Bottom: Team Interval. Top: Interval office.
In a significant development within India’s burgeoning edtech sector, Interval Learning, one of Kerala’s most celebrated startups, appears to have undergone a major ownership transition. Sources close to the matter suggest that the company, legally known as Sanco India Edu Solutions Private Limited, has been acquired by Prospello Technologies, a global technology solutions provider – a development the Interval management has categorically denied. This shift is underscored by the appointment of Fadhil Mohammed as the new Managing Director, marking a potential new chapter for the education platform.
However, an official from Interval’s top management, speaking to Timeline, said the rumours are not true and that they have backed off from such a plan. ‘There is no such deal, and no such acquisition is happening now,’ the official said.
Founded in 2018 by five friends – Sanafir OK, Ramees Ali CK, Najim Illyas, Aslah Thadathil, and Shibily Ameen – in the small town of Areekode in Malappuram district, Kerala, Interval began as a grassroots initiative offering one-on-one tuition to students struggling with reading and writing. Starting with home visits and a single tuition centre, it rapidly expanded through word-of-mouth, serving students across Kerala and neighbouring regions. By 2021, it had officially transformed into an edtech platform, incorporated as a private limited company. The company started with an authorised share capital of Rs 3,000,000 and a paid-up capital of Rs 2,603,090, focusing on “other education” activities.
Interval’s core mission has been to bridge the gap between knowledge accessibility and individual learning needs, drawing on the founders’ collective expertise in remote education spanning over a decade. Its offerings include personalised online tutoring for students from kindergarten to grade 12, encompassing both academic and non-academic courses. Key services feature interactive programmes for lower kindergarten (LKG) and upper kindergarten (UKG) aligned with India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, foundation courses for classes 1-10, spoken language classes in English, Hindi, and German, Montessori teacher certification, AI training for educators, vacation crash courses, art and craft programmes, and online schooling options. The platform emphasises customised learning plans, real-time tutor support, progress monitoring, flexible pricing, and safe, engaging sessions for young learners. Tutors can join via a dedicated portal, fostering a community of qualified educators.
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Under its original leadership, Interval achieved remarkable milestones. OK Sanafir served as CEO (till 2024) and Managing Director until April 2025, providing strategic leadership, while Shibily Ameen C handled operations as Chief Operating Officer. Aslah Thadathil drove growth as Chief Business Development Officer (now Chief Growth Officer), Poovancheri Najim Illyas managed finances as CFO, and Ramees Ali Chenattu Kuzhiyil acted as CEO until July 2025. The company expanded to over 350 full-time employees and a network of more than 10,000 tutors globally, impacting over 40,000 students across 150+ cities and 54 countries. It launched mobile apps like the Interval Live Learning App (available on iOS and Android) and Growith Interval to enhance accessibility.
Financially, Interval secured Rs 2.25 crore in pre-seed funding led by UAE-based investors and reported an annual revenue of Rs 8.02 crore in the previous fiscal year. Notably, it achieved profitability without extensive external funding, boasting $8M+ in revenue. The company’s tech-driven approach includes in-house platforms for interactive sessions, performance tracking, real-time feedback, and automation in scheduling and administration. It provides residential facilities for team members relocating to Areekode, emphasising employee satisfaction and an energetic culture.
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Interval’s recognition in the startup ecosystem is impressive. In 2023, it was named one of the Top 23 Startups in Kerala by Headstart and Kerala Startup Mission. It pitched at the Elevate programme in Dubai and received mentions from Indian Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for representing India at Finland’s ‘Talent Boost’ project. In 2024-2025, it featured on Jio Hotstar’s ‘Brands of Tomorrow’ series, becoming the first Kerala edtech startup to earn this distinction. The company has also gained acclaim from Startup India, KSUM, Entrepreneur India, TiE Kerala, and global accelerators like Business Finland and CGI Dubai.
Reflecting on Interval’s legacy, former CEO Ramees Ali recently posted on LinkedIn: “We didn’t build a company. We built a Mafia.” He celebrated how Interval, born in Areekode and built for the world, has inspired over 20 startups from ex-team members and locals, many from tier-3 and tier-4 towns. Ali credited co-founders and leaders like Najim, Shibily, Aslah, Rahul, Shammas, and Razal for fostering ambition. “Great companies don’t just make profits. They make people who make more companies,” he wrote, hinting at an “Interval Mafia” akin to the PayPal Mafia.
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