Marwari Catalysts Ventures picks six startups for its Thrive edtech accelerator

Jodhpur-based startup accelerator Marwari Catalysts Ventures named six startups for Thrive, its new edtech accelerator program, YourStory reported on April 15, 2021. The companies were chosen after a screening process from more than 300 applications received from across India. The program runs for 12 weeks and aims to help edtech startups strengthen their products, become ready for the market and grow. The report did not disclose any investment amount for the cohort.

The selected startups are spread across six cities. Tyutee of Bengaluru serves learners beyond the K-12 years and prepares them for jobs through specialized higher learning. Hobit of Delhi runs a marketplace for trainer-led hobby learning sessions. Valuationary of Surat teaches practical skills for work in finance. Refier of Hyderabad, founded by alumni of IIT Roorkee and DCE, operates an online training and placement marketplace. Techienest of Jaipur offers technical education with hands-on product experience, and Yearbook Canvas of Jodhpur produces digital and printed yearbooks and memoirs for schools, colleges, universities and companies.

During the program, the startups receive mentoring, access to educational institutions, help with product lifecycle management, input on organizational development and support with branding strategy. Marwari Catalysts said it would also introduce the companies to potential customers in India and abroad. The report did not name individual mentors for the cohort.

Marwari Catalysts was founded in 2019 by Sushil Sharma, its chief executive, and works with founders from smaller Tier II and Tier III cities in India. With the Thrive cohort, its portfolio reached more than 30 startups. According to the report, members of its team have collectively raised $75 million and recorded $500 million in exits, and the firm's investors are based in the US, the UK, Oman, the UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and India. Sharma said at the launch that he saw the edtech sector at the start of a new phase of growth rather than a period of consolidation.