Amitabh Kant joins edtech firm upGrad’s board

Amitabh Kant, former G20 Sherpa of India and former CEO of NITI Aayog, has joined the Board of Directors of edtech firm upGrad as an Independent Non Executive Director.

The appointment is a significant step for the Ronnie Screwvala-led company as it looks to broaden its presence in the skilling sector, explore potential acquisitions such as Unacademy and select BYJU’S assets, and prepare for a possible public listing.

Kant is a senior figure in Indian public policy and has played a central role in major national initiatives such as Make in India, Startup India, Incredible India and the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor. At NITI Aayog, he led reforms in digital governance, sustainability, startup innovation and public private partnerships.

His experience on the global stage was further strengthened during India’s G20 Presidency, where he helped shape consensus on economic and developmental priorities.

The higher-education and upskilling-focused firm believes that its push to international territories will “benefit hugely” from Kant’s global exposure and experience.

“I believe India needs new-age skilling, given our demographic advantage. We need two things; how to upskill our people quickly and how to collaborate with good companies - both of which upGrad is doing very well,” Kant said, adding that the edtech firm is strengthening ties with universities and companies to build a full talent pipeline for job readiness and entrepreneurship.

upGrad has expanded its presence in the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia and the United States over the past two years. It has also deepened partnerships with universities in the UK, Australia, Europe and North America. The company has been investing in AI driven learning systems, personalised content and multi campus infrastructure to support both international mobility and India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision for a highly skilled workforce .

“We are building upGrad with the same discipline and long-term mindset that India’s new growth story demands. Sustainable momentum, strong governance, and meaningful learner outcomes - not hyperbole - are what drive us. Amitabh has spent his career shaping some of India’s biggest transformational missions, and that perspective is invaluable as we deepen our global footprint and widen our impact,” noted Ronnie Screwvala, Co-founder and Chairperson, upGrad.

The expansion of upGrad’s board forms part of a wider effort to strengthen the company for multi-market operations and steady global growth. Earlier this month, it appointed Deepesh Dhakad as chief product and technology officer to lead its product, design and technology functions across both learner and enterprise segments.

The company has also indicated its interest in joining the group of prospective bidders in the insolvency proceedings of Think and Learn Pvt Ltd, the parent firm of BYJU’S. upGrad is targeting assets related to higher education and advanced learning for young learners and recent graduates.

Additionally, upGrad is in acquisition talks with Unacademy, with discussions understood to value the platform between $300 million and $400 million.

upGrad last raised capital from Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, Temasek, in 2024 at a valuation of $2.25 billion. Screwvala also acquired Bharti Enterprises’ stake worth $20 million in the same round, according to media reports.

The company recently stated that it achieved positive EBITDA in FY25 with operating revenue of Rs 1,943 crore, continuing a steady growth trend over the past three years.

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Edited by Megha Reddy