PhysicsWallah To Invest Rs 500 Cr In Kerala-based Xylem

PhysicsWallah, an edtech startup supported by GSV Ventures and WestBridge Capital, has announced its plans to invest Rs 500 crore in Xylem Learning, a hybrid learning platform based in Kerala.

The investment aims to acquire a 50 per cent stake in Xylem and consolidate PhysicsWallah's presence in South India.

The deal involves the purchase of fresh shares as well as a portion of the stake held by Xylem's existing investors through a combination of cash and stock. A significant portion of the investment will be utilised to enhance Xylem's learning models, allowing the platform to offer an improved learning experience to its users.

This move marks the latest in a series of strategic acquisitions made by PhysicsWallah over the past year. Notably, PhysicsWallah acquired Knowledge Planet, a UAE-based K-12 online and offline learning startup, as well as companies such as iNeuron, Altis Vortex, PrepOnline, and FreeCo. This consistent expansion strategy underscores PhysicsWallah's commitment to delivering quality education and consolidating its position in the Indian edtech market.

Xylem Learning, currently operating in Kerala, offers test preparation courses for highly competitive exams like NEET and JEE. With the infusion of funds from PhysicsWallah, Xylem aims to expand its presence in other southern markets, including Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Speaking about the investment, Alakh Pandey, the founder and CEO of PhysicsWallah, said the company will invest Rs 500 crore over the next three years to promote Xylem's hybrid learning model in other states as well. This ambitious plan will involve team building, content development, technological innovation, expansion into other categories, and the establishment of hybrid learning centers.

In line with this strategy, Xylem's founder and CEO, Ananthu S, will spearhead the operations in South India for PhysicsWallah. Ananthu highlighted Xylem's objective to double its revenue to Rs 300 crore in the next fiscal year, building on the Rs 150 crore revenue achieved in FY23.

Presently, Xylem boasts a strong presence, with 1,400 employees and more than 3 million students benefiting from its free classes across 30 YouTube channels. The platform also caters to over 1 lakh paid students through various online courses and serves an additional 30,000 students through offline/hybrid centers in Kerala. Xylem further operates 10 tuition centers and a school-integrated program in seven schools.

Despite the investment, Xylem will continue operating as an independent brand, aligning with PhysicsWallah's strategy to diversify into the vernacular learning segment for test-preparation courses. PhysicsWallah has already made its mark in regions such as West Bengal, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana through its popular YouTube offering.