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Lessons in profit as Zee Learn makes the grade in December quarter
Education firm sharpens margins as costs cool and earnings stay on course.
MUMBAI: Report cards don’t usually come with punchlines, but Zee Learn Limited delivered one this quarter, posting a stronger showing for the three months ended December 31, 2025, as tighter costs and steadier operations helped lift profitability. For the December quarter, Zee Learn reported revenue from operations of Rs 45.67 crore, compared with Rs 44.35 crore in the same period last year. Including other income of Rs 1.48 crore, total income stood at Rs 47.16 crore, slightly lower than Rs 48.45 crore a year earlier due to reduced non-operating gains.
The real learning curve showed up below the line. Net profit for the quarter rose to Rs 4.20 crore, nearly doubling from Rs 2.16 crore in the corresponding quarter last year and sharply higher than the Rs 0.47 crore posted in the September 2025 quarter. Profit before tax came in at Rs 7.47 crore, reflecting a healthier operating mix.
Expenses during the quarter were kept in check at Rs 39.69 crore, down from Rs 45.72 crore a year ago. Employee benefit expenses stood at Rs 16.06 crore, while selling and marketing costs were Rs 6.79 crore. Finance costs, which had weighed heavily in earlier periods, showed a favourable swing, supporting margins.
For the nine months ended December 31, 2025, Zee Learn posted revenue from operations of Rs 158.66 crore, up from Rs 145.64 crore in the corresponding period last year. Total income for the nine-month period rose to Rs 164.72 crore, compared with Rs 155.17 crore a year earlier.
Net profit for the nine-month period stood at Rs 17.73 crore, an improvement over Rs 14.21 crore reported in the same period last year. Total comprehensive income for the period came in at Rs 17.84 crore, signalling steady momentum across the academic calendar.
For context, the company had reported a net profit of Rs 54.19 crore for the full year ended March 31, 2025, on total income of Rs 285.76 crore, setting a relatively high base for the current year.
With operations spanning formal education and allied services through subsidiaries including Liberium Global Resources, Digital Ventures and Academia Edificio, Zee Learn’s latest numbers suggest the company is quietly passing its financial exams, one quarter at a time.
Brands
Kaartech raises $11 million in Series B funding
Playbook Partners leads round as AI-led firm crosses Rs 1,000 crore revenue mark.
MUMBAI: Kaartech just fuelled its rocket with fresh cash because when you’re already crossing Rs 1,000 crore and running on KTern.AI, the next stage needs serious thrust. KaarTech, a global AI-led enterprise transformation partner, has raised $11 million (approximately Rs 100 crore) in a Series B primary funding round led by Playbook Partners. The round follows the company’s $30 million raise in July 2023 led by A91 Partners.
The fresh capital arrives as Kaartech crosses Rs 1,000 crore in revenue, clocking a 44 per cent compound annual growth rate over the past five years. The growth has been powered by its proprietary platform KTern.AI, which embeds governance and outcome assurance into large-scale enterprise transformations.
The new funds will accelerate Kaartech’s next phase, with focus on deepening AI, data and industry innovation capabilities. The company plans a strategic acquisition to strengthen data engineering and analytics, enabling more powerful AI-driven insights for clients. It will also invest heavily in scaling its AI-led Enterprise Operating System (EOS) platform set to roll out to existing customers in Q2 FY27, with full general availability planned for Q4 FY27. New clients will receive a complimentary AI Readiness Assessment to identify priority use cases, evaluate data readiness and build tailored transformation roadmaps.
Kaartech will expand its global AI Labs, including a new Oil & Gas AI Lab in Houston and additional labs in Bangalore and Chennai focused on CPG & Retail, Engineering & Natural Resources, and Utilities. These labs will develop industry-specific AI solutions and SLM-based foundation models for enterprise use cases.
Kaartech, Founder & CEO Maran Nagarajan said, “This raise marks a defining chapter in Kaartech’s journey. A 4X growth in enterprise value since our Series A reflects the trust placed in us by our employees, customers, partners, and stakeholders. As we drive a clear shift toward an outcome-led Enterprise Operating System, this partnership with Playbook Partners enables us to deepen our Data Engineering and Analytics capabilities, pursue strategic acquisitions, and scale globally.”
Playbook Partners managing partner Vikas Choudhury added, “KaarTech stands out for its deep domain expertise, AI-led transformation capabilities, and strong client relationships. With operations across the US, Europe, and the Middle East, the company has demonstrated remarkable value creation in recent years.”
In a transformation game where most players still chase buzzwords, Kaartech isn’t just raising money, it’s raising the bar, turning AI from a shiny add-on into the actual operating system of enterprise change.
