Education
Niit MTS snaps up Sweetrush in $26m USA push
NEW DELHI / SAN FRANCISCO: Niit learning systems limited’s managed training arm, niit mts, has bought 100 per cent of Sweetrush Inc in a deal worth up to $26 million, tightening its grip on the USA and sharpening its ai-led learning offer.
The acquisition, completed through Niit (USA) inc, includes performance-linked earn-outs over five years. Sweetrush, founded in 2001 by Arturo Schwartzberg and Andrei Hedstrom and headquartered in San Francisco, employs more than 100 people across the United States and Costa Rica, with a wider bench of learning specialists.
Niit MTS is betting that Sweetrush’s award-winning, human-centred learning design, spanning certification-driven content and a fast-growing talent solutions practice, will plug neatly into its global, ai-enabled managed learning platform for Global 1000 clients. The aim: turn project work into sticky, annuity-like contracts and lift wallet share across enterprises, professional associations and not-for-profits.
Niit MTS chief executive officer and executive director Sapnesh Lalla, said the tie-up brings “human-centred learning craft and global operational scale, powered by technology and AI, under one roof”.
Sweetrush chief executive officer Danielle Hart, said joining niit offers a bigger global runway while preserving the firm’s culture of care and innovation.
Niit MTS vice chairman and managing director Vijay K Thadani, called the deal a boost to its outcome-focused portfolio, marrying strategic learning interventions with delivery at scale.
Sweetrush’s founders struck a similar note. Arturo Schwartzberg said the teams and culture would remain intact, now backed by Niit’s heft, while Andrei Hedstrom said the combined ecosystem would “amplify” the firms’ impact on mission-critical learning.
Education
Govt to set up creator labs in 15,000 schools to boost AVGC sector
Budget boost and WAVES initiatives aim to scale India’s creator economy
NEW DELHI: The government is doubling down on India’s so-called orange economy, rolling out an ambitious plan to expand content creation infrastructure and skill development across the country.
At the heart of the push is a proposal to set up AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges, backed by an allocation of Rs 250 crore in the Union Budget 2026-27. The move is aimed at nurturing talent early and building a pipeline for the fast-growing animation, visual effects, gaming and comics sector.
The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies has been designated as the nodal agency to steer this rollout. Operating from the campus of National Film Development Corporation in Mumbai, the institute has already launched 18 courses, with over 130 students enrolled and a trainer network beginning to take shape.
The broader ecosystem push is rooted in recommendations by the AVGC Promotion Task Force, which estimates that the sector could require around two million skilled professionals by 2030. The government is now working to align training, infrastructure and policy to meet that demand.
Flagship platforms such as WAVES 2025 are playing a central role in this strategy. The summit brought together creators, investors and global industry leaders, while initiatives like the WaveX Startup Accelerator Programme are helping startups scale through mentorship, funding access and international exposure.
The Create in India Challenge has also emerged as a key talent pipeline. Its first edition saw 33 challenges and participation from over one lakh creators, including many from smaller cities, signalling a democratisation of content creation across India.
Sharing details in Parliament, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting minister of state L Murugan outlined the government’s multi-pronged approach in response to queries raised by Kriti Devi Debbarman and Eatala Rajender.
With policy, funding and platforms now aligning, India’s creator economy is getting a structured push. The message is clear. From classrooms to global screens, the next wave of storytellers is being built at scale.
