Skillsvest Raises ₹5.5 Crore to Expand Income-Linked Education Financing for Global Studies

Fintech startup Skillsvest has raised ₹5.5 crore in a pre-seed funding round, combining both equity and debt. The round was led by Plug and Play Ventures, with participation from angel investor Sascha Mornell. The company is also backed by prestigious global platforms, including UC Berkeley SkyDeck and Launch Accelerator.

Founded by Sreemaan Thiruppathiraja and Deborah Schermann, Skillsvest is addressing a critical gap in the education financing ecosystem by offering income-linked funding solutions for Indian students pursuing international master’s programs.

The startup operates on a unique “pay only if you earn” model, eliminating traditional barriers such as collateral requirements and co-signers. Repayments are structured to begin only after students meet a minimum income threshold, ensuring financial obligations align with actual earning capacity. This approach significantly reduces financial risk for students while making global education more accessible.

Currently, Skillsvest focuses on students targeting higher education opportunities in the UK, US, and Europe, covering both tuition fees and living expenses. By providing end-to-end financial support, the platform enables students to pursue global careers without upfront financial stress.

Despite being in its early stages, Skillsvest has shown promising traction. The company has already deployed over ₹1.2 crore, built a waitlist of more than 3,000 students, and established a strong distribution network through partnerships with 4,500+ college counsellors across India. This extensive network allows Skillsvest to reach students at critical decision-making stages in their academic journey.

The global education financing market is evolving rapidly, with increasing demand for flexible, outcome-based funding models. Students today are looking for solutions that not only fund their education but also align with their long-term career success. Skillsvest’s model directly addresses this need by linking repayment to employability and income outcomes.

Over the next 12 to 18 months, the startup aims to support 50–100 students while continuing to build a broader ecosystem around career outcomes, employability support, and financial accessibility.

With strong investor backing, a differentiated model, and growing demand, Skillsvest is well-positioned to transform how international education is financed, making it more inclusive, performance-driven, and aligned with the future of work.