Ankur Warikoo says he rejected ₹100-crore buyout offer in 4 minutes, internet questions claim
Entrepreneur, investor and content creator Ankur Warikoo has sparked a heated discussion online after claiming that he turned down an acquisition offer worth more than
Entrepreneur, investor and content creator Ankur Warikoo has sparked a heated discussion online after claiming that he turned down an acquisition offer worth more than ₹100 crore for his edtech venture WebVeda. The claim, shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, quickly went viral, drawing both praise and scepticism. While some users applauded Mr Warikoo's decision to prioritise affordability for students, others questioned the valuation, the lack of supporting details and the timing of the announcement. 'I Said No In 4 Minutes' In his post, Mr Warikoo revealed that WebVeda had received what he described as a "100+ crore acquisition offer" last month. "On paper it was free money and an easy exit. I said no in 4 minutes," he wrote. Also Read | I asked ChatGPT if a Bengaluru DINK couple can retire by 50?
According to Mr Warikoo, the decision was influenced by conversations with WebVeda's founder, who informed him that the prospective buyer intended to significantly increase course prices after completing the acquisition. He claimed that the acquiring company planned to raise the cost of WebVeda's courses to ₹3,999 within a year. Why He Rejected The Offer Explaining his decision, Mr Warikoo said WebVeda was built around the idea of making education accessible to learners from smaller towns and modest-income households. "WebVeda exists so a kid in Kanpur earning ₹18,000 a month can afford to learn. The day that stops being true, the company has no reason to exist," he wrote. He added that while the financial offer was substantial, the company's mission carried greater weight. "A broken promise costs more," he said. Also Read | I wanted to save money without giving up my lifestyle.
I asked ChatGPT Mr Warikoo did not disclose the identity of the potential buyer, nor did he provide additional details about the proposed transaction. He said both parties had agreed not to discuss the deal publicly. Internet Wants More Answers The post soon attracted widespread attention, with users debating both the plausibility of the acquisition offer and the business fundamentals behind the claim. Several critics argued that companies heavily dependent on a founder's personal brand are typically difficult to value at such high multiples. Others questioned whether an online course platform could realistically command a valuation exceeding ₹100 crore without additional context. One user wrote that "nobody is going to close a deal for a business heavily dependent on the operator's face and time at 10x sales." Another described the announcement as a "trust me bro" post, suggesting that the absence of verifiable details made the claim difficult to assess.
The BriefWire