Leadership Transition at Unacademy
Leadership changes are occurring at Unacademy as Gaurav Munjal, the co-founder and CEO, transitions to the role of Executive Chairman. Following this shift, the company’s chief business officer, Akhilendra Kumar, will assume the responsibilities of chief executive. In a recent update on X, Munjal highlighted his ongoing commitment to the daily operations of Unacademy while working closely with Kumar. He also mentioned his involvement with the upcoming upGrad IPO.
Akhilendra Kumar: The New CEO
Akhilendra Kumar has been integral to Unacademy for nearly five years in his role as CBO. This leadership shift comes shortly after upGrad successfully acquired Unacademy in a stock deal valued at just over $200 million, which was finalised in September 2026. This marked a significant decrease from Unacademy’s peak valuation of approximately $3.4 billion noted in 2021.
Impacts of the Acquisition
The acquisition allows upGrad to penetrate the online test preparation market, encompassing key areas like UPSC, JEE, NEET, and GATE. It will also enhance Unacademy’s extensive educator network, complementing upGrad’s existing focus on higher education, upskilling, and study abroad initiatives.
During the acquisition, Munjal disclosed that Unacademy had an impressive topline of around Rs 400 crore, with most branches either profitable or nearing profitability. Additionally, the company boasted a substantial cash reserve of approximately Rs 900 crore.
In contrast, upGrad saw a year-on-year gross revenue rise of 7%, reaching Rs 2,070 crore in FY26, including taxes. The total income, after applying Ind-AS accounting, was recorded at Rs 1,732 crore. Furthermore, the company announced a provisional profit of Rs 38.8 crore for the 11 months ending February 2026.
Operational Consolidation Post-Acquisition
Following the acquisition, upGrad is streamlining the operations of Unacademy and its subsidiaries. The headquarters of PrepLadder has already been relocated from Chandigarh to Bengaluru, and Unacademy, alongside PrepLadder, Airlearn, and Graphy, will now operate out of Bengaluru in the future.