During a period of tightening visa restrictions and diplomatic tensions, traditional paths to studying abroad are narrowing. The Indian startup Leverage Edu, which runs a platform for studying abroad, is offering students new routes: from Canada to Germany, as well as a reorientation from India toward Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. This mobility is already paying off: the company has doubled its revenue, become profitable, and is expanding its global presence.
In recent months, students from developing countries have faced growing uncertainty about enrolling in international educational institutions due to changes in visa rules and diplomatic tensions. Visa restrictions and tensions between countries – from the India-Canada standoff of 2023–2024 to new frictions in India–United States relations over tariffs and immigration policy – disrupted application deadlines and candidate requirements. Canada and Australia have introduced stricter rules for student visas, which have caused concern for many families. Even established study-abroad consulting agencies had to adapt. But Leverage responded by helping students find alternatives and quickly adjust their plans, keeping them on track and away from disruption.
The eight-year-old startup quickly reacted to the deterioration of India-Canada relations, helping Indian students reorient toward Germany and supporting Canadian universities in recruiting students from Nigeria – effectively preserving recruitment channels in both regions. Today, the same approach is being applied in the face of increasing tension between the United States and India.
Although Leverage continues to direct students to the United States, inquiries from countries such as Brazil and Vietnam continue to show strong interest in American universities, according to founder and CEO Akshay Chaturvedi in an interview with TechCrunch.
Global Expansion and Leverage’s Strategy
The ability to quickly adapt to different regions has been key to Leverage’s growth. In recent months, the startup has expanded its presence in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Vietnam, and Malaysia – new markets with growing demand for study abroad, but with limited access to structured admissions-preparation support. These moves allow the company to operate in 16 countries and recruit students at universities in 11 destination countries.
Alongside its offerings, Leverage positions itself as a full-service platform for international education: a mobile app, an AI-powered course search engine UniConnect, tools to connect with universities, and a recent SaaS suite for global universities under the brand Univalley.ai.
The portfolio also includes expanded services: Leverage MBBS for medical applicants, Fly Finance for education loans, Fly Homes for student housing, and other solutions under the Leverage Careers and Compass brands.
The company currently places more than 10,000 students each year, compared with about 1,500 a few years ago. A large portion of the growth is driven by organic demand: roughly 60% of the recruited students come without marketing spend, according to Chaturveda.
Financial results show rapid ascent. In fiscal 2025, revenue exceeded ₹1.8 billion (roughly $20 million), more than doubling the previous year. In the first half of fiscal 2026, the company generated over ₹2 billion in the period from April to September. The projected annual figure is around ₹3.7-₹3.8 billion (about $45 million).
Profit after tax amounted to ₹120–130 million (about $1.4–$1.5 million), and they expect it to exceed ₹250 million ($2.8 million) by the end of fiscal year 2026 – a significant turn compared with the previous year.
Platform profit accounts for about 25% of total revenue, with a focus on student services – loans, remittances, housing, and internships. The remaining 75% is diversified: the core education business of placement and advisory generates about 20% of revenue from the students themselves and 55% – from universities in the form of commissions, explains Chaturveda.
India remains the largest source of students for Leverage, accounting for about 58% of the base. Within the country, the company focuses on the states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Punjab, which consistently send many students abroad.
Regarding destinations, the United Kingdom remains the leader in placements with about 52%, followed by Germany at 22%. Italy shows the fastest growth this summer and is also gaining momentum. North America currently accounts for less than 5% of placements, but they expect the share to increase thanks to expanding presence in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.
Looking ahead, the company is considering a possible IPO in India as early as 2026 – this is being discussed with investment banks, and Leverage may choose between an initial public offering and subsequent capital raising after reaching the revenue threshold of $100 million, which they expect to reach during 2026.
Currently, Leverage has raised less than $50 million of equity. The company operates in 27 countries through over 50 offices and employs more than 800 people.
Given growth and interest in new markets, Leverage plans to continue strengthening its position, developing partnerships, and tools to support students worldwide.
From the outset it is clear that flexibility and a diverse range of offerings enable Leverage Edu to respond well to changes in the educational landscape. The company aims to keep expanding and promoting studying abroad as a safe and accessible option for students in different regions, even as political and visa restrictions continue to pose challenges to traditional paths to education.