Leverage Edu announces second ESOP buyback

Leverage.biz, which runs study abroad platform Leverage Edu, Fly.Finance and Fly Homes, today announced that it has completed its second ESOP buyback exercise.

Over 50 employees of the company across functions were able to benefit from this exercise. However, the company did not disclose the amount of the stock  buyback.

Leverage Edu concluded its first ESOP buyback in June 2022.

Seven-year-old Leverage Edu provides full-stack services including counseling, application-admission support, and financing to students pursuing international education. It assists students from India, Nigeria and Nepal, among others.

The company raised $40 million a mix of debt and equity led by Educational Testing Service (ETS) in July last year. It has raised around $70 million across rounds and was last valued at around $150 million. As per startup data intelligence platform TheKredible, Blume Ventures is the largest external stakeholder in Leverage Edu with 16.9% followed by Tomorrow Capital and DSG Consumers Partners.

The company’s revenue from operations spiked 228% to Rs 69 crore in FY23 from Rs 21 crore in FY22 while its losses jumped 70% to Rs 103 crore in FY23 from Rs 47 crore in the previous year.

The total EOSP buyback/payout/liquidity by Indian startups stood at nearly $802 million in 2023. In 2021 and 2022, the buyback amount was recorded at $440 and $200 million respectively. In 2024, Urban Company, MyGate, Classplus, Meesho, The Sleep Company, XYXX,  and Pocket FM also completed their ESOP buyback scheme.