Education-focussed lender Varthana raises $15 million from BlueOrchard

11 Dec 2024, 03:57 PM

The funding will be used to expand the NBFC's lending portfolio, providing private schools and vocational students in tier II and tier III cities...

Team Head&Tale

Non-Banking Finance Company Varthana has raised $15 million (about Rs 120 crore) in funding from BlueOrchard Microfinance Fund, managed by BlueOrchard.

The funding will be used to expand its lending portfolio, providing private schools and vocational students in tier II and tier III cities with essential financial support for infrastructure enhancement and skill-based learning initiatives.

Co-founded in 2013 by Steve Hardgrave and Brajesh Mishra, Varthana provides loans to affordable private schools and students pursuing domestic higher education in India. The platform aims to transform affordable education in India by catering to the needs of affordable private schools through financial assistance and academic support. It also aims to serve domestic students attending college, technical training/short-term courses, and postgraduate studies by providing them with loans to continue education.

According to the company, it intends to bridge the education gap in India by empowering affordable education institutions and improving learning outcomes for millions of students. 

Varthana claims financing more than 11,000 affordable private schools and facilitating over 16,500 loans for school expansion and renovation. 

With a presence in 16 states/union territories and 40 branches, it also extends its services to Tier III and Tier IV cities. The company aims to make education accessible to over 10 million students by 2025.

Who Reads Us

I enjoy reading The Head and Tale for their coverage on the Fintech landscape. The reporting is incisive and honest,  and it demonstrates a sharp understanding of the industry and the issues that concern it. I'd like to extend my best wishes to Arti for her continued success.

Rahul Chari, Co-Founder and CTO, PhonePe
Rahul Chari Co-Founder And CTO, PhonePe

Well-researched, informative and analysis based reporting makes an interesting read. 'The Head and Tale' news portal has been demonstrating this quite well covering fintech and emerging tech sectors. Their timely updates, exclusive stories and different perspectives on these sectors help me stay informed. Kudos to Arti Singh for pursuing her passion and best wishes to the team.

Rishi Gupta, MD & CEO, Fino Payments Bank
Rishi Gupta MD & CEO, Fino Payments Bank

The Head and Tale stands out for its deep industry knowledge and impressive network of sources. I especially appreciate that the reporting remains independent, rarely resorting to paid puff pieces, making it a publication I can genuinely trust. Having followed Arti’s work for years, I’ve come to rely on The Head and Tale for its unparalleled insight and truly independent coverage. Arti’s long-standing presence in the sector means her reporting is always informed, with access few can match.

Lizzie Chapman, co-founder, ZestMoney
Lizzie Chapman Co-founder, ZestMoney

What I really appreciate about The Head and Tale is that it doesn’t just report the news, it interprets it. The stories are well-researched, comprehensive, and bold. Arti brings a fearless lens to reporting, often asking the uncomfortable but necessary questions. She makes you pause, reflect, and rethink what it all means for the payments and fintech ecosystem. It’s rare to find journalism that’s this sharp, timely, and relevant to the work we do every day.

Mohit Bedi, co-founder, Kiwi
Mohit Bedi Co-founder, Kiwi

I’ve always valued journalism that goes beyond surface-level headlines. The Head and Tale does exactly that - it connects the dots, asks the tough questions, and brings clarity to the shifts shaping our evolving industry. I’ve even encouraged my team members to subscribe, because staying informed through credible, deeply reported stories is as important as building products. For me, The Head and Tale has become part of essential reading.

Cofounder of IPO-bound leading fintech lending company
Cofounder of IPO-bound leading fintech lending company