Ankur Warikoo said he turned down ₹100 crore buyout offer in 4 minutes, claims internet queries

Entrepreneur, investor and content creator Ankur Warikoo has sparked heated debate online after he claimed to have turned down an acquisition offer worth more than ₹100 crore for his edtech venture WebVeda.

The claim, shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, quickly went viral, drawing both praise and skepticism. While some users applauded Mr Warikoo’s decision to prioritize student affordability, others questioned the valuation, lack of supporting details and the timing of the announcement.

“I Said No in 4 Minutes”

In his post, Mr Warikoo revealed that WebVeda received what he described as a “K100m acquisition offer” last month.

“On paper it was free money and an easy exit. I said no in 4 minutes,” he wrote.

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According to Mr. Warikoo, the decision was influenced by discussions with the founder of WebVeda, who informed him that the potential buyer intended to increase course prices significantly after the acquisition was completed.

He claimed that the acquiring company was planning to increase the cost of WebVeda’s courses ₹3,999 per year.

Why did he turn down the offer?

Explaining his decision, Mr Warikoo said WebVeda was built on the idea of making education accessible to students from smaller towns and households with modest incomes.

“WebVeda exists so a kid in Kanpur is earning ₹18,000 per month can afford to teach. The day that ceases to be true, society has no reason to exist,” he wrote.

He added that while the financial offer was substantial, the company’s mission carried more weight.

“A broken promise costs more,” he said.

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Mr Warikoo did not disclose the identity of the potential buyer or provide further details of the proposed transaction. He said the two sides agreed not to discuss the deal publicly.

The internet wants more answers

The post soon attracted widespread attention, with users debating both the credibility of the acquisition offer and the business rationale behind the claim.

Several critics have argued that companies heavily dependent on the founder’s personal brand are typically difficult to value at such high multiples. Others questioned whether the online course platform could realistically achieve a higher valuation ₹100 million without further context.

One user wrote that “no one closes a deal for a deal heavily dependent on the operator’s face and time at 10x sales.”

Another described the announcement as a “trust me bro” post, suggesting the lack of verifiable details makes it difficult to assess the claim.

The phrase “attention farming” also came up repeatedly in the responses, with some users accusing Mr Warikoo of making the bold claim that he primarily generates engagement on social media.

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Warikoo hits back at critics

As questions mounted, Mr. Warikoo responded directly to some of the skeptics.

Responding to one critic who questioned the economics of the reported bid, he defended the valuation and backed away from doubts surrounding the venture.

He told one user not to “embarrass yourself with your lack of business understanding.”

The exchange further fueled debate, with supporters and critics continuing to argue over whether the decision reflected strong principles or an unverifiable business claim.

Supporters praise Focus on Accessibility

Not all reactions were negative.

Several users supported Mr Warikoo’s explanation, saying the decision highlighted a commitment to affordable education rather than maximizing profits.