CarDekho Group has invested $10 million in Gurugram-based edtech platform CollegeDekho in a follow-on round, strengthening its long-term bet on education and skilling. The auto platform, known for brands like CarDekho, BikeDekho, ZigWheels and InsuranceDekho, already held a significant stake in CollegeDekho and is now deepening that relationship. CollegeDekho’s parent, Girnarsoft Education Services, lists CarDekho founders Amit Jain and Anurag Jain as directors, underlining tight strategic ties between the two companies.
Founded in 2015, CollegeDekho operates an online counselling and discovery platform that helps students find colleges, courses and careers in India and abroad. The company has grown into a major player in the higher education guidance space, riding a wave of demand for structured counselling and technology-led decision support. The fresh capital signals renewed investor confidence in edtech after a period of funding slowdown and consolidation across the sector.
Expansion into Tier-II and Tier-III Markets:
CollegeDekho plans to use the $10 million to expand its presence across Tier-II and Tier-III cities, where access to quality counselling and information remains limited. The company will also scale its ‘CollegeDekho Assured’ programme, which connects students to industry-aligned degree courses offered by partner universities. This offering is positioned to bridge the gap between formal education and job readiness by focusing on employability outcomes.
The platform currently works with more than 2,000 colleges and universities across India, giving it a wide footprint to match students with suitable institutions and courses. Over the past year, CollegeDekho recorded around 170 million sessions and provided guidance to over 4 million students on admissions and career choices. This base gives the company leverage to roll out new products and deepen engagement beyond metros into emerging education hubs.
Focus on Profitability, Skilling and Outcomes:
CollegeDekho has achieved profitability and now wants to accelerate growth without compromising on unit economics, according to founder and CEO Ruchir Arora. Arora said the infusion will help strengthen technology-led student support systems and build closer partnerships with educational institutions to address employability gaps. The company aims to broaden skilling pathways and align education journeys with job market needs, positioning itself not just as an admissions platform but as an outcomes-focused partner.
CarDekho CEO Amit Jain noted that the investment aligns with the group’s strategy of building digital platforms that enable access, discovery and informed decision-making at scale. He added that CollegeDekho’s work supports India’s broader Viksit Bharat 2047 goals by improving education and employability outcomes for the country’s young population. For CarDekho, the move extends its classified-led ecosystem beyond automobiles into education, reinforcing its diversified digital marketplace play.
Edtech Funding Rebound and Strategic Context:
The deal comes at a time when edtech funding in India has begun to rebound after a sharp correction, with early 2025 data showing a multi-fold rise in capital inflows compared to the previous year. Investors have shifted focus from pure growth to sustainable models, and CollegeDekho’s profitability and scale make it an attractive bet in this new environment. CarDekho’s follow-on participation underscores conviction built over nearly a decade of association, starting from Girnarsoft’s early seed investment in the startup.
The latest transaction also follows reports that auto marketplace CarTrade Tech ended talks to acquire CarDekho and BikeDekho, leaving the CarDekho Group free to continue pursuing its own expansion strategy. With this $10 million round, CarDekho not only backs a portfolio company but also reinforces its broader thesis that category-defining digital platforms in sectors like mobility and education can shape India’s next phase of growth.
