Mastree

Mastree was a Bengaluru-based ed-tech platform established in October 2019 by co-founders Shrey Goyal and Royal Jain, both alumni of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. The company aimed to address foundational learning gaps for students transitioning to middle school. Goyal, who served as the CEO, had prior experience as an investment professional at Blume Ventures, which later became an early investor in Mastree.

The firm operated on a subscription-based business model, providing a comprehensive product for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) courses targeted at students in classes 5 through 8. Mastree's platform offered live online classes in small groups, covering subjects like mathematics, science, public speaking, and creative writing. Key features included personalized practice sessions, live quizzes, and dedicated doubt-solving to create an engaging learning environment.

In a significant milestone, Mastree secured a $5 million investment from ed-tech giant Unacademy in July 2020 for a majority stake, a deal that also provided an exit for its initial investor, Blume Ventures. This acquisition was intended to fortify Unacademy's presence in the K-12 learning sector, and Mastree joined the Unacademy Group. Following the acquisition, Mastree attempted to pivot its business model, including developing English and public speaking courses for the K-12 segment. However, the company faced operational challenges and struggled to find a sustainable business model. In September 2021, about a year after the acquisition, Unacademy announced the shutdown of Mastree's operations. The co-founders departed, and the majority of Mastree's employees were absorbed into other business units within the Unacademy Group.

Keywords: ed-tech, K-12 education, STEAM learning, online classes, subscription model, Unacademy acquisition, Shrey Goyal, Royal Jain, foundational learning, education technology