New Delhi, Dec 26: Aakash Chaudhry, the former CEO of Aakash Educational Services, has launched a new online learning platform, Sparkl, aimed at revolutionizing the global tutoring market. The new edtech venture focuses on providing AI-powered one-on-one tutoring for students from grades 6 to 12, specializing in the IGCSE and International Baccalaureate (IB) curricula. This marks a shift from Chaudhry’s previous involvement with Aakash, which concentrated on India’s test preparation market.
Sparkl has secured seed funding from Rainmatter, a fund led by Nithin Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, and Deepinder Goyal, founder of Zomato. While the amount of investment has not been disclosed, Chaudhry outlined that the funds will be used to hire top talent, invest in AI technology, and bolster marketing efforts to increase the platform’s visibility.
The launch of Sparkl comes as Chaudhry makes a comeback into the edtech sector following his exit from Aakash, which was acquired by Byju’s in 2021. The Indian edtech landscape has faced significant turbulence in recent years, with a downturn in investor sentiment, declining post-pandemic demand for online learning, and financial troubles at Byju’s, which has been mired in mounting losses and regulatory scrutiny.
Sparkl offers a personalized approach to education by targeting the international market, where paying capacities are higher compared to India. The platform provides one-on-one online tutoring designed to cater to the specific needs of individual students, focusing on specialized curricula like IGCSE and IB, which are globally recognized.
“In an Aakash class, there is a completely heterogeneous mix of students… Teaching them with the same philosophy has always been a challenge for us. That’s where the idea (for Sparkl) came from,” Chaudhry said in an interview. He also noted that the high cost of one-on-one tutoring was a key consideration in Sparkl’s development.
The cost of tutoring on Sparkl typically ranges between ₹2 lakh and ₹2.5 lakh per year for a single subject, with the price potentially reaching ₹3 lakh for additional support. Despite the high costs, Chaudhry believes the online model allows for more affordable tutoring compared to offline sessions, offering greater access to talent and helping to keep costs lower.
“An online model allows greater access to talent and helps keep costs low,” Chaudhry explained, emphasizing that the international market is already accustomed to paying between ₹1,500 to ₹7,000 per hour for such services.
While Sparkl is initially focusing on the Indian and Asian markets, the company plans to expand its reach to other regions as it scales. The platform’s primary offering—AI-enhanced tutoring—aligns with the growing global demand for personalized education, especially as students seek tailored learning experiences in a digital-first world.
Despite the challenges that have plagued the Indian edtech sector, Chaudhry’s latest venture represents a promising new direction. By leveraging technology and targeting international markets, Sparkl aims to carve out a niche in the competitive online tutoring industry.
