Imarticus Learning has acquired Singapore-based BELLS Institute for an estimated ₹800 Cr in its first international acquisition ahead of its proposed IPO
The deal will help Imarticus expand into Southeast Asia, strengthen its AI and workforce development offerings, and establish Singapore as its regional hub
The acquisition will bring BELLS’ 150,000+ alumni network and seven training centres under Imarticus, with the combined entity operating across 25+ offices and 1,100+ employees
IPO-bound edtech startup Imarticus Learning has acquired Singapore-based BELLS Institute of Higher Learning for ₹800 Cr as it gears up for an ₹1,000 Cr IPO.
The startup’s first international acquisition will help it strengthen its presence in Singapore and the Southeast Asian market while also deepening its capabilities in enterprise learning, AI, data analytics, tech and workforce development.
The combined entity will have more than 1,100 employees and operate across over 25 offices in India and Singapore. Imarticus Learning said it has impacted over 1 Mn learners, while BELLS brings a network of more than 1.50 Lakh alumni and seven training centres in Singapore.
The deal will also provide Imarticus access to BELLS’ partnerships with the Singapore government, SkillsFuture Singapore and enterprises across the region. The move will help the startup expand its footprint across ASEAN markets.
As part of the integration, Imarticus plans to launch BELLS School of AI, an institute focused on AI training for working professionals, recent graduates and enterprise teams. The institute will offer courses in AI, machine learning, AI for finance and fintech, and AI-driven business transformation.
Founded in 2012 by Nikhil Barshikar and Sonya Hooja, Imarticus Learning offers professional education, executive education and corporate training programmes across finance, technology and business.
This is the second acquisition for the Bengaluru-based startup within a year, following the ₹50 Cr acquisition of edtech platform MyCaptain in May 2025.
The development comes as Imarticus Learning is gearing up for its proposed ₹1,000 Cr IPO. If listed, the startup will join the growing list of edtech startups looking to tap public markets after PhysicsWallah’s IPO last year.
Meanwhile, edtech startup Klassroom is set to make its BSE SME debut on August 7. The startup’s IPO opened for subscription on July 31, with a price band of ₹151-159 per share.
On the second day of bidding, the IPO attracted bids for 15.99 Lakh shares against the total offer size of 16.35 Lakh shares, resulting in an overall subscription of 0.97x.