GyanDhan, an education financing platform, has raised ₹50 crore in Series A funding round from Classplus, an edtech company and Pravega Ventures, a venture capital firm.
The. fresh funds raised will be used to scale its operations and strengthen its leadership in the education financing ecosystem. GyanDhan will scale the consultant partnership network and invest in technology to help streamline the end-to-end student financing journey and expand its physical presence to 50+ Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
GyanDhan will also double the number of partnered financial institutions from 15 to 30 banks and NBFC and grow the team across tech, credit, and sales to support regional scale.
The startup will also invest in community-building via seminars, student workshops, and financial literacy sessions.
Founded in 2015 by Ankit Mehra and Jainesh Sinha, GyanDhan provides end-to-end services, including education loans, scholarship assistance, admission counseling, and visa guidance.
GyanDhan operates a hybrid model combining a tech-powered marketplace with its own NBFC lending arm.
It also help students check eligibility, calculate EMIs, and estimate future earnings, making the journey to higher education as seamless as possible. Additionally, it also offers US credit cards, forex cards, and continuous support to ensure students’ successful transition to studying abroad.
With this strategic expansion, GyanDhan aims to drive loan originations worth ₹ 18,000 crore (~$2.1 billion) over the next three years—up from the current ₹7,000 crore (~$840 million) in cumulative originations.
The company will also tap into emerging opportunities in the skilling and executive education segments.
Previously, GyanDha has raised from Education Catalyst Fund, Sundaram Finance, Stanford Angels, Harvard Angels, and angel investors including Pravin Gandhi and Satyen Kothari.
Ankit Mehra, Co-founder and CEO of GyanDhan, said, “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.”
Mukul Rustagi, Co-founder and CEO, Classplus, said, “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.”
Spokesperson, Pravega Ventures, said, “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.”
