Key Points
- upGrad is expanding into new areas like financial services, gaming, creative arts, and VFX.
- The company is adding more AI programs and working with global universities to boost its international growth.
- AI courses are in high demand, with AI-related programs making up 40% of sign-ups in FY24.
- upGrad’s “1+1” study-abroad program is becoming increasingly popular.
- The company plans to double its offline presence and reach profitability by FY25.
- 80% of upGrad’s revenue comes from India, with growing interest from Southeast Asia and the US.
Looma News
upGrad, a leading platform for higher education and skill development, is expanding its course offerings in response to rising demand, especially in areas like financial services, creative arts, gaming, and VFX. The company is working to enhance its AI programs while adding new courses in fields where learners are eager to improve their skills.
Mayank Kumar, co-founder of upGrad, shared that there has been a strong interest from learners in these areas. To meet this demand, upGrad has introduced focused boot camps and certification programs, especially in AI, gaming, VFX, and financial services. To maintain high quality, upGrad is collaborating with top universities from the US, UK, and Canada, particularly in gaming, animation, and VFX. These partnerships bring international expertise to Indian learners, especially in industries with global markets.
In fields like AI and financial services, upGrad offers its own courses to stay ahead of fast-moving trends. These courses cater to both IT and non-IT professionals. AI continues to be a major focus, with upGrad seeing significant growth in AI-related offerings, from short boot camps to advanced doctoral programs. There’s a notable rise in demand for both technical and non-technical AI skills, and upGrad expects the workforce in India to become increasingly AI-first. In FY24, AI programs made up 40% of the 340,000 sign-ups for free courses.
Alongside its AI offerings, upGrad has seen a growing interest in its study-abroad programs, especially its “1+1” model. This allows students to complete their first year in India and their second year abroad, making international education more affordable. The company is also strengthening its partnerships with global universities to make it easier for students to move from India to international job markets.
To support its growth, upGrad is expanding its offline presence. The company already runs over 15 experience centers across India, where students and their families can get detailed guidance on programs. upGrad plans to double this number by the end of the year, which will help attract more learners in key regions.
When it comes to revenue, 80% of upGrad’s income comes from India, with the remaining 20% from Southeast Asia and the US. The company is seeing strong growth in these international markets, particularly for its AI and enterprise training programs. Mayank Kumar also mentioned that upGrad is on track to reach break-even profitability by FY25, with significant revenue growth expected in the next two quarters.
