Alternative MBA provider Stoa, launched in 2020 by founders Aditya Kulkarni, Raj Kunkolienkar, and Manoj Kambadur, has announced its closure after four years. The decision, shared by co-founder Raj Kunkolienkar on social media, ends a venture that empowered over 1,500 students across 15 cohorts, offering an affordable and practical alternative to traditional MBA programs focused on business skills and entrepreneurial insights.
Stoa was popular among students seeking real-world, flexible business education. Earlier this year, it sought new avenues for growth by launching Zeus, an AI-driven enterprise agent platform designed to integrate AI tools into business processes. However, despite this pivot, the startup ultimately faced challenges that led to its shutdown.
The end of Stoa marks a significant exit in the startup and alternative education ecosystem, as it had catered to a growing market of non-traditional MBA seekers and inspired similar flexible learning models.
Credit: This article is based on Stoa’s closure announcement and information shared by co-founder Raj Kunkolienkar on social media.
Key Highlights:
- Stoa, an alternative MBA startup founded in 2020, has shut down after four years.
- The platform served over 1,500 students and was known for its real-world business skill development.
- Despite its recent expansion into AI with the Zeus platform, Stoa faced challenges leading to its closure.