Gautam Thakar steps down as CEO of Prosus’ global edtech practice

Core Insights - Gautam Thakar has resigned as CEO of Prosus' global edtech practice, which manages over $4 billion in investments, after two years in the position [1][2] - Ashutosh Sharma, head of the India ecosystem at Prosus, is taking on a larger role with additional operational responsibilities [1] Company Developments - Thakar played a crucial role in navigating edtech investments through a downturn characterized by significant valuation corrections and business model pivots [2] - Prior to his role at Prosus, Thakar was the head of OLX Autos and has experience as president and CEO of Star Sports at The Walt Disney Company [3] Industry Context - Thakar's departure is part of a broader shake-up in the Indian edtech sector following the collapse of Byju's, with other notable exits including Sameer Brij Verma, who left Nexus Venture Partners to start his own investment firm [4] - Prosus has significantly reduced its edtech practice since writing off a $530 million investment in Byju's in 2024, contrasting with its successful investments in companies like Urban Company, Bluestone, and Swiggy, from which it has made over $2 billion [5] Recent Investments - In July, Prosus made its first new edtech investment in India post-Byju's by co-leading a $4.17 million seed round in Arivihan, a platform offering personalized courses in local languages [6]