Byju Raveendran, the founder of edtech giant Byju’s, recently joined the social media platform X to share an unfiltered account of the company’s two-decade-long journey. Marking a shift from his usual approach of letting his work speak for itself, he stated, “Nothing is ever as good as it seems, nor as bad as they make you believe. The truth usually lies somewhere in between. So I’m here to talk about the last 20 years: the good 17, the bad 2 & the ugly 1. No filters. Only facts.”
Once valued at $22 billion in 2022, Byju’s has faced severe financial challenges in recent years, primarily due to a cash crunch and regulatory hurdles. Sharing a throwback picture of his younger self, Raveendran posted on X, “Broke, not broken. We will rise again,” signaling his determination to turn things around.
The company’s struggles deepened as the return to physical classrooms affected its business model. Despite this, Raveendran remains optimistic about a revival. He announced plans for a relaunch and expressed his intent to rehire from Byju’s extensive talent pool, stating, “Once we relaunch our company – which I believe will happen sooner than expected – we will rehire exclusively from our incredible pool of former BYJUites.”
Highlighting Byju’s impact on employment, he proudly shared that the company had provided opportunities to 215,000 fresh graduates over nine years, all earning a minimum salary of ₹6 lakh. “Byju’s was built by these 2 lakh freshers with zero experience, exceptional talent, and infinite energy. They went on to become productive members of our great economy,” he emphasized.
Addressing speculation about his stay in Dubai, Raveendran clarified that his move was solely for his father’s medical treatment, dismissing allegations that he had fled to escape the company’s troubles. “It’s very unfortunate that people think that I ran to Dubai because I had to… But let me be clear, I did not run away,” he asserted.
His wife and co-founder, Divya Gokulnath, acknowledged his shift towards social media, revealing that he had long resisted the idea. “For years, I tried convincing BYJU RAVEENDRAN to dip his toes into the sometimes pretty, sometimes crazy world of social media. His response? A steadfast ‘I’d rather build and let my work do the talking.’ But guess what? The builder is now talking,” she wrote on LinkedIn.
Raveendran’s recent statements suggest a focused strategy for Byju’s revival. Despite ongoing financial struggles, his confidence and vision remain key drivers in the company’s potential comeback.
