Popular entrepreneur, educator, and content creator Ankur Warikoo has announced that he is shutting down his highly profitable online courses business after nearly six years of operations. The announcement surprised many because the business reportedly generated:
- ₹100 crore in total sales
- ₹25 crore in profits
- More than 5 lakh enrolled students since launch in 2020.
Warikoo shared the update through a social media post saying:
“It makes no sense to continue it.”
What Was The Business?
Warikoo’s education platform focused on:
- Career growth
- Personal finance
- Productivity
- Entrepreneurship
- Upskilling courses.
Through platforms like:
- WebVeda
- Make Epic Money
…he built one of India’s most successful creator-led education businesses.
The model relied heavily on:
- Recorded courses
- Cohort learning
- Digital communities
- Creator-driven education content.
Over the years, Warikoo also built a massive audience:
- 7+ million YouTube subscribers
- Nearly 4 million Instagram followers
- Hundreds of thousands of followers on X (formerly Twitter).
AI May Have Played A Huge Role
One of the biggest reasons the story exploded online is Warikoo’s brief but important response about artificial intelligence.
When a user asked whether AI influenced the shutdown, Warikoo replied:
“Huge.”
That single response triggered widespread discussion about how AI tools like:
- OpenAI’s ChatGPT
- Anthropic’s Claude
- AI tutoring systems
…are rapidly disrupting the online education industry.
Many skills traditionally sold through recorded courses can now increasingly be accessed through:
- AI conversations
- Personalized AI coaching
- Instant explanations
- Free AI-generated learning plans.
India’s EdTech Boom Is Changing Rapidly
Warikoo’s decision reflects a much bigger shift happening across India’s edtech ecosystem.
During the Covid-19 boom:
- Online courses exploded in popularity
- Creator-led education businesses surged
- Millions paid for digital learning programs.
But since 2023:
- EdTech funding has collapsed sharply
- User acquisition costs increased
- AI tools began commoditizing knowledge delivery
- Consumers became more selective about paid courses.
Several online discussions now argue that:
- Information itself is no longer scarce
- Trust, personalization, and execution matter more.
Internet Divided Over The Decision
Social media reactions have been sharply mixed.
Some users praised Warikoo for:
- Walking away despite profitability
- Adapting early to AI disruption
- Recognizing industry shifts before decline accelerates.
Others speculated:
- The announcement may lead to a new AI-focused venture
- The shutdown could be part of a strategic pivot
- Creator-led course businesses may be losing relevance.
Some students also raised concerns about:
- Lifetime access to purchased courses
- Future platform support
- What happens to enrolled learners.
Creator Economy Is Entering A New Phase
The story highlights how rapidly the creator economy is evolving.
Earlier, creators monetized through:
- Courses
- E-books
- Communities
- Workshops.
Now, AI is changing the economics of digital education because:
- Personalized information is becoming free
- AI tutors are available 24/7
- Content generation is easier than ever.
This may force creators to increasingly focus on:
- Community-building
- Live experiences
- Personal mentorship
- Brand trust
- Human connection.
Why This Matters
Warikoo shutting down a profitable ₹100 crore business is significant because it signals how deeply AI is beginning to reshape digital education and creator-led businesses.
The bigger takeaway is clear:
The internet economy is moving from:
- “Selling information”
…toward:
- “Selling human insight, trust, and experience.”
And as AI makes knowledge instantly accessible, many traditional online-course businesses may soon face a major reinvention challenge.
