A long-term European education group sets its sights on India’s early learning segment with HMI Learning

Founder and CEO Sonia Chugh said the partnership with Germany’s Klett Group will focus on quality, curriculum depth, and measured expansion across Indian cities

A long-term European education group has set its sights on India’s early learning segment through a strategic partnership with HMI Learning Private Limited, the company behind the preschool and daycare brand Happy Minds International. The collaboration brings Germany’s Klett Group into the Indian education market for the first time, with a focused entry into early childhood care and education.
Announced in December 2025, the partnership includes a phased investment from Klett Kita and Schule GmbH, part of the Stuttgart-headquartered Klett Group. The funding will be disbursed over the next two to three years and is expected to support HMI Learning’s expansion plans, curriculum development, and quality enhancement initiatives. The transaction is projected to place HMI Learning on a growth path towards a valuation of approximately INR 250 crores, or about USD 30 million.

HMI Learning was founded in 2012 with a single centre in Mumbai. Over the past decade, the company has built a presence across seven centres in Mumbai and Thane, catering to children from four months to ten years of age. Its operations span preschool education, daycare services, and structured early learning programs designed to meet the needs of working families and young learners. The organisation has served more than six thousand children to date and works with over thirty corporate partners to deliver early childhood care solutions.
The investment marks a significant moment for HMI Learning, positioning it to scale its operations while maintaining its focus on quality-led growth. According to the company, the partnership will help strengthen curriculum frameworks, bring international benchmarks into classrooms, and expand access to early learning services across Mumbai and other urban centres over time.

Sonia Chugh, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of HMI Learning Private Limited, described the collaboration as a milestone for the organisation. She said the partnership aligns closely with the company’s long-standing commitment to quality learning and child-centric education. Chugh noted that Klett Group’s extensive legacy in education and its values around long-term development made it a natural partner for HMI Learning as it enters its next phase of growth.
From Klett Group’s perspective, the partnership reflects a strategic approach to entering the Indian market. Christian Doettinger, Member of the Board at Klett Group, said India represents one of the most dynamic education markets globally, particularly in the early childhood segment. He added that the collaboration with HMI Learning allows Klett Group to combine its international experience with strong local expertise, with a shared focus on maintaining high standards in educational products and services.

Founded in 1897, the Klett Group is a family-owned education company with operations spanning more than 80 companies across 18 countries. Its portfolio covers educational content and services across early childhood education, schools, vocational training, and higher education. The group operates a network of childcare centres, schools, and vocational institutions across Europe, and is known for its long-term, quality-driven approach to education.
For HMI Learning, the partnership comes at a time when demand for organised early childhood care and education in India is steadily increasing. Urbanisation, rising workforce participation among parents, and growing awareness of the importance of early learning have contributed to the expansion of structured preschool and daycare models. The company believes that the additional capital and global expertise will enable it to respond to these shifts while maintaining consistency in learning outcomes and care standards.

The collaboration also signals a broader trend of global education institutions exploring opportunities in India’s early learning space. Rather than entering through higher education or test preparation segments, Klett Group’s decision to begin with early childhood education reflects confidence in the long-term fundamentals of the sector and its potential for sustainable growth.
As HMI Learning looks ahead, the company has indicated that its focus will remain on strengthening its foundation rather than rapid, unchecked expansion. The partnership with Klett Group is intended to support responsible scaling, curriculum depth, and operational robustness, with the shared goal of creating high-quality early learning environments for children.

By combining local insight with international best practices, both organisations aim to contribute to the evolving early education landscape in India. The partnership positions HMI Learning to play a more prominent role in shaping standards in early childhood care and education, while marking the beginning of Klett Group’s long-term engagement with the Indian market.

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