Indian entrepreneur and content creator Ankur Warikoo has surprised social media after announcing that he is shutting down his online courses business, even though the venture reportedly generated more than Rs 100 crore in revenue since launching in 2020.
The unexpected announcement quickly went viral online, leaving followers confused, curious and slightly suspicious about what might actually be coming next.
According to him, the platform enrolled nearly five lakh students, crossed Rs 100 crore in sales and generated profits of around Rs 25 crore.
But despite the strong numbers, Warikoo said he no longer sees a reason to continue running the business.
“It makes no sense to continue it,” he wrote in the post.
He also teased a detailed explanation scheduled for May 16 at 8:30 PM, which immediately triggered speculation online.
Some users genuinely seemed shocked that someone would walk away from a profitable online education business at a time when personal finance, productivity and self-improvement content remains hugely popular.
Others, however, were far more sceptical.
One user suggested the move could be linked to the broader economic slowdown, arguing that expensive online courses and self-help programmes often become harder to sell when consumers start cutting discretionary spending.
Another person called the announcement a classic “marketing hook”, speculating that the shutdown teaser might simply be building anticipation for a new launch, rebrand or completely fresh business direction.
A few followers praised Warikoo for being willing to start over despite achieving financial success.
One user even requested an opportunity to spend 24 hours documenting Warikoo’s remote work setup and creative process, saying aspiring Indian founders could learn a lot from seeing the behind-the-scenes reality of running a modern content business.
The comment reflected how Warikoo has built a strong following not just as a creator, but also as a productivity and startup personality for young professionals.
One particularly sharp comment compared online course selling to insurance sales, claiming that many creators appear to make more money teaching financial success than the people actually buying the courses.
That criticism isn’t new.
Over the past few years, India’s creator economy has seen an explosion of paid courses covering finance, freelancing, productivity, entrepreneurship and content creation, often marketed heavily through social media platforms.
Warikoo’s announcement has now added another twist to that conversation, especially because the business was apparently still profitable when the shutdown decision was made.
For now, though, the internet is waiting to see what exactly he plans to reveal next.
The unexpected announcement quickly went viral online, leaving followers confused, curious and slightly suspicious about what might actually be coming next.
‘It Makes No Sense To Continue It’
Warikoo shared the update on X, revealing that the business had grown far beyond his original expectations over the last few years.According to him, the platform enrolled nearly five lakh students, crossed Rs 100 crore in sales and generated profits of around Rs 25 crore.
But despite the strong numbers, Warikoo said he no longer sees a reason to continue running the business.
“It makes no sense to continue it,” he wrote in the post.
He also teased a detailed explanation scheduled for May 16 at 8:30 PM, which immediately triggered speculation online.
Social Media Thinks There’s More To The Story
As expected, the internet had plenty to say.Some users genuinely seemed shocked that someone would walk away from a profitable online education business at a time when personal finance, productivity and self-improvement content remains hugely popular.
Others, however, were far more sceptical.
One user suggested the move could be linked to the broader economic slowdown, arguing that expensive online courses and self-help programmes often become harder to sell when consumers start cutting discretionary spending.
Another person called the announcement a classic “marketing hook”, speculating that the shutdown teaser might simply be building anticipation for a new launch, rebrand or completely fresh business direction.
Some Followers Praised The Decision
Not every reaction was cynical though.A few followers praised Warikoo for being willing to start over despite achieving financial success.
One user even requested an opportunity to spend 24 hours documenting Warikoo’s remote work setup and creative process, saying aspiring Indian founders could learn a lot from seeing the behind-the-scenes reality of running a modern content business.
The comment reflected how Warikoo has built a strong following not just as a creator, but also as a productivity and startup personality for young professionals.
Critics Questioned The Online Course Industry
The announcement also reopened a wider debate around influencer-led online courses and self-help businesses.One particularly sharp comment compared online course selling to insurance sales, claiming that many creators appear to make more money teaching financial success than the people actually buying the courses.
That criticism isn’t new.
Over the past few years, India’s creator economy has seen an explosion of paid courses covering finance, freelancing, productivity, entrepreneurship and content creation, often marketed heavily through social media platforms.
Warikoo’s announcement has now added another twist to that conversation, especially because the business was apparently still profitable when the shutdown decision was made.
For now, though, the internet is waiting to see what exactly he plans to reveal next.
