Former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni has joined the cap table of AI-powered edtech startup SpeakX as a strategic investor and brand ambassador, marking his latest investment in India’s growing consumer technology ecosystem.
Founded by Arpit Mittal, SpeakX was initially launched as Yellow Class in 2020, offering free extracurricular and co-curricular classes for children across categories such as art, craft, dance, yoga and general knowledge.
The company later pivoted from its original model and rebranded as SpeakX in November 2023, shifting its focus towards English-speaking skills. The pivot was powered by generative AI, with the startup building an AI tutor designed to help users practise English in everyday situations.
Unlike conventional English-learning platforms that largely rely on structured lessons, SpeakX focuses on conversational practice, allowing users to interact with an AI tutor and receive feedback. The company says there is no human touchpoint in the learning experience, apart from customer support in specific cases.
The startup has also been expanding beyond its initial Hindi-speaking audience. While Hindi speakers once accounted for around 80% of its user base, regional-language users now make up roughly half of the platform’s audience, according to Mittal.
SpeakX currently caters to users across Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Marathi, with the company seeing stronger traction in South India.
With Dhoni now joining the cap table, SpeakX is adding a high-profile strategic investor at a time when it is moving towards a broader consumer opportunity beyond metropolitan India.
Before Dhoni’s investment, SpeakX had raised more than $20 Mn in external funding.
With the former India captain taking both an investor and brand ambassador role, SpeakX is looking to combine celebrity-led brand visibility with its broader ambition of making AI-powered English communication more accessible across India.
FAQs
Who is MS Dhoni investing in?
MS Dhoni has invested in AI-powered edtech startup SpeakX, an English-learning platform founded by Arpit Mittal.
How much has MS Dhoni invested in SpeakX?
The financial terms and size of Dhoni’s investment have not been disclosed.
What does SpeakX do?
SpeakX uses AI to help users practise spoken English through personalised, real-life conversational scenarios.
How much funding has SpeakX raised?
SpeakX has raised more than $20 Mn to date, including a $16 Mn pre-Series B round led by WestBridge Capital in 2025.
