Archive · 14 Jan 2026
Unacademy to exit offline centres, shift to franchise model
Unacademy, a big online learning company, is closing its physical learning centres.
Instead, it will work with local operators to run these centres as franchises.
This change is happening because the company wants to focus more on its online services, which is where it started.
The company's leaders say this new plan will help them save money and grow better.
They also mentioned that some of their learning programs are now making money, which is a good sign.
The company has been through some tough times recently, but they are hopeful about the future.
Unacademy plans to shut down its company-operated offline centres and convert them into franchise partnerships by April 2024.
The company's franchise model is described as asset-light and capital-efficient, aligning with its goal of a healthier cost structure.
Unacademy will refocus on its online-first model, similar to its initial approach when it started in 2015.
Plans to hive off Airlearn, its AI language learning vertical, have been dropped, and Sumit Jain will continue as the CEO of the test prep vertical.
The company has seen several verticals turn profitable, including UPSC, NEET PG, CAT, PrepLadder, and Graphy, with Airlearn growing significantly in 2023.
- Who
- Unacademy, founded by Gaurav Munjal
- What
- Transition from company-operated offline centres to a franchise model
- When
- By April 2024
- Where
- India
- Why
- To focus on digital business and return to an online-first model, aiming for a healthier cost structure and growth
- Company
- Unacademy
- Founder
- Gaurav Munjal
- Transition Timeline
- By April 2024
- Franchise Model
- Asset-light, capital-efficient
- Current Valuation
- $300–400 million (proposed)
- Previous Peak Valuation
- $3.4 billion (2021)
- Total Funding Raised
- $880 million
- Key Investors
- SoftBank, Temasek, Tiger Global, Sequoia Capital, Peak XV Partners
