FOUNDERS
Gaurav Munjal steps down as Unacademy CEO, Akhilendra Kumar takes charge
The leadership shift comes earlier than planned following upGrad's $200 million acquisition of the edtech startup in September.
Executive handover at Unacademy
Unacademy co-founder Gaurav Munjal has stepped down as chief executive officer to become executive chairman, appointing Chief Business Officer Akhilendra Kumar as the new CEO just two months after the edtech firm was acquired by upGrad for just over $200 million.
The leadership shift comes earlier than anticipated. Under the contours of the acquisition in September, Munjal had been expected to continue as CEO of Unacademy's operations within upGrad for at least two years. Announcing the transition in a social media post, Munjal said he will remain "fully involved in operations every day" alongside Kumar and will assist with upGrad's proposed initial public offering.
"Akhilendra is one of the sharpest operators I know, and I’m proud to have him lead us into this next chapter," Munjal wrote.
Responding to the announcement, Kumar said: "Our focus stays the same: Outcomes for Learners, and a business built to last."
Who is Akhilendra Kumar?
Kumar joined Unacademy in January 2022 as Associate Vice President – Business and rose steadily through the company's ranks. He was promoted to Vice President – Business in March 2024 and became Chief Business Officer in October 2025 before taking over as CEO.
Before joining Unacademy, Kumar spent nearly four years at hospitality platform OYO in several management roles, including AVP – Supply Network, Director – Supply Excellence, and Business Head for Karnataka.
During his stint at OYO, Kumar managed supply operations across seven countries in the SEAME region. He reported reducing partner support tickets by more than 60% in four months through self-service systems and improving partner Net Promoter Scores from -17 in the second quarter of 2020 to +40 in the first quarter of 2021. As Business Head for Karnataka, he oversaw a team of 80 managers handling around 17,000 franchised rooms in Bengaluru, lifting property commission take rates from 16% to 31%.
Kumar holds an MBA from the Indian School of Business (2017–2018) and a bachelor’s degree in Chemical and Polymer Engineering from BIT Mesra (2008–2012). He also previously worked at Exide Industries.
Gaurav Munjal's decade at the helm
Munjal started Unacademy as a YouTube channel in December 2010 before establishing it as a corporate entity in October 2015 alongside co-founders Roman Saini, Hemesh Singh, and Sumit Jain. An NMIMS computer engineering graduate who previously worked at Directi and founded real estate startup FlatChat, Munjal grew Unacademy into a unicorn during the surge in online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the reopening of offline coaching centers hit online test-prep demand, leading Unacademy to execute several rounds of layoffs, trim cash burn, and shut down secondary verticals. After holding transaction talks with Allen Career Institute and K-12 Techno Services, Unacademy agreed to an acquisition by Ronnie Screwvala-led upGrad, completing the transaction for just over $200 million in September.
With Munjal moving to executive chairman, all four original co-founders have stepped back from operational leadership. Co-founder Sumit Jain stepped down as CEO earlier this year. Reports indicate Munjal and co-founder Roman Saini are preparing to launch a Rs 700 crore Category II alternative investment fund, Longshot Capital, to back AI and deeptech startups. The fund has reportedly secured Rs 250 crore to Rs 300 crore in initial commitments ahead of a targeted first close in January 2027.
Key leadership profile
| Feature | Gaurav Munjal | Akhilendra Kumar |
|---|---|---|
| New role | Executive Chairman | Chief Executive Officer |
| Previous role | Chief Executive Officer | Chief Business Officer |
| Joined Unacademy | October 2015 | January 2022 |
| Qualification | BTech (NMIMS) | MBA (ISB), BTech (BIT Mesra) |
| Prior leadership | Directi, FlatChat | OYO, Exide Industries |
Why it matters
For upGrad and Unacademy operators, the transition shifts day-to-day command to an execution-focused corporate officer as upGrad prepares for its planned IPO. Rather than maintaining a protracted founder-led transition, upGrad is accelerating operational integration under Kumar, who built his track record on margin expansion and operational metrics at OYO and Unacademy.
What happens next
Kumar takes immediate operational charge of Unacademy's businesses, focusing on learner retention and sustainable growth. Munjal will work with Kumar while supporting upGrad's leadership team on IPO preparation and advancing fundraising for his deeptech venture fund, Longshot Capital.