LEAD

LEAD, founded in 2013 by Sumeet Mehta and Smita Deorah, is an Indian edtech company that provides technology-based school transformation solutions. The company partners with affordable private schools to offer an integrated system combining curriculum, technology, and pedagogy to enhance teaching and learning outcomes. LEAD's platform includes features like digital learning resources, school management software, teacher training tools, and performance analytics. As of 2024, LEAD serves over 5 million students across 9,000+ schools in more than 400 cities in India.

The company's core offering is its integrated school system, which includes curriculum development, teacher training, digital content delivery, and learning outcome assessments. LEAD provides schools with grade-specific teaching materials, smart classroom technology, and mobile apps for teachers, students and parents. Its curriculum is aligned with Indian education boards while incorporating international best practices. LEAD promises to improve student mastery levels to over 70% across subjects and grades.

In 2022, LEAD achieved unicorn status with a USD 1.1 billion valuation after raising USD 100 million in Series E funding. The company reported an annual revenue run-rate of USD 80 million for FY2022. However, LEAD is still working toward profitability, with negative EBITDA margins in recent years. In 2023, LEAD completed the acquisition of Pearson's K-12 learning business in India to expand its offerings to higher-fee private schools in metro cities.

Key customers and partnerships

LEAD primarily serves affordable private schools in small towns and cities across India. Its customer base has expanded from 2,000 schools in 2021 to over 9,000 schools in 2024. The company focuses on schools catering to low and middle-income families in Tier 2-4 cities.

In March 2023, LEAD acquired Pearson's K-12 learning business in India, allowing it to expand services to higher-fee private schools in metro cities. This acquisition helped LEAD increase its student reach from 3 million to 5 million. The company aims to serve 25 million students across 60,000 schools by 2028.