About Online Courses sector in Asia
The Online Courses sector in Asia comprises 14.9K companies, including 1.05K funded companies having collectively raised $5.56B in venture capital money and private equity. Out of these, 285 are Series A+ funded, and 2 have achieved unicorn status.
Online Courses sector in Asia has seen 88 acquisitions and 53 IPOs.
This sector includes online platforms that provide pre-recorded or self-paced courses for Pre-K students, K-12 students, Higher Education students and adults to learn respective topics.
Online Courses sector is also known as Online Courses Solutions, Advanced Online Courses or Digital Online Courses.
Companies that are online first platforms and provide self-paced or pre-recorded videos for Pre-K students, K-12 students, Higher Education students and adults to learn respective topics are included in this sector. Companies that provide offline training centers, online live sessions, activity-based learning for Pre-K students, K-12 students, Higher Education students and adults to learn. Corporate learning solutions are also excluded.
Top Online Courses Companies in Asia
There are 14,875 Online Courses startups in Asia which include Seekho, Shikho, Adda247, Newton School, UpGrad. Out of these, 1,047 startups are funded, with 285 having secured Series A+ funding, and 2 achieving unicorn status.
2026 has seen the creation of 269 Online Courses startups in Asia. Over the past 10 years, an average of 910 new companies have been launched annually. Notably, several of these startups have been founded by alumni of IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay and IIT Kanpur.
Here is the list of top Online Courses startups in Asia
1. Seekho
Provider of short educational videos covering technology business and finance. The platform hosts content across multiple categories including career development, personal growth, and wellness. Users access instructional material created by mentors to acquire practical skills. The service offers subscription options for ad-free viewing and unlimited access to the video library.
Key facts about Seekho
- Founded Year: 2020
- Location: Bengaluru (India)
- Stage: Series B
- Total Funding till date: $42.3M
- Investors: Elevation Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners and 38 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series B, Aug 29, 2025, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 81/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 2 of 7,717 Competitors
2. Shikho
Provider of digital learning resources for academic and admission preparation. This platform offers live and recorded video lessons, animated educational content, and practice assessments. It provides study materials and analytical tools to support curriculum-based learning and test preparation. The system facilitates access to instructional content and performance tracking for students.
Key facts about Shikho
- Founded Year: 2019
- Location: Dhaka (Bangladesh)
- Stage: Series A
- Total Funding till date: $8M
- Investors: Goodwater Capital, Sturgeon Capital and 18 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series A, May 07, 2025, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 75/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 5,116 Competitors
3. Adda247
Provider of an online test preparation platform. It offers both a web-based platform as well as a mobile app for preparation. Its courses are available for examinations covering banking, SSC, CTET, and more, both Hindi and English. Its features include video lectures, online tests, study materials, updated current affairs questions, and practice quizzes. Its app can be downloaded via the Android platform.
Key facts about Adda247
- Founded Year: 2016
- Location: Gurugram (India)
- Stage: Series C
- Total Funding till date: $64.4M
- Investors: STL, WestBridge Capital and 8 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series C, Sep 21, 2022, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 73/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 5 of 7,763 Competitors
Provider of online software development and data science training programs. These educational offerings include live instruction, coding practice environments, and interview preparation tools. The curriculum focuses on technical skill acquisition for individuals seeking employment in technology sectors. Participants access project-based learning modules and career support resources to facilitate professional development in programming and analytical fields.
Key facts about Newton School
- Location: Bengaluru (India)
- Stage: Series B
- Total Funding till date: $33.9M
- Investors: Nexus Venture Partners, Steadview and 43 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series B, Apr 08, 2026, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 72/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 2 of 4,606 Competitors
5. UpGrad
Higher education and upskilling platform. It provides online degree programs, professional certifications, and career transition courses in partnership with universities and industry experts. It partners with universities and industry organizations to provide structured learning pathways for students and working professionals, focusing on career advancement, job readiness, and lifelong learning through technology-enabled education.
Key facts about UpGrad
Companies founded year-on-year in the Online Courses sector in Asia
269 new startups have been founded so far in 2026 in the Online Courses sector in Asia. 2,003 Online Courses startups in Asia were founded in 2020 - this is the most number of startups founded in any year in the last 10 years.
- Total Number of Companies
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | 269 |
2025 | 220 |
2024 | 543 |
2023 | 990 |
2022 | 1,091 |
2021 | 1,389 |
2020 | 2,003 |
2019 | 1,052 |
2018 | 829 |
2017 | 716 |
Stage-wise distribution of Online Courses sector companies in Asia
Out of the total 14,875 Online Courses companies in Asia, 1,047 have secured funding. Among them, 285 have reached Series A or higher, and 199 to Series B or beyond.
Founded - 14,875
Funded - 1,047
Series A+ - 285
Series B+ - 199
Series C+ - 161
Company Stage | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Founded | 14,875 |
Funded | 1,047 |
Series A+ | 285 |
Series B+ | 199 |
Series C+ | 161 |
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Funding Trends in the Online Courses sector in Asia
Total funding year-on-year in the Online Courses sector in Asia
The Online Courses sector in Asia saw a total funding of more than $4.24B in the last 10 years. The most amount of funding was in 2021 at more than $1.07B. There has been a total funding of $87.2M in 2026 till date.
- Total Funding
Year | Total Funding |
|---|---|
2026 | $87.2M |
2025 | $58.2M |
2024 | $216M |
2023 | $262M |
2022 | $381M |
2021 | $1.07B |
2020 | $485M |
2019 | $457M |
2018 | $945M |
2017 | $287M |
Recent Funding Rounds in Online Courses in Asia
In the year 2026, till August 2026, Online Courses companies in Asia have raised $83.9M in equity funding across 16 rounds.
In the same period last year (i.e. till August 2025), Online Courses companies in Asia had raised $38M across 19 rounds.
So, 2026 has seen a 121.04% rise in funding in Online Courses companies in Asia as compared to 2025.
Here are some recent, important funding rounds in Online Courses companies in Asia:
Company | Round Raised | Amount Raised | Funding Date | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Series A | 7849 | Aug 06, 2026 | ||
Seed | 7415 | Jun 12, 2026 | and 1 more | |
Series F | 9114 | Apr 23, 2026 | ||
Series A | 5708 | Apr 14, 2026 | ||
Series C | 8907 | Apr 13, 2026 | and 1 more |
Top Investors in Online Courses in Asia
500 Global is the top investor in Online Courses companies in Asia based on number of companies invested.
Here are some top investors in Online Courses companies in Asia:
Investor | Location | Top Portfolio Companies |
|---|---|---|
Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) | ||
Bengaluru (India) | ||
Beijing (China) | ||
Thiruvananthapuram (India) | ||
Shenzhen (China) |
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M&A activity in Online Courses sector in Asia
In the year 2026, till August 2026, 4 acquisitions happened in Online Courses sector in Asia. Last year, in 2025, a total of 4 acquisitions happened in Online Courses sector in Asia.
Here are some recent, important acquisitions in Online Courses sector in Asia:
Company | Acquisition Type | Acquisition Date | Acquirers |
|---|---|---|---|
Business Acquisition | Aug 22, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Apr 23, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Apr 08, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Mar 09, 2026 | - | |
Business Acquisition | May 29, 2025 |
Acquisition trends in Online Courses sector in Asia
Here are the acquisition trends in Online Courses sector in Asia:
- Total Number of Acquisitions
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | 4 |
2025 | 4 |
2024 | 5 |
2023 | 5 |
2022 | 17 |
2021 | 20 |
2020 | 9 |
2019 | 2 |
2018 | 7 |
2017 | 5 |
IPOs in Online Courses in Asia
In the year 2025, till September 2025, 1 IPO happened in Online Courses sector in Asia.
Here are some recent, important IPOs in Online Courses sector in Asia:
Company | IPO Date | Exchange Symbol |
|---|---|---|
Sep 30, 2025 | Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), National Stock Exchange (NSE) | |
Dec 19, 2024 | Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) | |
Dec 06, 2024 | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) | |
Oct 22, 2024 | Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) | |
Jun 12, 2024 | Abu Dhabi Securities Market (ADSM) |
Colleges which produce the most Online Courses companies in Asia
Companies founded by alumni from top colleges in the Online Courses in Asia
Most number of Online Courses startups in Asia have been founded by alumni from IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay and IIT Kanpur.
College | No. of companies |
|---|---|
IIT Delhi | 76 |
IIT Bombay | 64 |
IIT Kanpur | 40 |
IIT Kharagpur | 40 |
IIM Ahmedabad | 32 |
BITS Pilani | 29 |
IIT Roorkee | 25 |
IIT Madras | 22 |
IIM Bangalore | 19 |
Stanford University | 19 |
Total funding in Online Courses companies founded by alumni from top colleges in Asia
In the last 10 years, IIT Delhi graduates' Online Courses companies in Asia have raised the most funding among top colleges. Indian School of Business alumni are second, and Aalto University alumni are third.
College | Total Funding |
|---|---|
IIT Delhi | $444M |
Indian School of Business | $419M |
Aalto University | $359M |
Harvard Business School | $101M |
IIT Bombay | $94.1M |
Stanford University | $85.5M |
Kellogg School of Management | $75.8M |
INSEAD | $73M |
IIT Kanpur | $72.2M |
University of California (Berkeley) | $71.3M |
Top News in Online Courses in Asia
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Great Learning: 66% AI Course Enrolments from Non-Tech Professionals in FY26CyberMedia India Online•May 25, 2026•Great Learning
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Unacademy Co-founder Sumit Jain Steps Down as Test-Prep CEOViestories•May 19, 2026•Unacademy, UpGrad
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Bengaluru Ranks 2nd in Upskilling Plans, Great Learning Report FindsCXOtoday•Sep 02, 2025•Great Learning
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Hexaware and upGrad Launch Agentic AI Academy to Power Phase 2 of AI Workforce TransformationPR Newswire•Aug 19, 2025•Hexaware, UpGrad
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Pegasystems partners with SmartBridge to power AI and automation talent in India, APAC and Middle EastExpress Computer•Jul 24, 2025•Pegasystems, SmartBridge
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