Unacademy's co-founder and CTO Hemesh Singh quits; moves to an advisory role

Edtech giant Unacademy co-founder Hemesh Singh has announced his decision to step down as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and transition to an advisory role.

Singh, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), said, "After almost a decade of building Unacademy with @gauravmunjal and @romansaini, I have decided to move from an Executive Role to an Advisory Role".

"It has been a wonderful ride and I am extremely grateful to have been a part of this journey. We did change the Test Prep Industry for good. What a crazy journey it has been! 🙂 Thanks a lot @gauravmunjal for everything.," he said.

After almost a decade of building Unacademy with @gauravmunjal and @romansaini, I have decided to move from an Executive Role to an Advisory Role.

It has been a wonderful ride and I am extremely grateful to have been a part of this journey. We did change the Test Prep Industry… pic.twitter.com/tuj1weqBsu

— Hemesh Singh (@hemezh) June 8, 2024

What impact did Hemesh Singh have on Unacademy?

Unacademy was founded in 2015 by Gaurav Munjal, Hemesh Singh, and Roman Saini.

Initially started as a YouTube channel, It later evolved into an edtech platform connecting educators and learners across various streams. 

Singh, who has a BTech from Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, previously worked as the CTO of the networking app Flatchat before joining Unacademy. His contributions were pivotal in shaping Unacademy into a significant player in the edtech industry.

Gaurav Munjal, co-founder and CEO of Unacademy, shared his thoughts on Singh’s departure, saying, "Hemesh and I started working together 11 years ago when we were building Flatchat. It had been a crazy ride, and I have been grateful to have a co-founder like you. Unacademy will miss you."

Hemesh and I started working together 11 years ago when we were building Flatchat. It had been a Crazy Ride and I have been grateful to have a Co-Founder like you 🙏

Unacademy will miss you ❤️ https://t.co/bCqn7r44MF

— Gaurav Munjal (@gauravmunjal) June 8, 2024

top-level exits in Unacademy

Despite Singh’s transition, Unacademy continues to push forward with its growth plans.

The edtech firm has recently seen several top-level exits, including Chief Operating Officer Vivek Sinha and Chief Finance Officer Subramanian Ramachandran. 

However, it has been filling these vacancies with new talent. For instance, Pratik Dalal was appointed as the CFO of its offline business last month. 

Hemesh Singh's departure affect on Unacademy

In 2022, Unacademy made strategic moves to grant additional voting rights to Munjal and Singh through bonus shares, aiming to strengthen their control and influence over the company's direction.

According to Unacademy’s filings with the Registrar of Companies, these rights will become accessible if the company forms a committee by March 2025 to work on its initial public offering (IPO). Singh’s shift to an advisory role does not change these goals, and he is expected to continue contributing to the company's strategic decisions.