WhiteHat Jr, a Mumbai-based edtech company that provides coding education to kids aged between 6 and 14, recently made the headlines due to their layoff of 1800 of their employees. The decision came as a shock to the employees and the industry, as WhiteHat Jr was considered one of the fastest-growing start-ups in India.
WhiteHat Jr was founded in 2018 by Karan Bajaj, former CEO of Discovery Networks India, who wanted to bridge the gap between the demand for tech talent and the lack of resources to teach kids coding. The start-up became popular among parents who saw coding education as a crucial skill for their kids’ future.
WhiteHat Jr’s business model was simple – they provided online coding classes to kids between the ages of 6 and 14, with one-on-one instruction from teachers. The start-up charged a hefty fee of up to INR 30,000 ($400) per month, making it one of the most expensive edtech companies in India.
WhiteHat Jr raised its first round of funding in late 2018, worth $1.3 million, led by Nexus Venture Partners. The start-up went on to raise a total of $11 million in funding from investors such as Omidyar Network India and Owl Ventures.
WhiteHat Jr’s unique business model saw a positive response from the market, and the start-up experienced tremendous growth. Within two years of its inception, the start-up had more than 11,000 teachers on its platform and was present in over 12 countries worldwide. WhiteHat Jr also claimed to have over 100,000 paying customers, making it one of the most successful edtech companies in India.
Despite the positive trajectory, things took a turn for the worse when WhiteHat Jr was acquired by BYJU’S, another edtech giant, in November 2020, for a whopping $300 million. The acquisition was expected to bring about integration with BYJU’S technology and resources, and WhiteHat Jr was expected to continue operating as an independent brand within the BYJU’S ecosystem.
However, six months after the acquisition, WhiteHat Jr’s CEO, Karan Bajaj, resigned from his position, citing the need to spend time with his family. The departure of the CEO coincided with the start of layoffs in the company, which raised suspicion among the employees that the two events were linked.
WhiteHat Jr released a statement, attributing the layoffs to a need to restructure the organization and allocate more resources towards integration with BYJU’S. The company also stated that they were providing employees with a “transition opportunity,” wherein they would be offered other roles within the BYJU’S ecosystem.
Despite WhiteHat Jr’s efforts, the layoff of 1800 employees, which accounts for 54% of their workforce, has led to outrage among the affected employees and industry experts alike. The move was seen as ruthless and insensitive, especially at a time when the economy is already reeling from the effects of the pandemic.
Some industry experts believe that WhiteHat Jr’s astronomical growth rate may have been unsustainable, leading to its eventual downfall. Others believe that the acquisition may have caused an identity crisis within the company, leading to layoffs and the departure of key executives.
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