The Learning Trap : How Byju’s took Indian edtech for a ride

by Pradip K. Saha

Byju’s went from being a one-man coaching centre to being an education technology pioneer with millions downloading its learning app and signing up for its courses. Its innovative marketing strategy, built around the ‘Fear of Missing Out’, made it into a household name. It built a huge brand and went global, claiming a dizzying valuation of $22 billion. But today, saddled with governance, ethical and financial issues, Byju’s is symbolic of all that is wrong with the edtech industry.

Pradip K. Saha broke most of the news stories about Byju’s. In this book, he offers a meticulous analysis of the company and its charismatic founder, alongside the history, the successes and the missteps, based on his reportage and deep research. It is a must-read for anyone interested in edtech, and in the dizzying rise and fall of India’s most famous unicorn.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business

239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 19, 2023

Reviews

[Fairandsquare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good - Funding/ Financials are well researched and chronicled. Very good investigative skills even though some of the snooping activities might be on the wrong side the law. Bad - Poor understanding of startup dynamics. Making Raveendran and family solely responsible for the debacle shows immaturity of the writer. Focusing on 20% returns and ignoring 80% of satisfied customers makes one doubt the intent of the writer. Ugly - Right from the word go, the writer seems to be demonstrating a strong dislike for Raveendran. Choice of words in some places sounds downright bitchy without any substance. At times, one gets a feeling that the writer seems jealous of Raveendran. Last - Pratiks advice towards the end sounds like a “know all” types. Maybe he shud take on the reins at BYJU’s and turnaround the company’s fortunes instead of just writing like an intelligent critic? Leaves a feeling that this writer is more parasitic in nature - monetizing on the mistakes of BYJU’s and garnering attention. This is even before the epitaph is written for the company. Does Pratik even know what it means to build a billion dollar revenue for an Indian company? Looks like he seems to have found a soft target in Ed tech.

[Hari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engrossing and Enlightening - A Must-Read on Indian Edtech



"The Learning Trap: How Byju's Took Indian Edtech for a Ride" by Pradip is an exceptionally well-written and compelling book that I thoroughly enjoyed. This book offers a fascinating exploration into the rise and fall of Byju's, a major force in the Indian Edtech industry.

Pradip masterfully presents a narrative that is not only about Byju's but also about its competitors, painting a vivid picture of the entire Edtech landscape. His ability to dissect complex business strategies and present them in an engaging, accessible manner is commendable.

One of the book's most striking features is its pace. It's so well-crafted and absorbing that I found myself completing it in just a couple of sittings. This speaks volumes about Pradip's storytelling prowess and his deep understanding of the subject matter.

For those interested in the intricate dynamics of the Edtech sector or the behind-the-scenes workings of educational startups, this book is an invaluable resource. It provides insightful perspectives on both the challenges and triumphs faced by companies like Byju's and is a benchmark for understanding the ever-evolving Edtech scene in India.

[Meenal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heavy book. I love a book with sources.
 
I had to take a break with a fluffy book in between because the content was too hard-hitting.
 
I am shocked by how many people, till date, aren't aware of this fellow's scams, and that the government hasn't done anything to reprimand him.
 
In other news, I'll keep my eyes peeled for the next book by this author. Credibility is earned, and it's earned when you write a good book such as this.
 
If you liked The Bottle Of Lies, you'll enjoy reading this book, as it's in a similar vein of elaborate sources and shocking exposés but set in a different industry. 
 
I enjoyed reading this book and learned a lot from it. I am grateful for the experience.

[Syed Rumaan Pasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn. I do not understand how this organisation blinded the investors and auditors alike. I am at a loss for words.

But yeah, coming to the book and the author. This is Pradip’s first book; he has hit it straight out of the park. The book is highly detailed, and he has put a lot of effort into research and interviews. I would highly recommend this book for that.

There are a few chapters in the book where having a fundamental understanding of the law and finance would help you better grasp the book. Still, the author does an incredible job explaining them wherever necessary.

But yeah. 5/5. Highly recommended.

[Rishi Kant · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is an excellent read for anyone who wants to know what went wrong with a company espousing to revolutionizing education in India. A no-holds-barred, damning revelation of all sorts of corporate wrongdoing; a predatory mindset fixated on growth at any cost, and at the helm, a God complex. The Indian startup ecosystem is much more than dizzying valuations and funding rounds, and Pradip's lucid yet well-written account is a cautionary tale for anyone who's only chasing the headline numbers. The fall will be much more quicker than the rise, and no startup is infallible.

[Ankit Kejriwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is well-researched. The rise and fall of Byju’s will always be remembered as a business case study of a company eating itself alivetrying to chase growth at all cost.

They say slow success builds character, while fast success builds ego—I believe that applies to companies too. Byju’s was building a castle on sand; the foundations were weak, yet they kept stacking higher. That kind of structure was destined to fall.

[Gauraang Biyani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly in-depth, yet accessible and gripping tell-all about the rise and fall of Byju's. A must read for those who enjoy TMC's content and interested in the Byju's/India EdTech story. Finished this in one sitting.

[Vikram Vishwanath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

Great read providing valuable insight on edtech industry s rise and downward path. Also Focusses on what needs to be done for them to stage a comeback to gain the trust of the people!

[Smriti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-researched and eye-opening at times. A lot has been written about Byjus already in the news, but this book helps put the headlines into perspective. Some parts of the book can be repetitive, but overall would recommend it to someone looking to understand India’s edtech landscape better.

[pip ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can be slightly dry with the cold financial facts, but also goes into the broken Indian education system and thoroughly discusses the conditions that led to the ed tech boom and bust. A very enjoyable read!

[Amitava Das · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was as thrilling to read as John Carreyou’s Bad Blood on the Thanos scam , as a piece of investigative journalism these two works cut the most for me, with unbridled greed and utter mismanagement going hand in hand , with both stemming from good intentions.
Must read!

One star cut for losing steam somewhat in the final pages (although being an ongoing situation I understand the restrictions the author had).

[bbk freestyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished it in a day. Just a bunch of newspaper stories linked together with horrible writing. When indian writers complain about the market buying books from int’l writers they must remember their laziness.

Would have given it a single star but 2 more because F Byjus

[Anshuman · Rating 1 out of 5]

A potentially great story bogged down by terrible writing and unsubstantiated speculation

[Ravi Upadrasta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched but nothing insightful

[Sundar Ganapathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent in depth investigative read on the Byjus journey and Indian ed tech. Must read.

[Abhishek Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It takes time to reflect changes and values" Pradip is able to convey this message very clearly. The book is worth readable to upcoming breed of enterprenuers. Applaudable effort !

[Mibin Mammen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's very interesting. Talk a brief about the current learning gaps in the Indian Education System and how Edtech has worsened it.

[Brian Ferrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is still ongoing and crashing badly. But I liked how well it was put in simple terms to explain the trainwreck

[Harsimran Jit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gives you a good insight on how things went wrong