Mesa School of Business raises Rs 110 Cr co-led by Dharana Capital and Elevation Capital

Mesa School of Business has recently secured a substantial Rs 110 crore in funding, co-led by Dharana Capital and Elevation Capital. This funding, a mix of equity and debt, will be utilized by the institution to enhance its AI-first curriculum for existing programs, introduce new ones, and forge strategic partnerships within the startup ecosystem.

Established in 2023 by Ankit Agarwal and Varun Limaye, Mesa School of Business operates residential programs centered on 'learning by doing real things'. Each student constructs and manages a small business, gaining practical experience in utilizing AI to develop and launch tech products. The institution boasts an impressive alumni roster, with over 100 founders having taught on campus, and students working on more than 200 projects with startups.

Backed by notable entrepreneurs such as Kunal Shah (CRED), Vidit Aatrey (Meesho), Abhiraj Bhal (Urban Company), and Vijay Shekhar Sharma (Paytm), Mesa School of Business is experiencing rapid growth. Despite this expansion, the institution remains committed to its founding principles: every student builds something tangible, learns cutting-edge skills and AI, and receives continuous feedback from industry veterans.

These tenets are the reason why top startups seek out Mesa graduates and why many of them proceed to launch their own ventures.

Since its inception, Mesa has grown from a single postgraduate cohort to over 550 students across three distinct programs in just three years. These include a one-year Post Graduate Programme in Startup Leadership, a four-year undergraduate program focused on business and entrepreneurship, and Forge, a one-year program designed for recent graduates.

Vamsi Duvvuri, Founder and Managing Partner of Dharana Capital, emphasizes the institution's mission to address the disconnect between modern technology and higher education. According to him, Mesa is bridging this gap by reimagining business education for the AI-first world, ensuring students acquire proven, high-impact operational capabilities necessary for today's roles.