“Had it sustained its momentum, BYJU’s could have joined the ranks of the world’s most iconic brands like Google, Microsoft, or HP.” says our Editor Mr Sujit Lalwani in one of his talks to a large group of entrepreneurs in Nepal.

Byju’s: A Brand Born to Lead

BYJU’s has been an inspiration to all. Who hasn’t heard its story? The brand was almost omnipresent, the poster child of the entire EdTech sector. Few Indian brands have risen so quickly to make a global impact.

These aren’t just words we at Inspiration Unlimited believe—our team of ever-energized, super-inspired content creators holds BYJU’s as a symbol of success. To become so popular among users, investors, and analysts around the world in such a short time is no small feat for any brand.

One of our editors, Mr. Sujit Lalwani, once attended a crash course conducted by Mr. Byju Raveendran himself to prepare for the CAT exam, the gateway to India’s premier management institutions. These sessions were held in massive auditoriums, accommodating over a thousand students under one roof simultaneously.

The sessions were also broadcast to other cities while Mr. Byju conducted classes in one location. Using tablets and the latest technologies available at the time, he made his sessions feel like live online classes—a groundbreaking feat in 2008 when such technologies were far less widespread.

Unprecedented Fame and Global Recognition

At one point, Mr. Byju became a teacher to students of all age groups preparing for competitive exams. His classrooms were often described as some of the largest in the country. People flocked to his weekend sessions in numbers that other institutions could only dream of. His classes became a phenomenon. Those who witnessed his energy knew there was more to his story than met the eye—an unfolding future full of promise. He conducted four three-hour sessions daily, with 30-minute breaks, starting from 7 a.m. and running until 11 p.m., with hardly any breaks during the week or throughout the year.

As students, including our editor, saw BYJU’s journey evolve into a giant of the EdTech sector, optimism ran high. The brand seemed destined for greatness, and every passing year reinforced that belief. Seeing the Byju’s logo in the IPL was a hallmark moment for the brand and for all the students who had once sat in his classes.

It felt like a fairy tale. BYJU’s became a brand that exemplified growth and scale. While the COVID-19 pandemic toppled many companies, it proved to be a boon for this tech giant. Byju’s delivered quality education online, and what followed was a series of acquisitions that made its dream even bigger—an achievement that many would find difficult to replicate.

Given its history of packing auditoriums across the country, its aggressive acquisitions felt like a natural progression. A brand of BYJU’s scale must have made industry stalwarts sit up and worry about a competitor capable of becoming a formidable threat.

What went wrong for BYJU’s?

But what could have been the single biggest mistake that led to such a rapid downfall for a brand like this—and for a leader like Byju Raveendran?

While there’s ample information about acquisitions that may have gone awry, technical missteps, and reports outlining what could have been done to avoid pitfalls, we at iU see things differently. We believe the brand failed to heed a fundamental principle of evolution, eloquently summarized by Douglas Erwin in one of his research papers:

“The tendency for evolution to create larger species is counterbalanced by the tendency of extinction to kill off larger species.”

In its pursuit of rapid growth, the brand seemingly overlooked this critical philosophy. Quick, sturdy growth often breeds overconfidence, which can lead to oversight of fundamental risks. At the top levels of management, this aspect of the growth philosophy appears to have been underestimated.

Though it’s possible someone in senior management recognized the impending challenges, the scale of the threats—both anticipated and unforeseen—was clearly underestimated.

Unforgettable Facts About Byju’s Growth Story

The following five jaw-dropping and inspiring facts about BYJU’s prime decade demonstrate why it attracted intense competition and scrutiny:

1. Rapid User Growth: BYJU’s reached 150 million registered users by 2023, a staggering rise from its launch in 2011.
2. Valuation Surge: The company achieved a peak valuation of $22 billion in 2022, making it India’s most-valued startup, surpassing Paytm.
3. Aggressive Acquisitions: BYJU’s spent over $2.8 billion on acquisitions, including Aakash and Great Learning, to diversify its educational offerings.
4. Pandemic Boom: The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed massive revenue growth as millions turned to online learning solutions.
5. Global Sponsorships: BYJU’s became an official sponsor of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, further enhancing its global visibility.

A brand that rose so rapidly could only falter by failing to prepare for the inevitable attacks that come with success. No matter how advanced human civilization becomes, jealousy at another’s meteoric rise remains a reality.

A Hard Lesson in Competitive Reality: The Cost of Success

BYJU’s, a giant in the EdTech sector, with its visionary founder, was poised for diversification and monopolization in various sectors. It’s obvious why every competitor had their eyes on it.

At iU, we draw a crucial lesson: Build castles, but don’t forget to fortify them.

Just as every home is built with a fence and every bird protects its eggs in a concealed nest, even Goddess Sita was safeguarded by the Lakshman Rekha. A colossal entity like BYJU’s required a parallel Kavach (armor)—as strong as the corporation itself, if not stronger, to shield its grand vision.

At iU, we believe every story carries an inspiring lesson. From BYJU’s growth and fall story, we’ve learned that building dreams is not enough; they must be protected with a sound fortress. Although the legendary leadership that led to such stupendous growth is unparalleled, and we can only speak as outsiders offering opinions on what we see, it’s still our right to contribute the best insights to build better—and, of course, stronger—in the future.

We hope this inspires you to dream big and secure your future with resilience, ensuring your vision stands the test of time.