‘Makes no sense to continue it’: Ankur Warikoo shocks internet by shutting down Rs 100 crore courses empire
Mumbai/IBNS: Content creator Ankur Warikoo has announced shutting down his profitable online courses business despite generating Rs 100 crore in revenue since 2020.
Warikoo, who has over seven million subscribers on YouTube, said the venture had grown far beyond expectations but no longer gave him a reason to continue.
‘Makes no sense to continue’
In a post on X, Warikoo wrote: “I am shutting down my 100 crores courses business. We’ve grown beyond what I could have imagined, since we started in 2020. 5 lakh students. 100 crores in sales. 25 crores in profits. But it makes no sense to continue it.”
He also said he would share further details about the decision at 8:30 pm on May 16.
I am shutting down my 100 crores courses business.
— Ankur Warikoo (@warikoo) May 15, 2026
We’ve grown beyond what I could have imagined, since we started in 2020.
5 lakh students.
100 crores in sales.
25 crores in profits.
But it makes no sense to continue it.
I’ll be sharing more about my decision and what… pic.twitter.com/hBfyX0Dqm7
Recession concerns hinted
Warikoo hinted that economic uncertainty and fears of a slowdown may have contributed to the move.
When one of his followers suggested that anticipation of a recession could be a possible reason behind the shutdown, Warikoo responded cryptically: “Samajhdaar ko ishaara…”
The response sparked speculation online that changing market conditions and weakening consumer spending on online courses may have influenced his decision.
AI disruption may be another factor
Artificial Intelligence could also be one of the major reasons behind the closure of the courses business.
Replying to a user who asked whether AI had made learning “more accessible”, reducing the need for paid courses, Warikoo replied: “It should. And it has.”
The comment has been widely interpreted as an acknowledgement of how AI tools are rapidly transforming the online learning ecosystem by offering free or low-cost access to information.
Rise from startup founder to creator economy star
Warikoo first rose to prominence in India’s startup ecosystem as the founding CEO of Groupon India and later co-founded nearbuy.
Over the years, he transitioned into content creation and online education, building a massive following across YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram and X with videos and posts focused on careers, entrepreneurship, money management, productivity and self-improvement.
He also launched the learning platform WebVeda and authored bestselling books on personal growth and finance.
Criticism around influencer-led education
In recent years, Warikoo has emerged as one of India’s most recognised finfluencers and self-help creators. However, he has also faced criticism over sponsored promotions and the broader influencer-driven online education industry.
His decision to shut down a highly profitable courses business has triggered wider conversations about the sustainability of creator-led edtech ventures in the age of AI.
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