Gradeup

What Gradeup does

Gradeup is an Indian online exam preparation platform founded in 2015 and headquartered in Noida. The platform serves students preparing for competitive examinations, with a particular focus on government job recruitment tests and postgraduate entrance exams, covering more than 150 examinations across 25 categories. Since establishment, Gradeup reports having helped more than 25 million students access preparation resources, with operations concentrated in India. The company employed 501-1,000 staff prior to its acquisition.

The product is a content-led online coaching platform, offering courses and practice material across multiple exam categories rather than specializing in a single test. Co-founders Shobhit Bhatnagar (CEO), Vibhu Bhushan (CPO), and Sanjeev Kumar (CTO) built the platform with backing from Times Internet and TLabs; the largest disclosed rounds were $3M (2014) and $7M (2019). Specific pricing models, revenue mechanics, and technology architecture beyond multi-category content delivery are not documented in the available data.

In August 2025, Byju's acquired Gradeup and rebranded the platform as "Byju's Exam Prep," integrating its user base and exam coverage into Byju's broader edtech portfolio. The strategic intent, per public commentary, was to bolster Byju's presence in the competitive examination preparation category. Following the acquisition, Gradeup no longer operates as a standalone brand and its growth trajectory is governed by Byju's portfolio strategy rather than independent execution.

Name

Gradeup

Legal name

Gradeup

Website

https://gradeup.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Gradeup is an Indian online exam preparation platform serving students preparing for over 150 competitive examinations across 25 categories, including government jobs and postgraduate entrance exams. Founded in 2015, it has served 25 million+ students before being acquired by Byju's in 2025 and rebranded as Byju's Exam Prep.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Exam Preparation

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Test Prep Tutoring Platforms (SAT/ACT/GRE/GMAT, etc.) (EDANAGAH)

Keywords

• Online exam preparation
• Competitive exam coaching
• Government job preparation
• Postgraduate entrance exams
• Edtech learning platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Noida

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Core offering

Gradeup is an online exam preparation platform offering courses and study resources for more than 150 competitive examinations across 25 categories, including government job exams and postgraduate entrance exams. The platform serves individual students seeking accessible, comprehensive preparation content, and has helped more than 25 million students since its 2015 founding. Following its 2025 acquisition by Byju's, the offering operates under the Byju's Exam Prep brand.

Product overview

Gradeup is an online exam preparation platform that has been rebranded as Byju's Exam Prep following its acquisition by Byju's. The platform serves students preparing for over 150 examinations across 25 categories, including government jobs and postgraduate entrance exams. The platform has helped more than 25 million students since its establishment in 2015.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Byju's Exam Prep (formerly Gradeup) An online exam preparation platform offering courses and study resources for over 150 examinations across 25 categories, including government job exams and postgraduate entrance exams, targeted at Indian students.

Quantifiable outcome

• Helped more than 25 million students prepare for competitive examinations

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Byju'scoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerByju's acquired Gradeup in August 2025. Gradeup will be rebranded as Byju's Exam Prep and will bolster Byju's presence in the competitive examination preparation category. This acquisition adds Gradeup's 25 million+ student base and 150+ examination coverage to Byju's portfolio.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Doubtnut: India-based edtech offering exam-prep content for government jobs and entrance exams via vernacular video solutions — comparable in exam-prep targeting and Indian student base.
• Adda247: One of India's largest government job preparation platforms with online coaching, mock tests and study material — closely comparable in exam categories and student segments to Gradeup.
• Embibe: AI-driven test prep platform owned by Reliance Jio targeting competitive exams in India — comparable in use of technology for personalised exam preparation and target audience.
• Infinity Learn (by Aakash): Digital arm of Aakash Educational Services providing online test prep for medical and engineering entrance exams — directly comparable online test prep delivery to Gradeup.
• Unacademy: India's largest online test prep platform offering courses for government jobs, postgraduate entrance and professional exams — directly overlapping Gradeup's category, target customers and online delivery model.
• Testbook: Online platform focused on government and banking exam preparation in India — directly comparable target audience, exam categories and online delivery model to Gradeup.
• Oliveboard: Bengaluru-based online test prep platform offering mock tests and courses for banking, SSC and government exams — direct overlap in product type and target audience with Gradeup.
• Vedantu: Online tutoring platform with growing competitive exam and skills offerings alongside K-12 — overlapping customer base and live-class delivery model.
• CareerWill: India-focused online coaching platform offering preparation for SSC, banking, railway and other government competitive exams — direct overlap in exam verticals and learner base.

Broad incumbents

• PhysicsWallah: India-based edtech incumbent initially focused on JEE/NEET and now expanding into government job and postgraduate exam prep — competing with Gradeup on an expanding set of competitive exam verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gradeupapp
• Facebookfacebook.com/gradeup.learn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gradeup