PedalStart leads pre-seed round in extracurricular learning platform UpKraft
Extracurricular learning platform UpKraft has raised Rs 1.6 crore in a pre-seed funding round led by PedalStart, with participation from a group of angel investors.
The proceeds will be used to accelerate AI product development, expand its presence across Bengaluru and Gurugram, strengthen its technology platform, operations, and customer experience, and build teams across product, technology, growth, sales, and tutor operations, UpKraft said in a press release.
Co-founded in July 2025 by Tejasvi Singh Kushwah, Varun Mangal, and Kritika Varandani, UpKraft is an AI-powered extracurricular learning platform that offers structured learning at home, in residential communities, and in schools through verified expert tutors.
According to the Bengaluru-based startup, it combines AI tools such as its AI Practice Companion and Progress Insights with standardized, level-based curricula to help students build skills while giving parents visibility into their progress. The company says it has developed standardized learning programs across music and other extracurricular disciplines and partnered with residential communities across Bengaluru and Gurugram.
Over the next 12 to 18 months, UpKraft plans to increase student enrollments, expand its presence across Bengaluru and Gurugram, improve learning outcomes, and strengthen teams across product and engineering, AI and data science, sales and business development, community and field marketing, customer success, and tutor onboarding and operations.
PedalStart is an operator-led startup accelerator focused on supporting early-stage startups. In addition to capital, it works with founders on growth strategy, operations, and market expansion through its network of operators and investors.
