Early Life and Education

Byju Raveendran was born on January 5, 1980, in Azhikode, Kerala, India. Raised by teacher parents, he developed a strong foundation in education. He attended a Malayalam-medium school and later graduated with a Bachelor of Technology from the Government College of Engineering, Kannur.

Career

Initially a service engineer, Byju transitioned to education by tutoring friends for the CAT exam. After scoring in the 100th percentile twice, he started Byju’s Classes in 2007, which evolved into BYJU’S in 2011, co-founded with his wife Divya Gokulnath. The BYJU’S app, launched in 2015, revolutionized learning with its interactive content and widespread accessibility, reaching over 150 million downloads by 2022.

Byju’s expanded internationally and acquired several educational platforms, including Aakash Educational Services for nearly $1 billion in 2021.

Personal Life

Byju is married to Divya Gokulnath, a former student, and they have two sons.

Awards and Recognition

Byju Raveendran has received numerous accolades, including the Forbes India Leadership Award for Entrepreneur of the Year and features in Fortune’s ’40 Under 40′ list.

Recent Developments

In 2024, Byju faced significant challenges, including a shareholder vote to remove him as CEO and legal scrutiny from India’s Enforcement Directorate. Despite these issues, he continues to be a pivotal figure in the education technology sector.