GyanDhan Secures INR 50 Crore Series A to Scale Education Financing Across Tier 2 & 3 India

• India’s First Education Loan Marketplace to Deepen Reach in Tier 2 & 3 Cities, and Scale Consultant Partner Network

GyanDhan, India’s leading education financing platform, has raised Series A funding of INR 50 crore in its latest funding round from edtech leader Classplus and venture capital firm Pravega Ventures. Founded by IIT alumni Ankit Mehra and Jainesh Sinha, GyanDhan is on a mission to make higher education more accessible by leveraging technology to simplify and scale education financing for Indian students, both in India and abroad.

The funding will enable GyanDhan to scale its operations and strengthen its leadership in the education financing ecosystem. The capital will be used to 

• Scale the consultant partnership network and invest in technology to help streamline the end-to-end student financing journey
• Expand its physical presence to 50+ Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities;
• Double the number of partnered financial institutions from 15 to 30 banks and NBFCs;
• Grow the team across tech, credit, and sales to support regional scale
• Invest in community-building via seminars, student workshops, and financial literacy sessions

With this strategic expansion, GyanDhan aims to drive loan originations worth INR 18,000 crore (~USD 2.1 billion) over the next three years, , up from the current INR 7,000 crore (~USD 840 million) in cumulative originations. The company will also tap into emerging opportunities in the skilling and executive education segments.

“This fundraise is more than just capital—it's a strong vote of confidence in our mission to democratize access to education. At GyanDhan, we've seen firsthand how the right financial support can change the trajectory of a student's life. With this backing, we’re doubling down on building the infrastructure and technology that will unlock educational opportunities for millions of families across India,” said Ankit Mehra, Co-founder and CEO of GyanDhan.

This round builds on prior capital raised from Education Catalyst Fund, Sundaram Finance, Stanford Angels, Harvard Angels, and angel investors, including Pravin Gandhi and Satyen Kothari.

“We love resilient founders, and the GyanDhan team has displayed the DNA of surviving in a tough but massive TAM. Education financing will be a strong pillar of the evolving India and we are glad to be a part of this journey.” said Mukul Rustagi, Co-founder and CEO, Classplus.

“Education financing in India sits at a powerful intersection of fintech innovation and social impact. GyanDhan's dual strategy of marketplace scale and focused NBFC lending, combined with their SaaS platform, demonstrates exceptional market understanding. At Pravega Ventures, we're backing their team to become the definitive gateway for education financing in India, addressing a massive gap in an underpenetrated market” said Spokesperson, Pravega Ventures.

Despite a temporary slowdown in the global study abroad market due to macroeconomic headwinds and tighter visa norms, the long-term demand for international education remains fundamentally strong. Meanwhile, the rising cost of higher education—both in India and overseas—is intensifying pressure on middle-class family budgets. Yet, India’s education loan penetration remains under 20%, starkly lower than over 45% in developed markets like 

the US, highlighting a substantial access and affordability gap. The current financing landscape is fragmented, leaving students and consultants to navigate a maze of disjointed options. 

As the next wave of growth hinges on technology-led distribution, local presence, and embedded partnerships, GyanDhan’s hybrid marketplace + NBFC model, combined with its partner-first strategy, is uniquely poised to serve as the foundational infrastructure for education financing in India, at a time when students need it most.

About GyanDhan

Founded by Ankit Mehra and Jainesh Sinha, alumni of IIT Kanpur and IIT Delhi, GyanDhan is India's first education financing marketplace. The company empowers Indian youth to pursue higher education through accessible and technology-driven financial products. 

• Over INR 7,000 crore (~USD 840 million) in education loans have been originated to date
• Operates a hybrid model: marketplace + own NBFC lending arm
• Partners with 15+ financial institutions, including SBI, ICICI, and Credila
• Collaborates with 100+ education consultants who use its proprietary SaaS platform
• Active in 30 cities, with ongoing expansion into Tier 2 & 3 locations

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