By Abhay Ray 
Introduction
GyanDhan, India’s first education loan marketplace, is betting big on expanding into tier 2 and tier 3 cities to tap into underserved student populations. The company recently raised ₹50 crore in Series A funding from Classplus and Pravega Ventures and is now focused on building a stronger local presence to bridge the information gap around education financing in these regions.
About GyanDhan
Founded in 2016 by Ankit Mehra and Jainesh Sinha, alumni of IIT Kanpur and IIT Delhi, GyanDhan is India’s first education financing marketplace. The company empowers Indian youth to pursue higher education through accessible and technology-driven financial products. GyanDhan operates a hybrid model that combines a loan marketplace with its own NBFC lending arm. The platform connects students with 15+ lenders, helping them compare and secure the best education loans. GyanDhan also provides a SaaS platform to 100+ education consultants, enabling them to process loans efficiently. Focused on Tier II/III cities, GyanDhan uses proprietary credit scoring and tech tools to simplify the financing journey for students pursuing higher education in India and abroad.
Investors Back a High-Impact Fintech
The round builds on previous investments from Education Catalyst Fund, Sundaram Finance, Stanford Angels, Harvard Angels, and prominent angels including Pravin Gandhi and Satyen Kothari.
“We love resilient founders, and the GyanDhan team has displayed the DNA of surviving in a tough but massive TAM. Education financing will be a strong pillar of evolving India,” said Mukul Rustagi, Co-founder and CEO, Classplus.
“GyanDhan’s dual strategy of marketplace scale and NBFC lending, combined with their SaaS model, demonstrates deep market understanding,” added a spokesperson from Pravega Ventures. “We’re backing them to become the definitive gateway for education financing in India.”
Bridging India’s Education Loan Access Gap
Despite rising education costs and strong long-term demand for overseas education, India’s education loan penetration remains under 20%, compared to 45%+ in developed markets like the U.S. The current system is fragmented and difficult for students and consultants to navigate.
GyanDhan’s hybrid marketplace + NBFC model, supported by embedded partnerships and a localized presence, is uniquely positioned to serve as India’s foundational education financing infrastructure at a time when students and families need it most.
Strong Financial Performance
Since its inception, GyanDhan has facilitated over ₹7,000 crore in education loan originations for students studying in India and abroad. The company reported ₹21.4 crore in operating revenue and ₹1.36 crore in net profit for FY24, marking strong financial growth. With this momentum, GyanDhan aims to triple its loan originations to ₹18,000 crore by 2028. It plans to expand partnerships from 15 to 30 financial institutions, enhance its technology platform, and increase physical presence from 30 to over 50 cities. The company is also diversifying into executive education and upskilling finance, aiming to become India’s leading education financing ecosystem.
Conclusion
GyanDhan’s growth directly benefits students by offering easier access to a wider range of education loans with competitive rates and faster processing. Its expanded lender network and tech-driven platform simplify loan comparison, eligibility checks, and application tracking, especially valuable for students in Tier II/III cities. The company’s NBFC arm helps serve those with limited credit history. GyanDhan is also investing in student support services like EMI planning, forex assistance, and financial literacy seminars. For the broader ecosystem, it creates a more inclusive and efficient financing environment, empowering education consultants and financial institutions with SaaS tools. Overall, it strengthens India’s education financing infrastructure while promoting equitable access to quality education.
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