Skill-Lync Secures $17.5 Million in Series A Funding Led by Iron Pillar: Engineering a Revolution in EdTech

Chennai-based edtech start-up Skill-Lync has hit a major milestone by raising $17.5 million in a Series A funding round, with Iron Pillar leading the investment charge. The funding round also saw participation from existing investors Y Combinator and Better Capital, along with new backers such as Binny Bansal, Sai Krishnamurthy, and Rashmi Kwatra. The fresh capital injection will propel Skill-Lync to expand its course offerings, strengthen its management team, and extend its global footprint.

Skill-Lync, founded by Sarangarajan V Iyengar and Suryanarayanan P, focuses on providing industry-specific courses in mechanical, electrical, civil, and computer science engineering domains. The startup aims to bridge the widening gap between industry needs and the education provided by engineering institutions. Suryanarayanan P, the CEO of Skill-Lync, notes the global shortage of high-quality engineering talent, emphasizing the demand for engineers who possess both fundamental knowledge and practical skills applicable to real-world problem-solving through engineering design and simulation tools.

As industries rapidly adopt new technologies, the need for continuous upskilling of engineering professionals becomes crucial. Skill-Lync envisions addressing this need by developing corporate partnerships to understand future talent requirements. The startup also plans to build in-house, high-end engineering teams to deliver exceptional learning outcomes to students. The infusion of funds will enable Skill-Lync to scale its operations and cater to the evolving needs of the engineering workforce.

The funds raised in this Series A round will be deployed to increase the number of courses offered by Skill-Lync, further international expansion, and bolster the management team. Skill-Lync’s commitment to understanding and meeting the demands of industries positions it as a key player in the edtech space, especially in disciplines beyond computer science. For Iron Pillar, a venture growth investor, the investment in Skill-Lync presents an opportunity to make a significant impact in an under-disrupted segment of engineering education and upskilling. Anand Prasanna, Managing Partner at Iron Pillar, notes the limited digital disruption in engineering education beyond computer science and highlights the unique chance to establish a multi-billion dollar global company with deep moats in this space. The existing success, growth, and capital efficiency demonstrated by Skill-Lync make it an attractive investment for Iron Pillar.

Skill-Lync’s journey began as a YouTube channel created by the founders during their post-graduation days, providing small videos related to engineering courses. The startup transitioned into selling online courses to colleges in India and abroad. In 2015, Sarangarajan V Iyengar and Suryanarayanan P decided to dedicate themselves full-time to Skill-Lync, recognizing the need for innovative approaches to teaching engineering courses. Suryanarayanan emphasizes the shift from traditional teaching methods to embracing technology like artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and augmented reality in engineering education. Skill-Lync has positioned itself as a solution that goes beyond theoretical understanding, offering engineers the ability to apply their knowledge through computational design and simulation tools.

Suryanarayanan underscores the personal motivation behind Skill-Lync’s creation, stating, “We built Skill-Lync for ourselves.” The founders, both mechanical engineers, recognized the disparity between theoretical education and real-world applications during their pursuit of higher studies and in their professional roles. Skill-Lync, born out of this necessity, stands as a testament to the founders’ commitment to providing a transformative learning experience for aspiring engineers.