India-based study abroad platform Leverage Edu is exploring a pre-IPO funding round of about ₹500 crore as it prepares for a potential public listing, according to a report by Inc42 citing people familiar with the matter. The company is also targeting approximately ₹600 crore in revenue for the financial year ending March 2027, representing growth of about 61% from ₹372 crore reported for FY26. The proposed financing is expected to strengthen the startup's shareholder base before it moves ahead with its planned initial public offering.
Pre-IPO Funding Plans
Leverage Edu has reportedly held discussions with several global private equity firms as it seeks to bring a large institutional investor onto its cap table ahead of the IPO. According to the report, management expects the potential ₹500 crore financing to be completed as the company advances preparations for the public markets, although no transaction has yet been formally announced. Leverage Edu had not responded to Inc42's questions by the time the original report was published, leaving the timing and final structure of the funding round unconfirmed.
IPO Preparations Advance
The company is separately working toward an IPO that could raise between ₹2,000 crore and ₹3,000 crore through a combination of newly issued shares and an offer for sale by existing shareholders. The exact split between the fresh issue and secondary component has not yet been finalized, while the company is reportedly in the process of selecting investment bankers to advise on the transaction. Founder and CEO Akshay Chaturvedi is expected to work toward filing a draft red herring prospectus by the end of 2027, according to one source cited by Inc42.
Valuation and Financial Performance
Leverage Edu is reportedly targeting a valuation exceeding $900 million for the proposed listing, with banker presentations comparing its platform model with publicly traded technology businesses including Zomato, ixigo and Shadowfax. The startup also reached EBITDA profitability in FY26, generating approximately ₹9.5 crore in EBITDA, according to information cited in the report. Achieving its ₹600 crore revenue target in FY27 would give the company a larger financial base as it approaches potential institutional investors and public-market shareholders.
Expanding International Operations
The startup has been broadening its international footprint as part of its growth strategy, including an expansion into South America through the acquisition of Brazil-based international education company Mundus Agency in July 2026. Leverage Edu confirmed that transaction but did not disclose the financial terms, adding another overseas market to its growing network of education and student services. The international expansion complements the company's core business of helping students identify, apply to and enroll at universities outside their home markets.
Building a Broader Student Services Platform
Founded in 2017 by Akshay Chaturvedi, Leverage Edu has expanded beyond university admissions assistance into language preparation, financial services, accommodation, travel and career-related offerings. Its product portfolio includes the main Leverage Edu platform as well as Leverage IELTS and Leverage TOEFL applications designed to support students preparing for international study. Ancillary services across fintech, housing, travel and career support now contribute roughly 25% to 33% of total revenue, indicating a growing diversification of the company's business model.
Growth and Funding History
Leverage Edu said it added more than 55,000 students during FY26, bringing its overall customer base to more than 175,000 students. The company has raised approximately $73 million in funding to date from investors including Blume Ventures, DSG Consumer Partners and Kaizenvest, providing capital for its expansion across education services and international markets. A successful pre-IPO financing would represent another significant capital milestone while potentially introducing a major private equity investor before the planned listing.
Leverage Edu's reported ₹500 crore fundraising discussions come as the company seeks to combine faster revenue growth, profitability and international expansion with preparations for a sizeable IPO. Reaching its ₹600 crore FY27 revenue target would strengthen the financial narrative behind a proposed ₹2,000 crore to ₹3,000 crore public offering and a valuation of more than $900 million. However, both the pre-IPO financing and the listing remain prospective, with their timing, participants and final terms still subject to completion and formal confirmation.
Source: Inc42