The fundraise includes a $6 million loan from WaterEquity, $5 million in non-convertible debentures from Symbiotics, and €5 million in external commercial borrowings from Triple Jump.Varthana Finance, a non-banking finance company focused on affordable education, has raised about $16.5 million through a mix of international debt instruments to expand school financing and education infrastructure across India.
The fundraise includes a $6 million loan from WaterEquity, $5 million in non-convertible debentures from Symbiotics, and €5 million in external commercial borrowings from Triple Jump.
“Children spend a significant portion of their day at school, and access to safe, dignified WASH facilities is essential to improving attendance and learning outcomes – particularly for girls. Varthana’s network of affordable private schools provides a strong platform to scale these improvements,” said Amit Agarwal, Head of South and Central Asia for Financial Institutions, WaterEquity.
The funds will be deployed toward school improvement financing that integrates water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, aimed at improving learning environments in underserved communities.
“This investment reflects our commitment to supporting scalable education financing models that strengthen school infrastructure and improve learning outcomes in underserved communities,” added Sylvie Gal, Regional Manager, Asia Pacific, Triple Jump.
The proceeds will also support the Bengaluru-based firm’s larger school financing portfolio, including geographic expansion and deeper engagement with affordable private schools in peri-urban and rural India.
Founded in 2013, Varthana operates across 16 states and union territories through a network of branches and spokes.
The company offers loans and academic support to affordable private schools and also offers education loans to students pursuing higher education and skill programmes.
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