Amazon Winds Down India Edtech Platform Amid Cost-Cutting Push
Amazon confirms it is shutting down Amazon Academy, its online learning platform for Indian high school students, in a phased manner starting August 2023. The closure comes as the tech giant implements broader cost-cutting measures across its global operations.
Amazon announces it is shutting down Amazon Academy, an online learning platform designed to help Indian high school students prepare for engineering entrance exams. The company is winding down the service in a phased manner starting August 2023 and is issuing full refunds to all students currently enrolled in the academic batch.
The platform, originally launched as JEE Ready in 2019, offers curated learning materials, live lectures, and mock tests focused on math, physics, and chemistry. Despite early speculation that Amazon might challenge major Indian edtech startups like Byju's and Vedantu, the retailer ultimately decides to discontinue the service following a routine assessment of its products.
While Amazon does not explicitly state the reason for the closure, reports indicate the move is part of a broader cost-cutting initiative that includes plans to eliminate approximately 10,000 corporate and technology roles globally. The decision highlights the challenging market conditions currently facing the edtech sector in India.