Bengaluru-based Mesa School of Business, a startup-focused business school and edtech company, has raised Rs 110 crore through a combination of equity funding and venture debt. The round includes around Rs 85 crore in Series A equity funding, co-led by Dharana Capital and existing investor Elevation Capital, along with Rs 25 crore in venture debt from InnoVen Capital and Alteria Capital.
The company is also backed by prominent startup founders, including Kunal Shah of CRED, Vidit Aatrey of Meesho, Abhiraj Bhal of Urban Company, and Vijay Shekhar Sharma of Paytm.
According to the company, the funding round values Mesa School of Business at Rs 385 crore.
The fresh capital will be used to develop an AI-first curriculum for its existing programmes, launch and scale new courses, and build strategic partnerships across the startup ecosystem.
Expanding Its AI-First Business Education Model
Co-founded in 2023 by Ankit Agarwal and Varun Limaye, Mesa School of Business offers residential programmes for undergraduates, fresh graduates and early-career professionals. The Bengaluru-based institution aims to prepare students for leadership roles and entrepreneurship in an increasingly AI-driven business environment.
The company follows a practical learning model in which every student builds and runs a small business and learns to use AI to develop and launch a technology product. Its programmes combine business education with hands-on experience to help students understand how startups operate.
Mesa has grown from a single postgraduate cohort to more than 550 students across three programmes:
- Post Graduate Programme in Startup Leadership: A one-year programme.
- Undergraduate Programme in Business and Entrepreneurship: A four-year programme.
- Forge: A one-year programme designed for fresh graduates.
With the latest funding, the company plans to strengthen its existing courses with AI-focused learning while expanding its programme offerings.
Startup Founders and Industry Projects Shape Learning
Mesa said more than 100 founders have taught on campus, while its students have worked on over 200 projects with startups.
The institution’s approach focuses on giving students practical exposure to entrepreneurship and startup operations alongside classroom learning. After completing their programmes, alumni either take up full-time roles at startups or launch their own businesses.
According to the company, students from its first two postgraduate cohorts secured an average cost to company (CTC) of Rs 26 lakh, while the top 25% recorded an average CTC of Rs 36.5 lakh.
All placed students from these cohorts joined startups, including Zomato, Zepto, Urban Company, Scapia and Comet. The company also reported that 58% of these students took up founder-facing roles.
More Graduates Turn to Entrepreneurship
Mesa School of Business said nearly 20% of its graduates have become entrepreneurs. The institution is also supporting early-stage ventures through the Mesa Startup Lab, its in-house startup residency programme.
More than 50 student startups are currently incubated at the lab. Together, these ventures have raised over Rs 25 crore in funding and grants and have an annual revenue run-rate of more than Rs 50 crore.
The startup lab forms part of Mesa’s effort to help students move from learning business concepts to building and operating their own ventures.
Funding to Support the Next Phase of Growth
The Rs 110 crore funding round will help Mesa expand its AI-first learning model, develop new programmes and strengthen its connections with the startup ecosystem.
As the company grows beyond its initial postgraduate programme, it is looking to build an education model that combines business fundamentals, AI skills, startup experience and entrepreneurship.
The funding comes as Mesa continues to expand its student base and support ventures emerging from its campus.
-By Shivani Solanki
