Where is Byju Raveendran in 2025? Find out his plans for Byju’s 3.0 and the latest on his edtech empire. Explore his journey from Kerala to global fame.
Table of Contents
Byju Raveendran
Broke, not Broken. We will rise again.
Introduction: The Rise and Challenges of Byju Raveendran
Byju Raveendran, the visionary behind Byju’s, once India’s edtech crown jewel, has captivated audiences with his innovative education approach and resilience amid adversity.
From building a $22 billion empire to navigating financial turmoil and legal battles, Raveendran’s story is one of ambition, setbacks, and determination.
As of May 18, 2025, at 08:59 PM IST, questions about his whereabouts and plans continue to spark curiosity.
Where is Byju Raveendran now, and what is next for the man who aimed to revolutionize global education?
In this in-depth blog post, we will uncover Raveendran’s current location, recent activities, and the evolving saga of Byju’s.
We will delve into his background, his company’s meteoric rise, the challenges that led to its decline, and his bold vision for a comeback with Byju’s 3.0.
Backed by the latest updates from news sources and social media, including hyperlinks to credible references, this article offers a clear, engaging, and informative look at Raveendran’s journey in 2025.
Byju Raveendran’s Current Location: Where Is He in May 2025?
According to multiple sources, Byju Raveendran is likely based in Dubai, UAE, as of May 18, 2025.
On May 17, 2025, he gave interviews to ANI (Asian News International), which explicitly stated that the discussions took place in Dubai.
Articles such as “Teaching is the most satisfying job, an unfinished dream for us”: BYJU’s founder Raveendran and “We made some business mistakes”: BYJU’s founder Ravindran confirm Dubai as the interview location.
Raveendran has addressed rumors about his prolonged stay in Dubai, refuting claims of being a fugitive.
In a virtual press conference in October 2024, he explained, “I came to Dubai for a year for my father’s treatment, which led to our ongoing stay.
However, let me be clear, I did not run away.”
He emphasized his frequent travels to India, stating in an ANI interview on May 17, 2025, that he had visited India 10 times in the past year.
Beyond the Dubai interviews from the previous day, no evidence confirms a change in his location on May 18, 2025.
An Outlook Business article published on May 18, 2025, discusses his plans for Byju’s 3.0 but does not mention a new location, supporting the likelihood that he remains in Dubai.
Given his established base in Dubai for international expansion, as noted by BusinessToday, and the absence of travel updates, Dubai is his most probable residence.
Key Evidence on Byju Raveendran’s Location (May 2025)
| Date | Source | Location Mentioned | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2025 | ANI News Articles | Dubai, UAE | Interviews explicitly conducted in Dubai. |
| May 17, 2025 | X Post by @TweetAbhishekA | India (past visits) | Mentions 10 visits to India in the last year, supports Dubai base. |
| May 18, 2025 | Outlook Business Article | Not specified | Discusses AI model plans, no new location mentioned. |
| May 17, 2025 | BusinessToday Article | Dubai (base) | Notes Dubai as base for international expansion. |
| Oct 18, 2024 | Hindustan Times Article | Dubai | Raveendran clarifies stay due to father’s treatment. |
Who Is Byju Raveendran? A Brief Biography
To contextualize Raveendran’s current journey, let us explore his roots and the path that led him to global prominence.
Early Life and Education
Born on January 5, 1980, in Azhikode, Kerala, Byju Raveendran grew up in a family of educators.
His parents, Raveendran and Shobhanavalli, taught physics and mathematics at a Malayalam medium school.
Despite their influence, Byju was encouraged to explore sports, playing six at the university level, including football and cricket.
His self-learning approach shone early, often skipping classes to study independently.
He later earned a B.Tech from the Government College of Engineering, Kannur, and worked as a service engineer for a multinational shipping company.
The Spark of Teaching
In 2003, during a vacation in Bangalore, Byju began coaching friends for the Common Admission Test (CAT).
Testing himself, he scored a perfect 100th percentile twice, earning offers from all six Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
Declining an MBA, he started teaching MBA aspirants, scaling from a friend’s terrace to auditoriums and stadiums as his reputation grew.
Founding Byju’s
In 2011, Byju and his wife, Divya Gokulnath, co-founded Think & Learn Pvt Ltd, the parent company of Byju’s, with a mission to make education engaging through technology.
In 2015, Byju’s launched its flagship Byju’s The Learning App, revolutionizing education with animated videos and personalized learning.
By 2016, the app had 2 million downloads, and by 2019, it became a case study at Harvard Business School.
Personal Life
Byju’s partnership with Divya Gokulnath, a former student he married in 2009, is personal and professional.
Their shared passion for education drives Byju’s mission, with Divya serving on the board.
The Meteoric Rise of Byju’s
Byju’s evolved from a local tutoring firm to a global edtech giant.
Here is how it soared:
Key Milestones
- 2011: Founded Think & Learn Pvt Ltd, focusing on K-12 education.
- 2015: Launched Byju’s The Learning App, achieving 2 million monthly downloads.
- 2016: Secured funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a first for an Asian company.
- 2019: Reached unicorn status with a $3.6 billion valuation and sponsored the Indian Cricket Team.
- 2020: Acquired WhiteHat Jr and Great Learning, capitalizing on the pandemic-driven online learning boom.
- 2022: Peaked at a $22 billion valuation, backed by investors like Mark Zuckerberg, Tencent, and Prosus.
Global Expansion
Byju’s expanded to over 21 countries, offering courses for exams like IIT-JEE, NEET, CAT, GRE, and GMAT.
Acquisitions like Aakash Educational Services ($1 billion) and Osmo bolstered its offline and international presence. By 2021, the company had 27,000 employees, 16,000 teachers, and over 100 million app downloads.
Social Impact
In 2020, Byju’s launched the Education for All initiative to empower 5 million underserved children by 2025.
The company distributed old smart devices loaded with Byju’s content to underprivileged students.
The Fall of Byju’s: What Went Wrong?
Starting in 2022, Byju’s faced a dramatic decline.
Here is a breakdown of the challenges:
Financial Struggles
- Valuation Crash: From $22 billion in 2022, Byju’s valuation dropped to below $1 billion by 2024, with BlackRock slashing it to $1 billion. Raveendran declared the company’s net worth as “zero” in October 2024.
- Mounting Debt: A $1.2 billion term loan crisis led to bankruptcy proceedings by US lenders. A ₹158.9 crore default to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) triggered insolvency in India.
- Delayed Financials: Byju’s failed to file audited financial statements since FY21, with losses reaching ₹8,245 crore in FY22.
Legal and Regulatory Issues
- Enforcement Directorate (ED) Probe: In 2023, the ED investigated Byju’s for FEMA violations, alleging ₹9,754 crore was remitted abroad. A look-out notice was issued in February 2024.
- US Bankruptcy Ruling: In 2025, a US court found Raveendran, his brother Riju, and Think & Learn guilty of defrauding Byju’s Alpha Inc., citing $533 million in unauthorized transfers.
- Investor Backlash: Investors like Prosus and Sofina sought to oust Raveendran, alleging mismanagement. Shareholders voted to remove him as CEO in February 2024, though he contested the vote’s validity.
Operational Challenges
- Layoffs and Resignations: Byju’s laid off thousands and closed offices. Key resignations included auditor BDO and EY Restructuring.
- Employee Morale: Unpaid salaries and TDS notices to former employees hurt morale. Raveendran assured payments “eventually.”
- Service Disruptions: Thousands of students faced course discontinuities starting in September 2023.
Raveendran’s Perspective
Despite equity options, Raveendran admitted mistakes, particularly the $1.2 billion term loan in 2021.
In an October 2024 interview, he blamed investors for pushing expansion into 40 markets.
Byju Raveendran’s Vision for Byju’s 3.0
Despite setbacks, Raveendran plans a comeback with Byju’s 3.0, an AI-driven platform.
Here is the vision:
Key Features of Byju’s 3.0
- AI-Powered Learning: The platform will offer scalable one-on-one tutoring, empowering educators, as outlined in an Outlook Business article.
- Lean Operations: Byju’s 3.0 will operate at “half the cost” of the original model, focusing on sustainability.
- Student Compensation: Raveendran vowed to compensate affected students and ensure course completion.
Strategic Shifts
- New Leadership: Raveendran plans to delegate operations to professionals, moving family to strategic roles.
- Rehiring Employees: He aims to rehire the 215,000 former Byju’s employees.
- Legal Battles: Raveendran filed an FIR against US lenders, EY, and the resolution professional, alleging fraud.
Public Statements
On March 30, 2025, Raveendran posted on X, “Broke, not broken. We will rise again,” sharing a throwback photo.
In a May 18, 2025, interview, he expressed regret for student disruptions and outlined his AI-driven vision, stating, “It is the same mission—how do we make it easy and interesting for students?”
Public Sentiment and Criticism
Public reactions on X and in the media are mixed:
- Supportive Voices: An X post by @askrajeshsahu on March 3, 2025, called Byju’s: an Indian success story that refuses to die.”
- Criticism: X users criticized Byju’s sales tactics, labeling counselors “hooligans” in March 2025.
- Industry Perspective: UpGrad’s Ronnie Screwvala warned that Byju’s downfall should not taint edtech, as noted in a Business Standard article.
Trivia: A Surprising Fact About Byju Raveendran
Did you know that Byju Raveendran’s teaching sessions once filled stadiums? Before Byju’s went digital, he taught thousands in person, moving from terraces to stadiums, earning a rockstar-like following among MBA aspirants.
What is Next for Byju Raveendran and Byju’s?
Raveendran’s journey continues with challenges and opportunities:
- Legal Resolutions: Outcomes of insolvency proceedings in India and the US will shape Byju’s future.
- Rebuilding Trust: Compensating students and paying employees are critical.
- Market Dynamics: Byju’s must innovate with AI to compete in the evolving edtech market.
Raveendran’s optimism shines through: “I only need to see a one percent chance to make it work.” Whether he can rebuild Byju’s remains to be seen.
Conclusion: A Story of Resilience and Redemption
Byju Raveendran’s journey from Kerala to a $22 billion edtech empire, now navigating its near collapse, is a tale of ambition and resilience.
As of May 18, 2025, he is likely in Dubai. He is charting a comeback with Byju’s 3.0, aiming to restore his legacy through AI.
Legal battles and skepticism loom, but Raveendran’s story allows reinvention.
What is your take on Byju’s future?
Can Raveendran’s AI vision succeed?
Dive into more tech and business stories on our website, and stay tuned for updates on this saga!
About The Author
