Skillsvest, a fintech platform focused on education financing, has successfully raised Rs 5.5 crore in a pre-seed funding round. The funding, a combination of equity and debt, was led by Plug and Play Ventures, with contributions from angel investors including Sascha Mornell. The startup also received support from UC Berkeley SkyDeck and Launch Accelerator by Jason Calacanis.
Founded by Sreemaan Thiruppathiraja and Deborah Schermann, Skillsvest offers a unique ‘pay only if you earn’ model tailored for students pursuing international master’s programs. This approach allows students to secure funding without the need for collateral or co-signers. Repayments are income-linked and activated only after surpassing a specific earnings threshold.
Primarily targeting Indian students seeking higher education opportunities in regions like the UK, US, and Europe, Skillsvest covers both tuition fees and living expenses. The platform has already allocated over Rs 1.2 crore and amassed a waitlist exceeding 3,000 students. Furthermore, the startup has formed partnerships with more than 4,500 college counselors across India for effective distribution.
Looking ahead, Skillsvest aims to assist 50–100 students in the next 12–18 months while simultaneously constructing a comprehensive ecosystem centered on career outcomes.
Source: Entrackr : Latest Posts