Young woman cricketer, 19, dies by suicide after selection heartbreak in Puducherry trials: ReportA 19-year-old cricketer died by suicide after attending selection trials for the Puducherry T20 women's cricket team. She wasn't named on the final list. Updated on: May 02
Punjab Police is learnt to have booked Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak, who recently defected to the BJP, sources said on Saturday (May 2, 2026). Two FIRs have been lodged against Mr. Pathak under non-bailable sections, they said. No further details about the FIRs have been disclosed yet
Seems like ‘The Special One’ is firm on staying put. Benfica boss Jose Mourinho has shut down speculation linking him with a return to Real Madrid, insisting he has had “no contact" with the Spanish giants. Reports had suggested that club president Florentino Perez views Mourinho as a leading
The wellness tourism industry has experienced rapid growth in recent years. India’s wellness offerings too have developed beyond fitness studios, luxury retreats and self-care programmes. Now, we are seeing a growth of spiritual travel as a new trend
There’s been plenty of noise around Formula 1 potentially returning to India. Timelines like 2027 have been floated, though they feel optimistic at best. Still, the conversation refuses to die. Jenson Button is firmly in favour of seeing F1 back in India
Edtech funding collapses after pandemic high
This article was originally published in Rest of World, which covers technology’s impact outside the West.
The pandemic’s biggest bet on online learning has gone bust.
Global edtech investment peaked at $16.7 billion in 2021, fueled by lockdowns that kept millions of children out of classrooms. By 2025, venture capital had plummeted to less than $3 billion, according to Tracxn, a Bengaluru-based platform that tracks global startup funding.
The majority of global edtech funding comes from US-based venture firms, Tracxn data shows.
The edtech downturn mirrors a wider shift in startup funding, where investors are choosing products built on ideas that simply sound big. HolonIQ, a research firm that advises governments and investors on education sectors, noted in a February analysis that money is flowing toward AI tools and training platforms that help companies hire, cut costs, and teach workers new skills.
Startup funding is prioritising efficiency over hype, and edtech is no exception.
“Venture capital flows reflected a shift from volume to intention,” HolonIQ wrote in a February 6 post on its website, reflecting back on 2025. “Investors concentrated capital in AI-enabled products, workforce-aligned platforms, and K–12 operations solutions that address cost or operational pressures, staffing challenges, and learning support at scale.”
Along with investments, the pool of founders has also dried up, with just 645 companies launched in 2025, compared with almost 10,500 in 2020.
For-profit startups have struggled to differentiate from rivals and fix weak unit economics. High customer acquisition costs, long institutional sales cycles, and low retention rates due to murky learning outcomes have plagued the sector, according to an analysis by Loot Drop, a curated database of more than 1,700 startup closures.
Indian edtech company Byju’s, once the world’s most valuable education startup at $22 billion, crumbled under a financial crisis and aggressive sales tactics for expensive courses. Prominent Nigerian startup Edukoya shut down in 2025 because of weak profitability and waning investor support.
Where online schooling remains essential, such as Afghanistan where girls cannot attend school or in war zones where buildings are destroyed, nonprofits like Khan Academy and local innovators have filled the gap rather than venture-backed startups.
In China, the government’s “double reduction” policy in July 2021 crushed the K-12 online education sector overnight. Yuanfudao – once valued at $15.5 billion and one of only two global edtech decacorns alongside Byju’s – ended its core tutoring services and pivoted to AI hardware, launching “learning machines.”
Yuanfudao is now among the top six players in China’s fast-growing AI learning hardware market, alongside rival Zuoyebang. Other experiments in the space include AI-powered desk lamps and smart desks.
Across the sector, edtech is gravitating toward career-focused programs and B2B corporate learning. That model already dominates in wealthier markets such as Australia, New Zealand, and the Baltic states, according to HolonIQ data.
“Corporate workforce development, professional certification prep, and specialised skill acquisition for high-income careers are more promising than K-12 general education,” Loot Drop’s analysis concluded. “The winners will likely be vertical-specific tools that integrate into existing workflows rather than platforms trying to replace entire educational institutions.”
Ananya Bhattacharya is a reporter for Rest of World covering South Asia's tech scene. She is based in Mumbai, India.
This article was originally published in Rest of World, which covers technology’s impact outside the West.
Source: Scroll
Related Posts: From Classroom to EdTech CarDekho Group invests $10 million in edtech firm CollegeDekho BYD February vehicle sales fall at steepest pace since pandemic Orphaned by the pandemic Executions in North Korea ramped up significantly during pandemic - report China and North Korea to reopen passenger train service after pandemic halt Qantas hit with record fine for illegal layoffs during pandemic The forgotten pandemic batch Why the LPG crisis is reviving pandemic fears among migrant workers Why Violet Affleck's bold UN speech on ‘ongoing pandemic’ is hitting headlines
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the final redemption price for the Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) 2018–19 Series I, which was issued on May 4, 2018. The bond is set to mature on Monday, May 4, 2026. The redemption price for the SGB maturing on May 4, 2026, has been set at Rs 14
1 minutes ago
94-year-old Singeetham Srinivasa Rao shocks internet with Sing Geetham teaser; fans say ‘better than Gen Z’13 years after his last film, 94-year-old filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao is returning to cinema with Sing Geetham. Know all about it. May 2, 2026
1 minutes ago
The noise was getting louder around the Los Angeles Lakers. Blow a 3-0 lead? Against a depleted Houston Rockets side missing Kevin Durant? It felt unthinkable, until it didn’t. And then LeBron James stepped in and reminded everyone how these stories usually end
1 minutes ago
“You have to embrace getting older. Life is precious, and when you've lost a lot of people, you realize each day is a gift.” — Meryl Streep LiveMint's quote of the day by Meryl Streep carries a profound weight that feels uniquely necessary today.“You have to embrace getting older
1 minutes ago
Kolkata: On recently, in late February, India’s forex reserves reached an all-time high of $728.49 billion. According to data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday, India’s foreign exchange reserves declined by $4.82 billion to $698.49 billion in the week ending April 24
1 minutes ago
This article was originally published in Rest of World, which covers technology’s impact outside the West. The pandemic’s biggest bet on online learning has gone bust. Global edtech investment peaked at $16.7 billion in 2021, fueled by lockdowns that kept millions of children out of classrooms
1 minutes ago
Germany faces a potential 15 billion euro output loss due to US President Donald Trump's planned tariff increase on European cars and trucks. The Kiel Institute for the World Economy warns of substantial economic impact. This move highlights Germany's automotive sector's vulnerability to US trade
1 minutes ago
“This haveli is at least a hundred years old, so are the frescos in your room,” the bellman tells me proudly as he opens the low-hung wooden door that requires you to bow to enter. After five hours on the road from Delhi, I am eager to rest before heading out to explore Churu
1 minutes ago
Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi’s film Ek Din was theatrically released on May 1. The romantic drama clashed with Riteish Deshmukh’s historical drama Raja Shivaji at the box office. Ek Din Box Office Collection: Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi’s romantic drama opened to mixed reviews upon its
Just now
ISRO held technical discussions with Russia's Roscosmos in Moscow for semi-cryogenic engines, crucial for India's heavy-lift launch vehicles. A draft contract is under approval, potentially accelerating ISRO's indigenous engine development. This collaboration aligns with ISRO's broader
1 minutes ago
The West Bengal Police has imposed prohibitory orders for 60 days, starting Sunday, in parts of Kolkata’s central business district, PTI reported on Saturday. Citing an official order from Friday, the news agency reported that the action was taken after the police received inputs about possible
1 minutes ago
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has reconstituted four key parliamentary committees for the 2026-27 financial year. Notable reappointments include Faggan Singh Kulaste as Chairperson of the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
1 minutes ago
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday (May 1, 2026) he was “not satisfied” with Iran's latest proposal in negotiations to end war between the countries, rejecting the plan almost as soon as it was delivered. “They want to make a deal, I'm not satisfied with it, so we'll see what happen
1 minutes ago
Tanur boat accident: Justice V K Mohanan Commission submits final report with safety recommendationsTanur boat accident: Justice V K Mohanan Commission submits final report with safety recommendations Published on: May 02, 2026 2:26 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Kochi
1 minutes ago
People living in a housing society in Noida were left upset after facing a water shortage for two straight days. A resident shared his experience online and questioned why basic facilities were missing despite residents paying maintenance charges regularly
1 minutes ago
Actor-turned-politician Vijay enjoys a massive fan following and there is no doubt about it. He is currently on a spiritual tour, seeking blessings for his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ahead of the Tamil Nadu elections results, scheduled to be announced on May 4
1 minutes ago
'Trump is an idiot': Californians fume over soaring petrol pricesThe war launched by Donald Trump is unpopular all over the US, with polls showing a clear majority disapprove of a conflict whose aims they think are unclear. Updated on: May 02
1 minutes ago
The Trinamool Congress has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission. Allegations involve the unauthorized sorting of postal ballot covers at an EVM strongroom in Kolkata. TMC workers claim trunks of ballots were moved to an unmonitored room. Similar incidents occurred in North 24 Parganas
1 minutes ago
‘What just happened?’: Internet reacts as emergency alert system test sends loud beep to mobile usersInternet reacted after mobile users received a loud government test alert on their phones on Saturday morning. Published on: May 02, 2026 1:06 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link
1 minutes ago
Union Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday announced the launch of India’s first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) barrier-less tolling system at the Chorayasi Toll Plaza on the Surat-Bharuch section of the Delhi-Mumbai NH-48 in Gujarat
1 minutes ago
This year’s JEE Main results saw 12 students score a perfect 100 percentile, including Rajasthan’s Arnav Gautam. Remarkably, Arnav achieved this in his very first attempt, scoring 295 out of 300 in the January session. Despite his parents coming from a humanities background
1 minutes ago
Spirit Airlines, an impish upstart that shook the industry with its irreverent ads and deep discount fares, announced on Saturday (May 2, 2026) that it has gone out of business after 34 years. The airlines said it had begun orderly wind-down of operations. It added all flights have been cancelled
1 minutes ago
Yash will soon be seen essaying the role of Ravan in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, scheduled to hit theatres on Diwali this year. While everyone is excited about the upcoming movie, the pan-India star has now opened up about why he agreed to be a part of the project
1 minutes ago
Offered by the University of Gloucestershire, the U.K. university / universities and colleges / students / careers / higher education / The Hindu Education PlusSports Global Excellence ScholarshipOffered by the University of Gloucestershire, the U.K.Published - May 02
1 minutes ago
Five members of a Tamil family among nine killed in Bargi Dam boat tragedyA senior government official in Tiruppur said arrangements were being made to transport the bodies back to Tamil Nadu. Published on: May 02, 2026 2:33 PM IST By S Vijay Karthik Share via Copy link Five of the nine people
1 minutes ago
Chettinad is undergoing a revival. Its mansions are paying the price. As travellers, architects and designers discover the region’s unique aesthetic via festivals and curated holidays, luxury homes and hotels across the country are increasingly being outfitted with Burmese teak doors
1 minutes ago
Thousands of fans were left disappointed as actor and TVK leader Vijay cancelled his scheduled visit to Velankanni Church on Saturday. The actor had planned to visit the famous Christian pilgrimage centre early Saturday morning. Sources from TVK stated that the cancellation was due to personal
1 minutes ago
