench as the media major sharpens its focus on brand-led growth.
Dubey steps into the role after a high-impact stint as regional marketing manager at Reliance Broadcast Network, where he led data-driven regional campaigns and rolled out new initiatives from concept to completion. Based in Lucknow, he steered end-to-end account marketing, orchestrated launch events, and fine-tuned go-to-market strategies with a sharp eye on budgets and brand visibility.
Before that, he served as area marketing manager at Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited, handling business development, media buying and integrated branding campaigns across Uttar Pradesh. His remit included planning new service launches and working closely with creative agencies, media owners and government departments.
Dubey also held the position of brand manager at EM3 Agriservices Pvt. Ltd., where he drove product launches, demand generation and stakeholder engagement. Earlier in his career, he was head of marketing at Saffron Communications Pvt. Ltd., overseeing integrated campaigns across sectors, and began his journey at Jagran Engage, building experience in advertising and lead generation.
With expertise spanning digital marketing, brand management, demand generation and below-the-line advertising, Dubey brings both strategic planning skills and hands-on execution experience to the table. His track record suggests a marketer who is as comfortable crunching numbers as he is crafting narratives.
At DB Group, he is expected to shape sharper brand strategies, amplify market presence and ensure campaigns that do not just make noise, but make sense.
