In a landmark move underscoring its aggressive expansion strategy ahead of a planned INR 750 crore IPO, Mumbai-based professional education platform Imarticus Learning has acquired Bengaluru-based edtech startup MyCaptain for INR 50 crore (approximately USD 6 million) in a cash-and-stock transaction.
MyCaptain acquisition marks Imarticus Learning’s fourth acquisition in four years, reinforcing its ambition to lead India’s upskilling and career transformation space. MyCaptain, which will now operate as a fully-owned subsidiary, brings with it a team of 250 employees, including its three co-founders—Mohammed Zeeshan, Ruhan Naqash, and Sameer Ramesh—who are set to continue steering operations within the Imarticus framework.
MyCaptain: A Grassroots Edtech Success Story
Founded in 2016, MyCaptain has carved a niche in the Indian edtech sector by focusing on creative, entrepreneurial, and non-traditional career paths. With a strong grassroots presence across 1,500+ college campuses, the platform has supported over 5 lakh learners. An impressive 60% of its users hail from Tier II and III cities, and 80% are pursuing unconventional career journeys in areas such as content creation, design, digital marketing, and business.
The company reported a revenue of INR 27 crore in FY24 and achieved EBITDA breakeven, signaling sustainable operations amidst a volatile edtech environment.
Strategic Fit for Imarticus Learning
Imarticus, established in 2012 by Nikhil Barshikar and Sonya Hooja, has become a key player in industry-aligned upskilling, offering programs across finance, technology, data science, marketing, and management. The acquisition of MyCaptain is seen as a strategic effort to penetrate deeper into non-tech domains and expand offline presence in underserved markets.
“The collaboration with MyCaptain marks a pivotal step in strengthening Imarticus’ vision to be the lifelong career partner for learners across their journey,” said Barshikar. “We aim to grow MyCaptain’s operations fivefold over the next three years.”
Imarticus plans to leverage MyCaptain’s 60+ live, cohort-based programs to extend employability boot camps across 20+ classroom centers in over 16 cities, targeting the next wave of learners from smaller towns and non-traditional sectors.
A Broader Vision Ahead of IPO
The acquisition comes as Imarticus prepares to file its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) in the coming months for an INR 750 crore IPO. In FY25, the company clocked INR 205 crore in revenue, a 16% YoY growth, and saw a 100% increase in EBITDA, reinforcing its claim of “predictable and profitable” revenue streams.
Barshikar emphasized the platform’s focus on scale and sustainability: “We are at a stage where we have predictable and profitable revenue. This acquisition will significantly support our mission to reach 5 million learners in three years.”
Imarticus also boasts partnerships with over 3,500 hiring companies and elite institutions like IIT Roorkee, IIM Lucknow, ISB, and the London Business School. It has placed over 75,000 learners in roles with leading MNCs.
A New Chapter in Indian Edtech
This acquisition comes during a period of recalibration in India’s edtech industry. While legacy giants like BYJU’S grapple with financial and legal challenges, players like Imarticus are cementing their positions through sustainable growth and strategic acquisitions.
Past acquisitions by Imarticus include:
- Eckovation (2021) – a social learning platform
- StratOnBoard (2022) – a game-based learning platform
- Hero Mindmine (2023) – the training arm of Hero Group
With MyCaptain now integrated, Imarticus expands its employee base to over 850 and deepens its access to a younger, more diverse learner demographic, especially from semi-urban and rural India.
As the edtech ecosystem undergoes a shift from growth-at-all-costs to sustainable, impact-driven education, this acquisition positions Imarticus Learning not only as a leading skilling provider but also as a formidable, IPO-ready player in the evolving landscape of lifelong learning.
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