iStar Skill Development, a skill-training company, has raised Rs 10 crore led by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. Unitus Seed Fund, an early investor in iSTAR, also participated in this round.
This takes total funds raised by the company to Rs 13 crore. “iStar presents a great blend of an attractive business model grounded in a strong social mission and an excellent leadership team,” said Geeta Goel, director, mission investing, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. The foundation has invested in the space since 2007. iStar is the first investment in its portfolio that focuses exclusively on vocational training offered in, and through, higher education colleges.
Bengaluru-based iSTAR was launched by IIM-A graduates Surga Thilakan and Sreeraman Vaidyanathan in 2010 to deliver skill training and recruitment services to undergraduate students from 150 arts and science colleges across Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, providing services to 17,000 students with a focus on the low and mid-income segments.
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