Gradeup (BYJU'S Exam Prep) — Cyborg Score 7/10

Strong
Online competitive exam preparation platforms

Strategic Profile

Gradeup is rebranded as Byju's Exam Prep and caters to students preparing for over 150 exams over 25 exam categories. With 3 crore+ registered aspirants, 2.5 crore downloads & 50,000+ selections, the platform aims to become India's #1 trusted brand for exam preparation. As part of Byju's portfolio, it benefits from integration with Aakash Educational Services and enhanced learning infrastructure.

Cyborg Score Rationale

Gradeup holds a substantial user base (30M+ students) and broad exam coverage (150+ exams), but operates as a subsidiary post-acquisition by Byju's in January 2026. Loss of independent strategic control is a material constraint; however, integration into a billion-dollar edtech parent with proven distribution and technology assets strengthens operational reach and competitive position in India's exam prep market.

Top Insights

  • Acquired by Byju's in January 2026, transforming Gradeup into a specialized exam-prep vertical (BYJU'S Exam Prep) within a larger edtech ecosystem.
  • Maintains significant user scale: 30M+ students, 2.5 crore downloads, and focus on 150+ competitive exams across 25 categories including UPSC, GATE, CAT, Bank PO, and defence exams.
  • Operates mobile-first strategy with live classes, recorded video content, practice tests, and study materials designed to serve price-sensitive Indian market segment.
  • Competes in fast-growing online competitive exam preparation category; integrated with Byju's other properties (Aakash since May 2021) to capture adjacent market segments.

Named Competitors

  • Unacademy — Online learning platform for competitive exam preparation and skill courses
  • Adda247 — India's fastest growing edtech for bank exam and government job preparation
  • Doubtnut — Video-first learning platform for exam preparation and concept clarity
  • Vedantu — Online tutoring and live learning platform for K-12 and competitive exams

Recent Developments

  • (January 2026) Acquired by Byju's for undisclosed amount; rebranded as BYJU'S Exam Prep
  • (2015) Founded by Sanjeev Kumar, Shobhit Bhatnagar, and Vibhu Bhushan in Noida
  • Series A funding from Times Internet raised $7 million; total prior funding $10 million

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