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. This shift is underscored by the appointment of Fadhil Mohammed as the new Managing Director, marking a potential new chapter for the education platform.
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.
Fadhil Mohammed (Source: linkedin.com/in/fadhilmohammed)
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.
Recent management changes signal the ownership shift. Sanafir stepped down as Managing Director in April 2025 but remains a director. COO Rahul Raghav quit in July 2025, and Ramees Ali ended his tenure same month. Najim Illyas continues as CFO, and Aslah Thadathil as Chief Growth Officer. Enter Fadhil Mohammed, who assumed the role of Managing Director in April 2025. In his LinkedIn update, Mohammed expressed pride in leading “one of India’s fastest-growing and impact-driven edtech companies” into its next growth phase. He highlighted Interval’s expansion from a tier-4 town in Kerala to over 150+ cities worldwide, serving students in India, UAE, UK, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and beyond.
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Under Mohammed’s leadership, as per a LinkedIn post from him, Interval has impacted 35,000+ students through one-on-one learning, empowered 10,000+ women tutors with remote career opportunities and financial independence, built a team of 300+ full-timers and 6,500+ part-time professionals (including standout women-led teams like Little Genie), and established India’s first riverside learning HQ—a 50,000 sq. ft. creative space in Areekode. Signature initiatives include a Creative School, regional Skill Centres, and postnatal retreat programmes for women tutors. Mohammed emphasises tech-enabled expansion, meaningful learning outcomes, and a future where education is more personal, accessible, and impactful.
Interval office in Kerala
Mohammed, a seasoned entrepreneur, brings a wealth of experience. Starting at 16, he launched his first venture and has since founded, invested in, and acquired companies across AI, tech, education, hospitality, retail, ecommerce, and F&B. He holds an Honours in Business Administration from VIT University, an MSc in International Business Management from Kingston University (UK), and certifications in AI & Creative Thinking from Imperial College London. As founder of Prospello Technologies (established 2019), which specialises in software development, cloud services, AI/ML solutions, and digital transformation with offices in Bangalore, Dubai, and London, Mohammed has a proven track record with 50+ clients across India, GCC, and Europe. He is also Co-Founder and Managing Director of TWT Venture Studio, focusing on building future startups. Additionally, he mentors early-stage founders through UK government-affiliated initiatives like Launch It.
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The acquisition by Prospello Technologies, while not officially confirmed, aligns with sources indicating a change in ownership. The transaction value remains undisclosed, but the move could position Interval for further global expansion, leveraging Prospello’s expertise in innovative technology solutions.
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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(Timeline has contacted Interval for more details on the development, and we are yet to get a response. Timeline would update this copy as we get a reaction from Interval.)
