Discussions are ongoing for Byju's potential acquisition of American digital reading platform, Epic.
### Byju's Plans Major Acquisition: Set to Acquire Online Reading Platform Epic for Over $300 Million
Byju's, India's leading educational technology company, is planning a significant move in the global market with a proposed acquisition of the U.S.-based online reading platform Epic. This deal, valued at over $300 million, would mark a significant stride in Byju's expansion strategy.
The latest funding round, expected to raise up to $700 million, will reportedly support Byju's in funding its acquisitions in India and global markets, including the U.S. This round will lift Byju's valuation to about $15 billion, a significant increase from its current $12 billion.
Epic, known for offering unlimited access to more than 40,000 books, videos, and quizzes from over 250 publishers to kids aged 12 or younger, has already reached over 50 million kids in the U.S. and has raised over $51 million to date. The California-based startup has been a popular choice among teachers across the U.S., with over 1 million teachers using Epic in more than 90% of U.S. elementary schools.
The acquisition of Epic would be the biggest in the education space for Byju's, following its acquisition of Mumbai-based ed-tech startup, WhiteHat Jr., in 2020 for $300 million. Byju's has also previously acquired the U.S.-based Osmo offering "blended learning" apps to integrate offline activities for kids aged five to 12 in 2019.
Byju's, co-founded by Byju Raveendran and Divya Gokulnath in 2011, is among India's most valuable private internet companies. The company's previous acquisition of Epic in July 2021 for $500 million was part of an aggressive global expansion strategy. However, financial and legal difficulties led to the company's default on a $1.2 billion loan and undergoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the U.S. for its subsidiary, Byju’s Alpha.
In June 2025, after a Delaware bankruptcy auction, Byju's was forced to sell Epic and another U.S. asset, Tynker, at a significant loss. This sale marked a complete reversal of Byju's previous strategy to expand in the U.S. market through acquisitions.
The impact of the acquisition on the U.S. market remains to be seen, but it could potentially lead to a shift in the competitive landscape. With Epic under new ownership, U.S.-based edtech platforms may see an opportunity to regain market share or forge new partnerships, given the reduced presence of a once-aggressive international competitor.
The success of the acquisition will depend on how effectively the new owners can stabilize operations and reassure customers in a market that has witnessed considerable upheaval. The acquisition, if it materializes, values Epic at "significantly" over $300 million, marking a new chapter in Byju's global expansion strategy.
With the potential acquisition of Epic, Byju's aims to leverage technology in education-and-self-development, expanding its global footprint beyond India. This move could involve integrating Epic's coding resources and diverse content library into Byju's learning platforms, further enhancing user experience.
