Gaurav Munjal - The Progress Catalyst

Sub-Editor TPC
Jun 24
3 min read

Updated: Jul 2

A catalyst in the online education revolution

Gaurav Munjal, a visionary Indian entrepreneur and visionary leader, has positioned Unacademy as a progress catalyst within India's education sector—disrupting conventional coaching models, empowering millions of students with affordable and flexible learning, and integrating technology to democratise education. His ability to scale the platform from modest beginnings into a multi-billion-dollar edtech powerhouse has made him one of the most influential changemakers in India’s startup ecosystem.

Under his stewardship, Unacademy continues to

expand into hybrid learning models, international markets, and new verticals like AirLearn, further cementing its role as a driver of educational progress.

Nationality: Indian

Date of Birth: 8 September 1990

Hometown: Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Parents: Ish Munjal, Seema Munjal

Spouse: Reema Behl

Education:

B.Tech in Computer Science, NMIMS University, Mumbai
Schooling at St Xavier’s, Jaipur

Employment History:

Co‑founder & CEO, Unacademy (2015–present)
Former Founder & CEO, Flatchat (2013–2015)

Impact Maker Gaurav Munjal

Under Gaurav Munjal’s guidance, Unacademy has significantly shaped India’s learning landscape. The platform offers courses across K‑12, competitive exams, and upskilling domains, reaching tens of millions of learners. By prioritising live classes and removing payment friction, he introduced Unacademy Plus, which quickly achieved $30 million in ARR by 2019. His initiatives have democratised education and enabled many to pursue academic and career excellence from home.

Change Maker Gaurav Munjal

Gaurav Munjal - The Progress Catalyst (source: buildd.co) — Gaurav Munjal

As a change maker, Gaurav Munjal oversaw Unacademy’s rapid expansion through strategic acquisitions (WiFiStudy, CodeChef, Mastree, among others) and global investor backing, propelling the company to a $3.44 billion valuation by 2021. He fostered innovation through Graphy, enabling educators to launch their own platforms, and during the pandemic, deployed “Legends on Unacademy” featuring live sessions from notable personalities, extending the platform’s reach beyond academic learning.

Progress Catalyst Gaurav Munjal

Gaurav Munjal continues to act as a progress catalyst in education technology. He has led Unacademy into offline classrooms, language-learning verticals (AirLearn), and deeper market penetration. Under his stewardship, the company raised $860 million in funding and maintained operations even amid ed‑tech headwinds. While he is transitioning to focus on new ventures like AirLearn, his influence remains pivotal in shaping hybrid models of learning that blend online and offline accessibility.

Achievements, Awards & Recognitions

Gaurav Munjal - The Progress Catalyst (source: thestoryindia.com)

Co-founded Unacademy (2015): Grew from YouTube tutorials to a global ed‑tech unicorn valued at US$3.44 billion
Founder & CEO of Flatchat: Acquired by CommonFloor in 2015
Launched Unacademy Plus (2019): Achieved $30 million ARR within first year
Executed key acquisitions: WiFiStudy, CodeChef, Mastree, PrepLadder, Coursavy etc.
Fundraising success: Over $860 million led by SoftBank, Tiger Global, Facebook, Sequoia
Introduced "Legends on Unacademy": and offline class centres during COVID‑19
Expanded into offline education and languages: via AirLearn and hybrid models