upGrad has acquired internship and early-talent marketplace Internshala in a 90% stock-swap transaction for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition has expanded upGrad’s presence across the education-to-employment value chain by integrating internship discovery, skilling, and hiring pathways.
Founded in 2010, Internshala has built a network of over 34 million registered users and 450,000 employers. The platform has recorded nearly 3 million active applicants annually and has drawn a significant portion of its traffic organically. More than 40% of its users have come from Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets across India.
With the acquisition, upGrad has strengthened its strategy to connect structured learning with work opportunities. The company has committed additional investments toward product development, AI-led talent matching, and enterprise hiring solutions. Internshala will continue to operate as an independent brand under its existing leadership.
Investec has acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Internshala for the transaction.
“Education and employment in India have operated in silos for too long. This acquisition allows us to strengthen the earliest layer of the career journey – where intent is highest and outcomes can be meaningful. By bridging work opportunities with structured skilling, we are building a more aligned talent ecosystem for both learners and employers.” — Chirag Samdaria, Head – Corporate Strategy and Growth, upGrad
“This is a very natural partnership where learning meets opportunity. In the last 15 years, Internshala has democratized career start for students. Joining hands with upGrad will allow us to amplify our impact by skilling millions of candidates, offer pre-trained talent to companies at scale, and together become the default launchpad for every graduate’s career” — Sarvesh Agrawal, Founder and CEO, Internshala
