India’s Once-Mighty Edtech Giant Byju’s Sells U.S. Assets in Fire Sale

June 11, 2025

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Byju’s, once heralded as India’s largest startup, is now being dismantled—selling off its U.S. acquisitions Epic and Tynker for a combined $97.2 million, a far cry from the $700 million spent to acquire them in 2021 amid its global ambitions.

From Unicorn Heights to a Fire-Sale Reality

In 2021, Byju’s was riding high during the pandemic boom—valued at over $22 billion, it made strategic acquisitions: Epic for around $500 M and Tynker for $200 M.

Those purchases were meant to cement Byju’s as a global leader in child-focused education. Fast forward to May 20, 2025: under U.S. bankruptcy court orders, Epic was sold to TAL Education Group for just $95 million, and Tynker fetched a meager $2.2 million from CodeHS after 48 bidding rounds.

These numbers represent dramatic write-downs and a sobering fall from grace for a company that once led the charge in edtech.

Bankruptcy Pressures and Governance Failures

These distressed sales are part of broader financial distress tied to a $1.2 billion U.S. term loan taken via its subsidiary, Byju’s Alpha. Lenders triggered bankruptcy proceedings after alleging defaults, mismanagement, and even fraudulent fund transfers.

U.S. courts flagged concerns over governance and fiduciary violations, as former directors and executives faced lawsuits.

The loss of these marquee assets and ongoing insolvency in both the U.S. and India underscore a collapse of Byju’s acquisition-driven global strategy.

Takeaway: A Cautionary Tale of Overreach and Correction

Byju’s dramatic fall from a $22 billion unicorn to fire-selling flagship assets reveals the dangers of aggressive scaling without sustainable governance. Its global aspirations led to major missteps—now it’s paying the price through bankruptcy sales and lawsuits.

For India’s startup ecosystem, this saga underscores a crucial lesson: valuations and ambition must be matched by financial discipline and operational responsibility.