Mesa School of Business — co-founded by Ankit Agarwal and Varun Limaye, veterans of Urban Company and Amazon — has kicked off a major funding round of up to $8–$10 million with support from existing investor Elevation Capital and potential new backers. This move highlights how investor sentiment toward edtech and experiential higher education is rebounding after years of funding stagnation in the segment.

Unlike traditional classroom programs, Mesa’s full-time residential curriculum focuses on startup leadership, real-world business execution and hands-on learning — delivered in collaboration with founders and industry leaders. The school’s model, catering to an intimate cohort of around 60 carefully selected students, is designed to bridge the gap between academic theory and practical startup leadership.

This latest funding initiative — potentially the largest in Mesa’s history — comes as Indian edtech funding shows signs of life, with carve-outs in professional training and skill-based education gaining traction among venture capitalists. Rivals and adjacent players such as Emversity, which recently raised significant backing for industry-focused training, exemplify a broader resurgence of investor confidence in targeted, outcome-oriented learning platforms.

With fresh capital, Mesa aims to expand its curriculum infrastructure, deepen partnerships with startup ecosystems, and scale its impact on future entrepreneurial talent. This step could mark a turning point in the narrative around Indian edtech — from classroom-centric to career-driven, experiential education that aligns closely with marketplace demands.