GSV Ventures has recently welcomed Abhishek Mishra, a prominent figure from its portfolio company PhysicsWallah (PW), as its new partner. In this role, Mishra will spearhead the venture capital firm’s investments across the U.S. and Indian markets, reflecting GSV’s commitment to the edtech sector.
The firm announced this exciting development via a LinkedIn post, expressing their enthusiasm about Mishra joining the team. His experience and insights are expected to enhance GSV’s strategic direction in these vital regions.
GSV Ventures’ Edtech Investments
Based in San Francisco, GSV Ventures is an institutional investor with a keen focus on education technology. They made their initial investment in PhysicsWallah in June 2022, contributing $22.9 million from the GSV Ventures Fund III. Current data from Tracxn shows that GSV holds a 2.15% stake in PhysicsWallah, underlining their confidence in the company’s growth trajectory.
In recent news, PhysicsWallah submitted its draft red herring prospectus to SEBI for an impressive ₹4,600 crore IPO through a confidential filing. This move signals a significant step in their expansion and funding strategy.
Abhishek Mishra’s Journey
During his four-year tenure at PhysicsWallah, where he serves as the Chief Strategy Officer, Mishra has played a crucial role in the company’s remarkable growth. Under his leadership, PhysicsWallah has successfully raised $310 million, completed 10 acquisitions, and expanded its reach to 46 million students, including 5.5 million paying subscribers. His prior experience includes managing finance operations at the fintech unicorn Slice, showcasing his diverse skill set.
Mishra joins a team of distinguished partners at GSV Ventures, including Michael Cohn, Jennifer Lee, Deborah H Quazzo, and Rueben Pampoulov, bringing the total number of partners to six.
GSV Ventures in the Indian Edtech Landscape
GSV Ventures has made a series of strategic investments in the Indian edtech landscape, including companies like Classplus, LEAD School, Simplilearn, Openhouse, FrontRow, and Tekie. Notably, in 2021, they invested $2.6 million in the now-challenged edtech firm Byju’s as part of a $1.67 billion extended Series F round.
The Indian edtech sector saw an explosive rise in 2021, with funding peaking at $5.52 billion across 380 rounds. However, the following years brought a significant correction. In 2024, the sector began to stabilize, raising $755 million across 108 rounds. As of 2025, Indian edtech companies have garnered $32.6 million across 16 rounds, indicating a cautious yet hopeful recovery.
In conclusion, Abhishek Mishra’s appointment at GSV Ventures marks a significant step in enhancing their investment strategy in the edtech sector, which continues to evolve amidst challenges and opportunities.
