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As the coronavirus cases continue to rise in <keyword id="13126" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</keyword>, state School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad has said schools will not reopen in the state before Diwali. Maharashtra has till now reported 15,17,434 COVID-19 cases and 40,040 deaths due to the disease. The Centre on March 16 announced closure of all educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. It has now allowed graded reopening of schools from October 15. Gaikwad, who recently recovered from COVID-19, said schools have been conducting virtual classes and teachers have been taking special classes for students in some areas. However, the challenge is to find a way to end the academic year and assess students, she said. "While we are exploring various options, it is clear that schools will not open before Diwali," Gaikwad said. According to senior officials in the state education department, reopening schools under the current circumstances is out of question, as there is no sign of the pandemic abating. State Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant also said his department does not intend to reopen colleges until the COVID-19 situation is under control. "The situation is grim for students who wish to pursue higher studies abroad, as their future depends on our decision," he added. Even as the state government and bureaucracy mull over solutions, children and parents are worried as they seem to be caught in a quagmire. "I have taken an education loan and my parents are repaying it. If I don't get good grades in exams, how will I get a good job?" said Raviraj Humbe, an engineering student from <keyword id="2094" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pune">Pune</keyword>. There must be some technical solution for conducting exams and tests, he said. Meanwhile, education expert Kishore Darak suggested that the state government can club two or three educational years so that concerns of parents about academic loss can be addressed. While the safety of students is imperative, it is high time that the state comes up with a bipartisan approach towards education, he said. "The government must come up with a solution where local officials are authorised to take context-specific decisions like full or partial reopening of schools or alternate day scheduling of classes, among others," he said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/nasa-cases-asteroid-bennu-ahead-of-snatch-and-grab-finds-six-new-secrets-including-a-possible-void-under-the-surface/slidelist/78577408.cms">NASA cases Asteroid Bennu ahead of snatch and grab — finds six new secrets, including a possible void under the surface</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/rbi-governor-wants-markets-to-keep-the-faith-but-traders-want-something-more/articleshow/78574663.cms">RBI Governor wants markets to keep the faith but traders want something more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/tcs-beats-accenture-to-become-the-worlds-most-valuable-it-services-company/articleshow/78566487.cms">TCS beats Accenture to become the world’s most valuable IT services company — but this not the first time it has raced ahead</a>

Schools in Maharashtra not to reopen before Diwali, says education minister Gaikwad

New Delhi, Mar 30 () A Pune-based start-up has developed a negative ion generator that reduces the viral load of infected areas within a room significantly within an hour, the Department of Science and Technology said on Monday.The DST has released Rs 1 crore to the start-up 'Jclean Weather Technologies' to manufacture and scale up the product, and 1,000 of them will soon be ready for installation in various hospitals in Maharashtra, it said.The technology has been developed under the NIDHI PRAYAS programme initiated by the Department of Science and Technology, it said."The negative ion generator titled Scitech Airon, which helps to control the virus, bacteria, and fungal infections in a closed environment, could clean up the air and disinfect areas which are exposed to the infection through COVID-19 positive cases and suspects," DST said in a statement.One hour of operation of ion generator machine reduces viral load within a room by 99.7 per cent depending on room size.It could ensure the wellbeing of the staff, doctors, and nurses who are working round the clock in the quarantine facilities by enhancing their disease resistance power and ability to fight the virus, it added.Its usefulness in killing disease-causing viruses and bacteria has been scientifically tested by various globally renowned labs in different types of closed environments like houses, hospitals, schools, farms, industries, and so on, the DST said.Elaborating on the technology, the DST said the Scitech Airon ionizer machine generates negatively charged ions at approximately hundred million per 8 seconds (10 ions per seconds).The negative ions generated by the ioniser form clusters around microparticles such as airborne mold, corona or influenza viruses, mite allergens, bacteria, pollens, dust and so on and render them inactive through a chemical reaction."The efficacy of the Ion generator has also been observed on different types of pathogens like the influenza virus, coxsackie virus, polio virus, human coronavirus, a range of allergens, bacteria, and fungi, DST said.It could also be useful against floating viruses in the air on public transport, train stations, or airports, or especially within a confined space like a plane cabin, house, hospital ward. PR ABHABH

Pune-based technology develops ion generator that can curb virus load in infected areas

When sixteen year old <keyword id="2995608" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Saloni-Patil">Saloni Patil</keyword> ( in picture above) moved to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Civic-Panel-Approves-Pune-Light-Rail-Project-Despite-Protest/articleshow/37172407.cms">Pune</a> for college, she’d already decided to start earning in order to support her family. But, she soon found out that it was easier said than done. 
 
Armed with nothing but determination, Patil visited school after school with hopes of landing up a teaching job. But, principals of every school seemed to have just one message for her- ‘No degree, no paid job.’ 
 
At the brink of giving up her search, she stumbled upon the students in Pune’s Blind School for Girls. What struck her what their eagerness to learn despite their obvious barriers. 
 
“I initially didn’t want to do it. But, I changed my mind looking at those girls and their need for education. That’s how I started volunteering here three years back,” recalled Patil. 
 
Since then, she has taught two batches of students appearing for HSC and SSC, and one batch of B.A students. The 30-odd students under her mostly needed help with English, though she taught them Maths, Economics, History as well. 
 
Apart from volunteering at the Blind School, Patil, a Mechanical Engineering student, writes for a few local publishers, keeps researching about the dots on the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Amazing-Blind-And-Deaf-Chinese-Girl-Can-Read-Braille-With-Her-Lips/articleshow/21965324.cms">braille</a> kit to improvise on the techniques, paints avidly, and last but not the least, converts English titles to Braille so that her students can also read them. 
 
“I’ve translated all of Chetan Bhagat’s titles to braille. Right now, I’m working on translating APJ Abdul Kalam’s Wings of Fire,” says an excited Patil. 
 
Determined to share another passion of hers with the girls, Patil started teaching them how to paint, as well. The process turned out to be quite ardous as she soon found out. 
 
 
 
“I start by sketching the outline of the portrait. Once that is done, I study the dots on the braille kit and try matching them in such a way that it resembles the actual portrait. Then, I jot down the patterns of the dots and their numbers and give it to the girls to memorize and practice. Once they have memorized the patterns and numbers and get as close to the portrait as possible, I make them use glue and help them in pinning those dots,” explains Patil elaborating on the steps followed to execute a painting. 
 
She added that there is another pair of girls who are entrusted with the duty of putting sparkles on the empty spaces of the portrait. “They also need to memorize which spots would be empty in the portrait in order to sparkle efficiently,” 
 
Then, Patil steps in once again to give the portrait a final polish by doing the remaining bits. 
 
A number of paintings later, Patil and her students started gaining exposure when she decided to exhibit their work in college exhibitions and some local art exhibits, after being egged on by her family. 
 
Later, she sought the help of a few relatives and friends settled abroad who helped her advertise these paintings in America and Australia. Soon enough, the cash registers started ringing. “Painters abroad started contacting me online requesting for a copy of these <keyword id="2995609" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="braille-paintings">braille paintings</keyword> so that they could exhibit them in their studio. This way, the paintings started fetching us USDs and AUDs,” explains a triumphant Patil. 
 
 
 
When asked about the decision involved behind the subjects of these paintings, she was quick to add that they make paintings of things and people making news. “During elections, we would paint symbols like the lotus, broom or some cartoon figures to depict a political incident in a funny way. Then, after the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/AIB-You-Have-A-Right-To-Offend-But/articleshow/46144426.cms">AIB roast</a> made national news and everyone kept talking about it, we started sketching the <keyword id="1875393" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="AIB">AIB</keyword> group members in Braille.” 
 
That was the jackpot, admits Patil. “Painting the faces of the AIB members gave us popularity and money. Orders for the same increased at a rapid rate in the last two months and what more? Tanmay Bhatt’s Braille painting helped us raise Rs. 1, 52,000” 
 
 
 
The money raised from these exhibitions is used for the daily needs of these children, some of whom have no family other than Saloni Patil, who bears their expenses. 
 
“There’s no going back now. These girls are my students and I intend to do everything to ensure they are taken care of, financially and educationally,” concludes Patil. 
 
Sky is definitely the limit for this young girl! 
 
Image courtesy: Saloni Patil

Meet the 19-year-old girl who helped raise over two lakhs for a blind school in Pune

People who know what acting is know that it is not only a profession that brings with it money and fame. In fact, those are mere perks for a person who gives his heart and soul to performing arts. Though it is true that acting can not be taught as this is skill that comes from within, there are many courses available in a number of acting institutes in India that help you polish this skill and learn the intricacies involved. 
 
Following is a list of acting schools from where you can enrol in acting courses and get a degree or diploma in performing arts. 
 
National School of Drama, New Delhi 
 
National School of Drama, or NSD as it is fondly called, is the Mecca of acting in India. An autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture, this school has produced some of the best acting talents of the country including Pankaj Kapoor, Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah, and Irrfan. It provides a three-year full-time diploma course in dramatic arts, following which you can pursue your career in theatre or films. The requirement for admission in this course is a graduation degree in any subject and participation in at least 6 theatre productions. A preliminary test/audition is conducted at five centres, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Guwahati. 
 
Film And Television Institute of India, Pune 
 
If NSD is the Mecca of actors, FTII is no less. Known to be the origin place of some of the best talents of industry, this autonomous organization under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting offers a two-year post graduate diploma in acting, and has produced actors like Jaya Bachchan, John Abraham, Rajkumar Rao, Shabana Azmi and the late Smita Patil. The prerequisite for joining this prestigious course is a Bachelors Degree in any discipline from a recognised university, followed by a screening by a team of selectors. 
 
Asian Academy of Film and Television, Noida 
 
AAFT is another institute that provides graduate, post graduate and diploma courses in acting. Alma mater of Arjun Kapoor, this upcoming acting school has seen some of the best minds in the industry paying a celebrity visit and guest lectures. Founded by Sandeep Marwah who is closely related to the family of Anil Kapoor, this media school has seen some established film and TV actors as its alumni. 
 
The <keyword id="22547" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Barry-John">Barry John</keyword> Acting Studio 
 
Known for training Shah Rukh Khan in acting, Barry John is accredited for training many young talents in his acting studio. Varun Dhawan, Sushant Singh Rajpoot, Dia Mirza, Freida Pinto, Lillete Dubey, Manoj Bajpai and Richa Chadda are some other prominent names to have featured in the alumni list of this studio. Having branches in Delhi and Mumbai, it offers part time and full time courses in acting for anyone above 18 years of age. 
 
<keyword id="6534" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Actor-Prepares">Actor Prepares</keyword> 
 
Who better than a national award-winning actor to teach you the minutiae of acting? Padma Shri Anupam Kher runs this one-of-a-kind acting school in Mumbai, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad and London. Ali Zafar, Preity Zinta, Manish Paul, Ruslan Mumtaz and Kunal Kapoor are some of his alumni to have made it big in the show biz. Offering part-time courses and diploma courses as well as customised workshops and children workshops, Actor Prepares is the only acting school to be founded by an actor who is professionally active in acting and theatre. 
 
Image courtesy: Thinkstock

Top
Institutes In India
Where You Can Learn Acting

Education start-ups in India seem to be the hottest targets right now, going by the kind of <keyword id="6357455" type="EVENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Funding">funding</keyword> they are attracting from local and global investors. A couple of days ago, Delhi-based start-up <keyword id="1974964" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Avanti-Learning-Centres">Avanti Learning Centres</keyword> raised an undisclosed amount in <keyword id="948731" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="seed-funding">seed funding</keyword> from <keyword id="1894311" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pearson-Affordable-Learning-Fund">Pearson Affordable Learning Fund</keyword> (<keyword id="1954796" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="PALF">PALF</keyword>). Two more <keyword id="6365770" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="angel-investors">angel investors</keyword> also took part in the round. Avanti will use the <keyword id="1974977" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Seed-round">seed round</keyword> to develop an <keyword id="1974975" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Online-offline-learning">online-offline learning</keyword> &amp; monitoring system, create more <keyword id="755302" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="educational-content">educational content</keyword> and build new <keyword id="68244" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Learning-centres">learning centres</keyword>. Currently, the <keyword id="1044076" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="education-start-up">education start-up</keyword> operates stand-alone and in-school centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kanpur, Roorkee and Puducherry, besides helping the <keyword id="3216" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="students">students</keyword> in three Tibetan schools in Uttarakhand and Karnataka. 
 
This is the second investment in India that Pearson has made through PALF, and the third overall since the fund was launched in July 2012. 
 In November this year, <keyword id="1954793" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Global-education-leader">Global education leader</keyword> Pearson’s inaugural <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/These-2-Peer-selected-Start-upsShared-150K-Investment-To-Boost-Low-cost-Education/articleshow/26512179.cms">edupreneur programme</a>, jointly launched by PALF and US-based investor Village Capital, came to a close with <keyword id="1954794" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Experifun">Experifun</keyword> and <keyword id="1467859" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sudiksha-Knowledge-Solutions">Sudiksha Knowledge Solutions</keyword> walking off with a seed funding of $75,000 each. The <keyword id="6362476" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="investments">investments</keyword> will enable the start-ups to further develop their low-cost education ventures and assist underprivileged school children. 
 Pearson launched PALF in July 2012 with a capital of $15 million. Investments are made into private companies that offer <keyword id="1974987" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Affordable-educational-services">affordable educational services</keyword> and schooling in Asia, <keyword id="12925" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Africa">Africa</keyword> and Latin America. 
 Set up as a <keyword id="456748" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="non-profit">non-profit</keyword> in March 2010 by <keyword id="258061" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Akshay-Saxena">Akshay Saxena</keyword> and <keyword id="1974967" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Krishna-Ramkumar">Krishna Ramkumar</keyword>, Avanti Learning Centres supports students from low-income families (those with a family income of $5,000 per annum or below) and prepares them for <keyword id="1974989" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="College-entrance-exams">college entrance exams</keyword>, especially the highly competitive engineering and medical entrance tests. Students can study up to 18 hours a week at a centre and need to pay only $20 per month. Costs are kept low as a large network of volunteers and partners, including universities, public schools, policy makers and private sector businesses, help with teaching and administration. 
 Instead of traditional lectures, Avanti follows a comprehensive programme including <keyword id="1951606" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="book-learning">book learning</keyword>, <keyword id="144248" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Videos">videos</keyword>, <keyword id="1974990" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Peer-learning">peer learning</keyword> (developed by Dr <keyword id="1974994" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Eric-Mazur">Eric Mazur</keyword>, the company’s chief academic advisor and a physics professor at <keyword id="53675" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="harvard">Harvard</keyword>), <keyword id="956032" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Self-study">self study</keyword> &amp; <keyword id="969316" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="group-work">group work</keyword>, <keyword id="1974991" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Recorded-lectures">recorded lectures</keyword>, <keyword id="140811" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="mentoring">mentoring</keyword> and doubt-solving. Students are enrolled after a highly selective two-stage process. 
 “It was the commitment from Akshay and Krishna to focus on improving the <keyword id="1974995" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Education-of-low-income-communities">education of low-income communities</keyword>, combined with an <keyword id="1974993" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Innovative-learning-model">innovative learning model</keyword>, which was the most attractive aspect of the <keyword id="718769" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="investment-opportunity">investment opportunity</keyword>,” said PALF executive director, <keyword id="1974962" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Katelyn-Donnelly">Katelyn Donnelly</keyword>. 
 “Avanti is particularly exciting because it is a non-traditional pedagogy with very strong initial results. Our investment allows us to partner with a mission-led company to bridge a crucial gap between secondary and <keyword id="6375224" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="higher-education">higher education</keyword> for low-income learners. PALF is enthused to support the Avanti team to successfully grow across India, and we look forward to working with them to deliver on their long-term vision,” she added. 
 Commenting on the funding, Saxena said, “Once we decided that a <keyword id="1975001" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="For-profit">for-profit</keyword> model was the best way to reach scale, we knew we would need expert strategic insight and advice. We are incredibly excited to be working with the Pearson Affordable Learning Fund as they bring unrivalled education expertise to the table that can help us achieve our long-term objectives. We look forward to building upon the relationship with Pearson as we improve outcomes for low-income learners in the years to come.” 
 
Recent fundraising by education start-ups 
uFaber: Mumbai-based <keyword id="1975002" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="uFaber-Edutech">uFaber Edutech</keyword> (http://www.ufaber.com/), which runs an <keyword id="1975003" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Online-education-marketplace">online education marketplace</keyword> for <keyword id="1975006" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Professional-skill-development">professional skill development</keyword>, hobbies, crafts, academics and vocational training, got Rs 37 lakh from <keyword id="1975007" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ah-Seeders">Ah! Seeders</keyword>, the seed funding network of <keyword id="1975008" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Club-Ah">Club Ah!</keyword> It is the network’s maiden investment in India after its launch in the country. Ah! Seeders puts its money into very early stage companies and typically invests in the range of Rs 25-50 lakh. 
 
<keyword id="1573710" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Meritnation">Meritnation</keyword>: Delhi-based <keyword id="1962741" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Applect-Learning-Systems">Applect Learning Systems</keyword>, which runs the online education and assessment site Meritnation.com (http://www.meritnation.com/), secured Rs 10 crore from <keyword id="80004" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Info-Edge">Info Edge</keyword> (India) Ltd, the biggest consumer Internet company in India by market value. With this fresh round, Info Edge has put in a total of Rs 71.5 crore and holds around 55.81% stake in Applect (on a fully diluted and converted basis). 
 
<keyword id="900714" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="InOpen-Technologies">InOpen Technologies</keyword>: Mumbai-based InOpen Technologies (http://inopen.in/), a start-up developing educational content and <keyword id="1975016" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Teachers-training-solutions">teacher’s training solutions</keyword>, received an undisclosed sum in Series A from <keyword id="1975017" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Japanese-education-firm">Japanese education firm</keyword> Benesse Holdings, Inc. In August 2011, the company raised $500,000 in seed funding from <keyword id="1975018" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ventureast-Tenet-Fund-II">Ventureast Tenet Fund II</keyword>. 
 
MangoSense: The Pune-based edutainment start-up (http://mangosense.com/) got an undisclosed amount from <keyword id="164924" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mumbai-Angels">Mumbai Angels</keyword>. Its products include <keyword id="1975022" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="MangoReader">MangoReader</keyword>, <keyword id="1975023" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="MangoReach">MangoReach</keyword> and <keyword id="1975025" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="MangoSocial">MangoSocial</keyword>, through which users can create a fun and social environment for reading books and sharing them with friends. 
 
<keyword id="1975033" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="K2-Learning">K2 Learning</keyword>: Bangalore-based hybrid (online-offline) start-up K2 (http://k2learning.in/) secured Rs 8 crore in angel funding from <keyword id="244269" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Radheshyam-Agarwal">Radheshyam Agarwal</keyword>, founder and director of <keyword id="1975034" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Calcutta-Tube-India">Calcutta Tube India</keyword>. The start-up specialises in <keyword id="1975035" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Commerce-content">commerce content</keyword> and plans to set up <keyword id="1974968" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Tab-Labs">Tab Labs</keyword> in more than 100 <keyword id="37181" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="colleges">colleges</keyword> that will get special tablets with <keyword id="1975036" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pre-loaded-commerce-data">pre-loaded commerce data</keyword>. 
 
<keyword id="1309724" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Simplilearn">Simplilearn</keyword>: Bangalore-based <keyword id="1974963" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Simplilearn-Solutions">Simplilearn Solutions</keyword> (www.Simplilearn.com), a company offering <keyword id="1309739" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="professional-certification-courses">professional certification courses</keyword> online, secured $10 million in <keyword id="1095983" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Series-B-funding">Series B funding</keyword> from <keyword id="309606" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Helion-Venture-Partners">Helion Venture Partners</keyword> and existing investor <keyword id="1397792" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Kalaari-Capital">Kalaari Capital</keyword>.

Another Education Start-up From India Gets Seed
Round From Pearson Affordable Learning Fund

Go be ‘social’ and reach out to people – that’s the mantra every netizen follows nowadays. But on the traditional <keyword id="6354632" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Social-media">social media</keyword>, you are not meeting <keyword id="119302" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="strangers">strangers</keyword> per se as we do in prep schools. You are not among a bunch of strangers, thrown together for a common purpose, as it happens in school or workplace. Instead, you scan profiles and make a conscious decision before connecting. But that kind of approach actually keeps you confined within an extended circle, curated by your requirements and parameters. So chances are you are not reaching out to interesting strangers – <keyword id="1322697" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="like-minded-people">like-minded people</keyword> with whom you can share your thoughts and ideas. 
 In an ideal situation, your ideas, and not who you are, should generate <keyword id="1991589" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Networking-interests">networking interests</keyword>. And when that happens, strangers do find it worthwhile to connect with each other. The shared passion for a particular interest often brings people together and a Mumbai-based start-up has just built an all-new <keyword id="6354615" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Social-network">social network</keyword> around that concept. 
 <keyword id="1991577" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Treetins-com">Treetins.com</keyword> promotes <keyword id="1991606" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Positive-interactions-between-strangers">positive interactions between strangers</keyword> while users can remain completely anonymous. The platform is quite unique, an ingenious mix of <keyword id="279713" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tumblr">Tumblr</keyword> and <keyword id="135163" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="chatroulette">Chatroulette</keyword> (minus the audio and the webcam), which allows you to post all sorts of content, based on which people may decide to connect with you. <keyword id="725308" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="anonymity">Anonymity</keyword> is strictly maintained here, not only to ensure enhanced security but also to provide users with the kind of comfort level people look forward to when <keyword id="1991616" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Conversing-with-strangers">conversing with strangers</keyword>. Feeling curious? Here is a snapshot that captures the start-up's vision and viability. 
 
Who runs Treetins.com (https://treetins.com/): A team of four including <keyword id="36740" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="founder">founder</keyword> <keyword id="1991580" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Prince-Jacob-Thomas">Prince Jacob Thomas</keyword> and three <keyword id="382595" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="co-founders">co-founders</keyword> – <keyword id="1991582" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aditya-Dhull">Aditya Dhull</keyword>, <keyword id="1991579" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mohit-Narwal">Mohit Narwal</keyword> and <keyword id="1991578" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chandy-Thomas">Chandy Thomas</keyword>. Prince, Aditya and Mohit have done MBA in Marketing from Christ University, <keyword id="6355033" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bangalore">Bangalore</keyword>. A former advertising professional, Prince had worked with Ogilvy and Creativeland Asia while Aditya had also been with Creativeland Asia. Prior to starting up, Mohit was with Dun &amp; Bradstreet and One97 Communications. Chandy holds a PG diploma in PR and Corporate Communications from Xavier Institute of Communications, <keyword id="6358070" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mumbai">Mumbai</keyword>, and earlier worked with organisations such as NDTV and Perfect Relations. Mumbai-based Treetins is the maiden venture of the foursome, all in their twenties. The company was started in August 2013, but the <keyword id="766262" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="social-networking-platform">social networking platform</keyword> Treetins.com came live only in December. 
 
What inspired the venture: The fact that the <keyword id="55618" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="World-Wide-Web">World Wide Web</keyword>, despite its immense potential, is not being leveraged to connect people who are totally outside each other’s orbit. According to Prince, people are mostly connected to their friends, family, colleagues or an extended circle. But there is no medium that connects people with complete strangers, in a free and friendly manner. 
 Another trigger is the immense potential when one meets new people and connects over a <keyword id="1991587" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Common-interest">common interest</keyword> (the name Treetins is an anagram of the word ‘interest’). “Somewhere, we all started off as strangers, but are now living in a closed environment and not realising that meeting someone new could lead to immense possibilities,” says Chandy. “You can meet a life partner, a business partner or start a music band or form a group working for a cause. The Bombay Underground is a perfect example of this,” he adds. 
 
What’s the pitch: It’s a social networking space on the Web that lets you meet like-minded people, outside your existing social circles, without the stigma attached to meeting strangers. Treetins is the first <keyword id="6541953" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="online-platform">online platform</keyword> that lets you ‘bump’ into people, solely based on what you express or how you <keyword id="53203" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Converse">converse</keyword>, rather than who you are. Anybody who joins Treetins starts <keyword id="1991624" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Anonymously">anonymously</keyword> and that makes the whole experience more <keyword id="38894" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="secure">secure</keyword> and satisfactory. 
 
How it works: The social platform is still in beta, but when we checked, all the functionalities were working fine. Anyone can register and log in to Treetins.com anonymously, using <keyword id="6354576" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Facebook">Facebook</keyword>, <keyword id="6354616" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Twitter">Twitter</keyword> or e-mail ID. Once you are there, just click the ‘express’ tab and start sharing loads of exciting things – right from your opinion and blog posts to <keyword id="39862" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Images">images</keyword>, <keyword id="144248" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Videos">videos</keyword> and links. The content goes up on the Treetins page as <keyword id="30943" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Expression">expression</keyword> by a stranger, along with your location. If another member finds it interesting, he/she may want to ‘bump into’ you and start a conversation. To do so, the person will have to click the tab ‘converse’ and type his own comment regarding your post. That comment also goes to the writer as an expression from a stranger. If you accept it and choose to connect with the person, he will be added to your ‘bench’ and only then identities will be revealed. However, you don’t get to know much even then – just the stranger’s name since location is revealed by default. You can also delete someone from your bench but once that’s done, you can’t ‘undo’ it and add the person back. 
 
You, too, can browse through other ‘expressions’ up on the site and try to ‘connect’ with strangers in a similar manner. There is also a ‘share’ option (via Facebook and Twitter) to repost interesting content. Moreover, you can ‘invite’ people to Treetins but unlike other social media, invitees don’t get added to your ‘bench’ by default and the entire process has to be followed if you want to converse with them. 
 
Claim to fame: Treetins has introduced a secure and stranger-friendly platform for people to connect seamlessly and share their interests. The concept itself is unique and has the potential to go viral in an environment frequently plagued by online stalking, hacking and identity theft. 
 
Show me the money: The start-up is currently <keyword id="1991631" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bootstrapped">bootstrapped</keyword> and still fine-tuning its <keyword id="234340" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="revenue-model">revenue model</keyword>. The team does not want to divulge specific details at this point, but the firm is not looking at <keyword id="1049940" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="ad-revenues">ad revenues</keyword> as its main source of earning (does it remind you of WhatsApp). According to the co-founders, new features are being added to the social platform and the company may soon adopt a <keyword id="1991632" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Freemium-model">freemium model</keyword>. Other online initiatives may include collaborative idea sharing and engaging the college crowd. Gaining <keyword id="900658" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="traction">traction</keyword> is another crucial area and Treetins is targeting the whole chunk of <keyword id="1991634" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Social-media-users-worldwide">social media users worldwide</keyword> – some 1.5 billion-plus people, to be precise. 
 Interestingly, Treetins has taken its ‘<keyword id="1991605" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Connect-with-strangers">connect with strangers</keyword>’ concept offline and launched initiatives such as ‘Hi Stranger’ photo project and another one called <keyword id="1991635" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Share-Your-Table">Share Your Table</keyword>, run in partnership with the <keyword id="34615" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="restaurants">restaurants</keyword>, <keyword id="20254" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="cafes">cafes</keyword> and <keyword id="14564" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="pubs">pubs</keyword> in Mumbai. “It’s all about sharing your table space with a stranger in a crowded eatery,” details Aditya. “Most of the times, we don’t occupy the entire table, but don’t feel comfortable either if a stranger shares the space. We are endeavouring to change that and convince people about <keyword id="1991637" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Table-sharing">table sharing</keyword>. In that way, there will be optimum utilisation of seating capacity, better <keyword id="169305" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="customer-service">customer service</keyword> and <keyword id="1991641" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shorter-queues">shorter queues</keyword> outside the <keyword id="662020" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="food-joints">food joints</keyword>. Plus, you get to make new friends and that is no small deal.” The programme is now active in 35 restaurants across Mumbai and the company is eyeing further expansion as it is getting loads of requests, both from restaurateurs and customers. By March 2014, Share Your Table may kick off in other cities like Bangalore and <keyword id="2094" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pune">Pune</keyword>, leading to more <keyword id="6399165" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="revenue-generation">revenue generation</keyword>. 
 “We will be working on our <keyword id="19705" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Products">products</keyword>, <keyword id="445843" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="customer-base">customer base</keyword> and <keyword id="232730" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="business-model">business model</keyword> till March next year and will approach the <keyword id="6359051" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="investors">investors</keyword> for a <keyword id="1974977" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Seed-round">seed round</keyword> when these things are in place,” says Chandy. 
 
Biggest challenge: Introducing a totally new concept, especially something that people may not accept instantly, is always challenging. “We must create awareness regarding the manifold benefits such a network can bring you,” concludes Chandy.

Want To Bump Into
‘Strangers’ With Similar Interests? Check Out This Social Network...

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Rohan Bhide always knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur.</li><li>He worked at Meta right after his 2018 graduation.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Rohan Bhide, who moved from New York to Pune, India in 2024 to launch his startup. It has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified his employment history.I always knew I wanted to build something of my own.I came up with my first idea in my second year of college, when I was studying overseas at the University of Pennsylvania. During a trip back home to India, I built a version of a learning management system and reached out to schools to try to get them to adopt it.It didn't work out, but I learned an important lesson about myself. I realized that I loved how <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-everyone-in-tech-talking-founder-mode-paul-graham-chesky-2024-9">founders end up wearing so many hats</a>. You're not just an engineer or a product designer, but you're also a content creator, lawyer, and accountant.That drove every single other career decision I made in my professional career.<h2 id="4f8c8e65-9eb7-42ad-afb1-519b1bff5078">Step 1: Take a job with Meta</h2>I'm a risk-averse person, and launching a business straight out of college didn't feel like an option. So I started preparing to be a founder and collecting experiences that would help down the line.Even early on, I was sure I wanted to work on building consumer products. When it was time to look for jobs, I only <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/resume-tips-google-software-engineer-skills-experience-careers-software-tech-2024-3">applied to Meta and Google</a>, companies well known for developing products for the masses.I <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-write-big-tech-resume-google-meta-product-manager-2024-6">interned with Meta</a> and landed a full time role at the company after graduating in 2018. The offer was a huge deal for me, and I remember calling my parents back home to share the news right away.My family knew my long-term goal was to work for myself, and they worried that the years would pass and I would never leave Big Tech and its comforts.At Meta, I was careful to select projects that would enable me to become a jack of all trades. I was taking on projects where I could work across several different domains instead of specializing in computer vision or machine learning, for example. I earned a reputation for being an engineer that could get things out the door — whether it was by learning the technology myself or by putting together other engineers for the project.<h2 id="5a48931f-43ad-49e7-9b5a-c1c1087c0cbc">Step 2: Quit Meta to see how startups work</h2>After four years at Meta, I understood that big companies have a way of pigeonholing employees into one role, and I felt like my learning had stagnated.I quit Meta in 2022 and moved to the ticketing platform StubHub, a smaller company. I had an engineering role there, too, but I was also tasked with cross-functional roles like product management and data analysis. I learned how startups had to iterate quickly and work with limited resources. It gave me my first experience leading a team, which I really enjoyed.Besides gaining technical skills, I was also saving so that I could eventually bootstrap my own company. After work, I took online courses to learn accounting and finance and spent time with my brothers, who have experience in management and venture capital.<h2 id="4fb93422-62bd-4fb5-8c57-a5dc6210ae62">Step 3: Moving to India</h2>Living in the US, launching a startup in Silicon Valley felt like an obvious choice, but I was more <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-vc-wants-see-5-traits-new-founders-fundraising-antler-2024-8">excited about business prospects back home in India</a>. Internet adoption had skyrocketed since I left in 2014; the population size made it a hotbed for a consumer tech product; and government initiatives like an instant payments system and acceptance toward greater tech adoption made doing business a lot easier. I knew that if I were to set up my own business, it would be for the Indian market.I finally made the call to move home last year after my fiancée proposed to me. We knew we wanted to settle down in India, and our wedding next year became a deadline to get the ball rolling. We decided I would return first, and I quit my job at StubHub and moved back in January this year.My friends had bets on whether I would ever leave the US or a salaried job, and I managed to shock them and collect some money when I announced my decision to quit.I left behind $580,000 in total compensation at the company.<div type="image" title="Two startup founders standing in front of a background with a world map." height="1869" width="2491" msid="113444544" hostid="261" sizebytes="307874"></div>Since then, I have brought on a cofounder, a high school friend who also moved back from the US a couple of years ago. We are working on launching a consumer tech product in the next few months.I love being back, especially because it means being close to my family and my culture again. There are challenges, too — I've had to get used to driving on India's busy roads.Even though I'm glad to be back in India, I definitely think the US is my second home now. I was visiting my fiancée in New York this summer and felt a bit sad when I got on a plane back to India. It's a strange situation, because I always felt upset every time I got on a plane to the US over the years.Are you a startup founder and have a story to share about your unique career journey? Please reach out at shubhangigoel@insider.com

I always knew I wanted to launch a startup in India — so I made 2 key career moves in the US first to minimize the risks     

<ul><li>Founded in 2016, <keyword id="3270416" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="haqdarshak" source="Orion">Haqdarshak</keyword> is a mobile and web platform connecting citizens to eligible government welfare schemes. </li><li>In six years, Haqdarshak claims to have aided the disbursal of over ₹5,000 crore, serving nearly 25 lakh customers and 50,000 micro-businesses. </li><li>Haqdarshak received a joint offer of ₹1 crore for 2% equity from judges Namita Thapar, Aman Gupta and <keyword id="824423" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="peyush-bansal" source="Orion">Peyush Bansal</keyword>. </li></ul>The Indian government has many social benefit schemes for the underprivileged. However, a vast section of the intended beneficiaries are unaware of such schemes, and a majority of those who are aware are unable to access them due to roadblocks like lack of documentation and an inability to submit the documents. Moreover, many such beneficiaries of pension schemes, scholarship schemes, health insurance and others reside in remote areas of this vast country. Bringing them into the fold by aiding people with Aadhar cards; micro SMEs with Udyog Aadhar; easing access to widow pension and more are the pain points that a startup, Haqdarshak, wants to solve. It made its pitch on <keyword id="13768438" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shark-tank-india-season-2" source="Orion">Shark Tank India Season 2</keyword> this week. In 2016, Aniket Doegar, who has ample exposure to rural <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> via his work and interests, started Haqdarshak in Pune. It has <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/haqdarshak/">positioned </a>itself as a “next-gen, for-profit startup focused on social impact” and has a mobile and web platform. It <a href="https://www.sonyliv.com/shows/shark-tank-india-1700000741/determined-entrepreneurs-1000203893?watch=true">claims </a>to have served over 25 lakh customers and 50,000 micro-businesses and trained 25,000 agents. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Commission-based revenue model" comment="subhead2" text="Commission-based revenue model">Commission-based revenue model</cmsannotation> Haqdarshak trains its agents to provide what it calls ‘last-mile’ assistance. Agents organise community gatherings or go door-to-door to educate people about the available schemes. They also assist them in availing the schemes. An agent registers a family or individual on the Haqdarshak app and gathers information regarding their housing conditions, income, religion, caste, etc. Once the questions (40-45) are answered, the app shares the number of eligible welfare schemes. As per Doegar, the average number of schemes available to beneficiaries in rural India are between 50-55, while in urban India that number falls to 35-40. A customer is charged a nominal amount of ₹50 rupees (without GST) as a service charge, which is split between the agent and the company. An agent earns anywhere between ₹20,000 to ₹25,000 per month. “In 2020-2021, multiple investors told us to turn the company into a fintech or edtech company, offering educational schemes or loans. But our goal is to become India’s biggest social security company in the next 10 years. Today, if Jyoti (one of the agents) goes to the community, they know she’s providing them with something. This will change if she starts asking for money (for loans, etc.),” shared Doegar on the show. In six years, Doegar claimed that Haqdarshak aided the disbursal of ₹5,000 crore to the beneficiaries via social schemes. In May 2016, the startup raised ₹1.25 crore from angel investors at a valuation of ₹10 crore, and in May 2021, it <a href="https://yourstory.com/2021/05/funding-alert-social-enterprise-startup-haqdarshak-pre-series-a-round">raised</a> ₹6.65 crore in a pre-Series A round. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="‘Social impact and sales is a rare feat’" comment="subhead2" text="‘Social impact and sales is a rare feat’">‘Social impact and sales is a rare feat’</cmsannotation> Impressed by his clarity, product, and vision, Lenskart co-founder Peyush Bansal made the first offer — ₹1 crore for 2% equity, which valued the company at ₹50 crore. Emcure Pharmaceuticals’ ED Namita Thapar and boAt’s co-founder Aman Gupta made a joint offer of ₹50 lakh for 1% equity; and ₹50 lakh debt at an interest rate of 10%, at the same valuation. The founder sought a collective investment of ₹1 crore from all three sharks for 0.5% equity, each. The sharks clarified that they wouldn’t budge from the equity share of 2%. Ultimately, the deal was finalised for ₹1 crore, from the three sharks, for a total of 2% equity. While congratulating him, Thapar commented that it was rare for (social) impact and sales to come together like it has for Haqdarshak. The startup generated revenue of ₹15.5 crore in FY22 but suffered a loss for the first time ever since inception as Covid forced them to shut operations for four months. It believes that it will close FY23 with annual revenue of ₹30 crore. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="‘When a poor person visits a pension office’" comment="subhead2" text="‘When a poor person visits a pension office’">‘When a poor person visits a pension office’</cmsannotation> Born and raised in Shimla, 33-year-old Doegar completed his undergraduate studies from Shri Ram College of Commerce in Delhi. After completing graduation in 2010, he worked at the grassroots level for nearly five years at various government schools in rural Maharashtra, Delhi, Rajasthan and other states. He was also a Teach for India fellow from June 2010 to April 2012. He soon realised that there was a lack of awareness about government welfare schemes. “When people like you and me go to passport or visa centres, we’re greeted with folded hands, with people saying, ‘Sir, your appointment is next.’ When a poor person visits the pension officer, he has to beg for the pension he is entitled to. Can we change this user behaviour?” remarked Doegar on the show. The startup claims to have digitised close to 7,500 government schemes on its platform. It provides assistance across multiple schemes, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/haqdarshak/?hl=en">including </a>the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana – which provides clean cooking alternatives like Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) connections to BPL households; and Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana – UP government’s scheme to encourage self-employment among the state’s artisans. Apart from people, it also works with corporates to enroll their factory employees into government schemes. As of 2022, the startup has worked with 110 corporates representing nearly 10 million of their employees – and corporates are charged higher than individuals. The latest offering by Haqdarshak is a QR-code-based “Yojana Card” that allows customers to check various government schemes and ask for application support from Haqdarshak, if needed. A customer can scan the QR code through a smartphone. In the absence of a smartphone, the customer can reach any Hadardshak centre and scan the card. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/intel-unveils-4th-gen-xeon-scalable-processors-with-better-performance/articleshow/96905773.cms">Intel unveils 4th Gen Xeon Scalable processors with better performance</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/hyundai-launched-the-all-electric-suv-ioniq-5-starting-at-449500-in-india/slidelist/96905388.cms">Hyundai launched the all-electric SUV IONIQ 5 starting at ₹4,49,500 in India</a>

This Shark Tank India S2 winner bowls judges over with its for-profit approach to social impact

<ul><li><keyword id="11618280" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="birla-brainiacs">Birla Brainiacs</keyword> is looking to raise $5-10 million in an external round of funding and is in talks with investors, according to the founder of the company.</li><li>The e-learning startup, which was launched last year in April, is also planning to hire 1500 teachers in the next two years.</li><li>A report by PGA Labs and IVCA says that India’s education sector is poised to grow from the current $117 billion to $225 billion in FY25.</li></ul>Mumbai-based edtech startup Birla Brainiacs is looking to raise $5-10 million in an external round of funding and is in talks with investors, according to the founder of the company. <keyword id="6623023" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="nirvaan-birla">Nirvaan Birla</keyword> — the founder of the startup who is the son of Yashovardhan Birla, the chairman of the Yash Birla group — said that the company is in “the market for funding” and that it has appointed an investment agency for the fund raise. He did not reveal an exact timeline on the closing of the funding round. He also said that the startup has “approached a couple of investors” without disclosing further details. The e-learning startup, which was launched last year in April, is also planning to hire 1500 teachers in the next two years, according to Birla. “In the next two years we plan to hire 1000 plus teachers actually only for the tuition segment. Other than that we will be recruiting 100-200 teachers for other courses as well. Total 1500 teachers will be hired in the next two years,” Birla added. At present it has around 50 staff members onboard with a mix of research and development, subject heads and experts, counsellors, and sales and marketing teams. The platform caters to the needs of students from grade 1 to 12 with live sessions, video content in the form of “Flip Tales” — using cartoons and action heroes to explain the concepts. Other than that, there are also added skill development courses like vedic maths, coding, and communicative English. Due to the global pandemic, some parents have been seemingly expressing their concerns for the safety of their children while sending them to tuition centres. “The idea behind this is to give them the holistic platform on which they can not only progress academically, but also completely replace the needs of tuitions, because I believe after they take the app they don’t need tuitions,” Birla told Business Insider over a phone call. Birla Brainiacs, which was incorporated in July 2019, is registered as Birla Brainiacs LLP. It is a partnership firm with two designated partners — Nirvaan Birla and Narrindraa Mohan Shetty. He told Business Insider that the company, which initially got funded by his sister company, is now looking at an acquisition of a gamification company or a tie-up with them. Birla said he is already in talks with an Australian company, which is in the preschool space, for the same. He did not reveal the name of the firm. The Yash Birla group has been at the centre of a storm in the not-so-distant past. Yash Birla, who runs the Yash Birla Group, was declared a wilful <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/uco-bank-declares-yashovardhan-birla-willful-defaulter-1560660742531.html">defaulter</a> by lender UCO bank with an outstanding dues of over ₹67 crores. During the pandemic-induced lockdown when all schools were shut, most school-going kids stayed at home and learned online. This gave birth to the demand for homeschooling. It is also known as home-education in which parents choose to educate their children at home only rather than sending them to schools. Homeschooling is still a relatively new concept in India. According to research done by the company, big cities like Pune, Mumbai and Hyderabad were the biggest markets for homeschooling. Birla Brainiacs claims to be the first edtech platform to introduce the concept of homeschooling. The homeschooling feature is available only till class 8, which includes all subjects along with development skill courses. When asked about what makes Birla Brainiacs different from other edtech players in the market, he said that, “If you look at other edtech players, they either teach in huge masses where they have one teacher over 100-200 students together or they have one teacher over a student... where one teacher teaches only one child at a time. It’s not a two way interactive class. It's more like pre-recorded classes where the teacher is mainly talking.” It is through collaborative learning style and using Flip Tales for video content that Birla Brainiacs is trying to stand out from other edtech biggies like Byju’s, Vedantu, Unacademy and so on. However, the startup is still a newbie in the edtech sector and still has to go a long way to survive amidst cut-throat competition. Birla Brainiacs currently has around 5,000 paid users out of which 2,000 users have subscribed to the basic package. The company claims that they add close to 2,000 paid users every month and now are targeting 5,000 paid users from next month onwards. “In the next 3-5 years, we’re looking [at a] turnover of ₹4-5 hundred crores and in terms of revenue [growth of] around 50-60% year on year, and we are planning to reach around 10 lakh paid users in the next 3-5 years,” says Birla. Birla also told Business Insider about his plans to get the company listed in the future. “Once we hit our 5 year target turnover and 10,00,000 users… we could probably look to get into [an] IPO,” he added. India stands second after the United States in the number of edtech startups, according to an <a href="https://community.nasscom.in/communities/product-startups/india-and-edtech-a-post-pandemic-potential-growth-story.html">Inc42 analysis</a>. A report by PGA Labs and Indian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (IVCA) says that India’s <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/india-edtech-in-charts-how-the-shift-to-online-learning-meant-money-valuation-and-users-for-the-likes-of-byjus-unacademy-and-others/articleshow/80040270.cms">education sector</a> is poised to grow from the current $117 billion to $225 billion in FY25. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/travel/news/indians-planning-to-travel-more-as-covid-19-restrictions-relaxed-in-many-states/articleshow/83867486.cms">Indians are making big plans of ‘revenge travel’ as COVID-19 restrictions get lifted in many states</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/if-you-want-to-work-from-home-these-are-some-of-the-hottest-freelancing-jobs-in-high-demand/articleshow/81228585.cms">If you want to work from home, these are some of the hottest freelancing jobs in high demand</a>

You Searched For "pune schools closed" and got 9 results

Schools in Maharashtra not to reopen before Diwali, says education minister Gaikwad

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Meet the 19-year-old girl who helped raise over two lakhs for a blind school in Pune

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Want To Bump Into ‘Strangers’ With Similar Interests? Check Out This Social Network...

Sanghamitra Mandal

I always knew I wanted to launch a startup in India — so I made 2 key career moves in the US first to minimize the risks

Shubhangi Goel

This Shark Tank India S2 winner bowls judges over with its for-profit approach to social impact

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