Unacademy Shocker: Gaurav Munjal and Roman Saini Exit Amid Leadership Overhaul

In a surprising turn of events, Unacademy, one of India's leading edtech platforms, is undergoing a major leadership shakeup as co-founders Gaurav Munjal and Roman Saini step down from their roles. Reports indicate that the duo is shifting focus to a new venture, AirLearn, while handing over the reins of Unacademy to Sumit Jain, who has been with the company since 2020 and previously led Graphy, Unacademy’s creator monetization platform.

The exit comes as a shock to many, especially given Unacademy's prominence in the edtech sector after raising over $1 billion in funding. Investors have expressed mixed reactions, with some describing the move as 'bizarre and disappointing,' highlighting concerns over accountability at a company of this scale, as per sources cited by CNBC-TV18.

According to industry insights, a mismatch between Munjal's product-driven approach and Unacademy’s increasingly operations-heavy offline business model may have contributed to the decision. This strategic divergence reportedly played a significant role in the co-founders’ exit, as detailed in a feature by Inc42.

Additionally, the transition appears to lack unanimous board approval, raising questions about the future direction of Unacademy. The company is also pivoting towards in-person coaching centers, a move that might have necessitated a leadership more aligned with operational expertise, as noted in posts found on social media platforms like X.

Munjal and Saini’s new focus on AirLearn, a language-learning platform akin to Duolingo, signals their intent to explore fresh opportunities in the edtech space. Meanwhile, Sumit Jain’s appointment as CEO is seen as a strategic step to stabilize Unacademy during this critical transition period.

As the edtech landscape continues to evolve amid intense competition and changing market dynamics, all eyes are on Unacademy to see how this leadership change will impact its growth trajectory. Stakeholders and industry watchers await further clarity on the company’s roadmap under its new helm.