Edtech unicorn upGrad has committed to investing an additional Rs 320 crore (nearly $40 million) in the platform to create Harappa Global School of Leadership. upGrad had announced the acquisition with the platform for leadership and communication skills program Harappa Education earlier this year.
Harappa Education’s shareholders, including Bodhi Tree Systems, joined upGrad’s cap table as part of the deal. The latest announcement will help upGrad strengthen its soft-skill and leadership offering for working professionals.
The capital will be utilised by Harappa Education to develop a suite of leadership programmes catering to different sectors and leadership levels, according to a statement by the company. The company also plans to hire people for designing the program, planning and developing pedagogy and content for the programme and for marketing it.
Ronnie Screwvala, Chairperson and Co-founder, upGrad said, “Initially it will be open for individuals to sign up in a business-to-consumer (B2C) model in India. We plan on launching the Leadership School globally with a focus on the mature and paying market in the US, in six months’ time. We will take a business-to-business (B2B) approach for the US market.”
Starting with the Accelerated Management Program, the Leadership School will offer live-only programmes targeted at mid-career professionals. Other courses to follow suit as part of the Leadership School include the Design Leadership program and the Women’s Leadership Program.
Pramath Raj Sinha said, “Just as HR and marketing became a part of core MBA programme over time, our course on Accelerated Management Program includes data, product marketing, and leadership as part of its core offerings.”
He added that the digital model for offering the courses also offered flexibility to cater to a particular cohort as part of its B2B offerings targeted at a company and to offer high-quality accessible modules as part of the Leadership School.
Pramath Raj Sinha founded Harappa Education with co-founder Shreyasi Singh in 2018. The platform offered self-paced courses to address problems of poor employability and inadequate leadership.
