Founded in 2022 by Lajesh Kolath and Madhu Bhaskaran, Number One Academy received an investment of Rs 3 crore in a pre-seed funding round led by TIGER Santhosh Nair. In December 2023, the company had acquired Rs 1 crore in this round itself.

The amount will be used to develop business courses in local languages and turn Number One Academy into a virtual business coach, Number One Academy said in a press release.

This Kochi-based start-up is a platform to empower small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with technology and business skills. The company offers a comprehensive study platform that includes over 60 courses delivered by over 25 business coaches. These courses cover topics including business growth strategies, sales, marketing, branding, finance, HR, operations, and technology. The company also conducts onsite workshops and community events to create a hybrid learning model.

Number One Academy has introduced an AI-powered chatbot called NOA to help SMEs solve GST-related issues. NOA has become a virtual business coach that can converse in more than 10 local languages and provide solutions to various business problems of entrepreneurs.