upGrad Names Deepesh Dhakad as CTO and Chief Product Officer
upGrad has appointed Deepesh Dhakad to the position of chief product and technology officer (CPTO), with the appointment taking effect in October 2025. Within this new leadership role, Dhakad will be responsible for overseeing and guiding the company's product development, design strategies, and technological infrastructure, spanning both the learner and enterprise segments.
In this role, he is expected to focus on expanding capabilities, driving technological innovation, and enhancing the overall user experience on a global scale.
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Boasting almost 20 years of professional experience, Dhakad has served in senior management roles at prominent technology and digital companies including Amazon, Flipkart, Unacademy, and Games24x7.
Throughout his career, he has demonstrated comprehensive knowledge in areas such as creating product strategies, enhancing technological platform capabilities, implementing research-based experimental approaches, and integrating artificial intelligence technologies for innovative solutions.
“upGrad stands at a pivotal moment where technology is not just an enabler but the engine powering our next phase of growth”.
“As learning becomes increasingly borderless and outcome-driven, our focus will be on designing intelligent, AI-native systems that personalise learner journeys and deliver measurable results for both individuals and enterprises,” says Deepesh Dhakad.
“This is also about empowering teams across product, design, and engineering to innovate boldly and build world-class experiences at scale.”
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Amit Mehta, CHRO, upGrad says “As we expand deeper into global markets, product and technology remain the backbone of how we deliver scale, consistency, and measurable outcomes for learners and enterprises alike. Deepesh’s strong experience in building high-growth, tech-led ecosystems comes at the perfect time as we sharpen our focus on innovation.”
An alumnus of IIIT Allahabad and IIT Bombay’s Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management, Dhakad will be based in Bengaluru and will oversee upGrad’s global product and technology roadmap.
UpGrad, a company founded by Ronnie Screwvala, who transitioned from film production to entrepreneurship, is reportedly negotiating to purchase Unacademy at a significantly reduced price compared to its most recent company valuation. This potential acquisition would represent one of the most substantial merger and consolidation efforts within India's online education technology sector.
The potential merger discussion between UpGrad and Unacademy is emerging at a time when India's online education sector is experiencing another period of significant transformation and restructuring.
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Following a period of reduced investment after the pandemic, India's educational technology sector, valued at $7.5 billion, saw renewed fundraising momentum during the first six months of 2025 — with 11 investment deals totaling $120 million completed between January and June. These investments include significant funding rounds for several prominent edtech companies such as Physics Wallah Ltd. (which secured $210 million), Eruditus (receiving $150 million), and Avance Financial Services (attracting $120 million). Of particular note, Physics Wallah is preparing to launch its initial public offering next week, with an estimated company valuation of $3.2 billion.