**Emversity Doubles Valuation as it Fills the Skills Gap with Human Touch**
As AI automation continues to sweep the workforce, Indian startup Emversity is charting a unique course to address the growing skills gap. The company has just secured a whopping $30 million in series A funding, led by Premji Invest, with Lightspeed Venture Partners and Z47 joining the party, to expand its job-ready training programs in the world’s most populous market.
The funds will be used to take Emversity’s footprint to over 200 locations in the next two years, all while deepening its focus on healthcare and hospitality, and making inroads into new industries like engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) and manufacturing. The startup is already in advanced talks with one of India’s top EPC companies to design and roll out role-specific programs this year, with a manufacturing-focused training program on the horizon for next year.
So, what sets Emversity apart from the pack? The company is constructing expertise pipelines for roles it believes AI can’t replace, such as nurses, physiotherapists, and medical lab technicians, as well as hospitality roles like guest relations and food and beverage service. To do this, Emversity integrates employer-designed training programs into college curricula and operates skill centers affiliated with the Indian government’s National Talent Development Company (NSDC) for short-term certifications and placements.
Just two years old, Emversity has already partnered with 23 universities and schools across over 40 campuses, with a whopping 4,500 learners trained to date, and 800 candidates already placed. The founder and CEO, Vivek Sinha, has an interesting background – he was the COO at Indian edtech startup Unacademy for over three years before founding Emversity in 2023.
Sinha’s vision is to bridge the growing skills gap in India, which has been exacerbated by automation and changing employer expectations. He believes that while AI can reduce administrative tasks, it can’t replace human workers in roles that require hands-on training and credentialing. Take healthcare, for example – AI can automate tasks like submitting patient information or digital medical records, but it can’t replace a nurse at an ICU.
Emversity’s business model is simple, yet effective. They co-design role-specific training modules with employers, which are then embedded into university degree programs. The company generates income through fees paid by partner institutions and short-term certification programs run at its NSDC-affiliated skill centers. With a gross margin of around 80% and customer acquisition costs under 10% of revenue, Emversity is well-positioned for growth.
The startup’s future plans include expanding its career counseling platform, which generated over 350,000 inquiries and accounted for over 20% of revenue last year. Sinha is also exploring opportunities to serve international demand, particularly in healthcare, as aging populations in markets like Japan and Germany seek skilled workers.
For now, Emversity is focused on scaling its workforce and expanding its reach in India. With a valuation of around $120 million, the startup is well-positioned to tackle the country’s skills gap and help employers find the workers they need.
