Byju Raveendran News: Byju's founder Raveendran, has been sentenced to six months in prison by a Singapore court. Byju's once employed Messi as its brand ambassador and sponsored Team India's jersey.

The biggest startup made Ravindran a billionai

Byju's Collapsed News: Currently, the popular edtech company Byju's is embroiled in financial trouble and legal disputes. A Singapore court has sentenced Byju's founder, Ravindran, to six months in prison for failing to comply with several court orders. The court also imposed a fine of $70,500 on him.

There was a time when renowned football player Lionel Messi became Byju's global ambassador, demonstrating the scale of India's most popular edtech startup. The company's logo appeared on the Indian cricket team's jerseys. Global investors invested billions of dollars in the startup, making Byju Raveendran one of the biggest faces of India's startup boom.

What is the whole matter and why was the punishment given?

The entire case involves Ravindran's failure to comply with legal orders and property. According to a Singapore court, Ravindran deliberately neglected to disclose financial information related to his properties since April 2024. For failing to comply with these orders, he was found guilty of contempt of court and sentenced to six months in prison. In addition to the fine, the court also fined Ravindran and ordered him to pay legal expenses of 90,000 Singapore dollars (approximately US$70,500).

At one time, the company had a 'crown' on its head.

In 2011, the company was founded as Think & Learn Private Limited. Byju's grew rapidly, capitalizing on the huge demand for education and competitive exam preparation in India. The timing was perfect. As smartphone penetration was expanding in India, and online education became mainstream, the company positioned itself as the future of education.

It was 2020. As the world grappled with the coronavirus pandemic, schools closed, students began studying online, and demand for digital education exploded. Investors quickly poured in, and Byju's expanded significantly in India and international markets.

According to data, the company acquired several firms, including Aakash Educational Services, Great Learning, and Epic, in deals typically valued at around $3 billion. Byju's total valuation surpassed $22 billion in 2022. The company launched large-scale advertising campaigns and collaborated with celebrities, earning Ravindran the title of the world's newest tech billionaire.