Edtech startups are innovating to build on the advantages of both online and offline presence to give children the best of both worlds
A faculty member teaching chemistry with the help of a smart board at Aakash Institute’s Janakpuri branch in New Delhi
Image: Amit Verma
The last two years have been challenging for the education sector. The shift to online education, a rather unfamiliar domain, led the population of ~430 million students between the age group of six and 23, staring at a blank canvas. The challenge, however, became an opportunity for the sector that has seen massive revenue growth by creating sustainable, impactful solutions that seem here to stay.
But as schools and colleges reopen, many edtech startups are witnessing a decline in revenue growth. The challenge now is to figure out the best medium to grow while not compromising on the online-first approach.
As a result, most major edtech unicorns in India are considering going hybrid—having an online and offline presence. Byju’s, for instance, acquired Aakash Educational Services Limited for $950 million in April 2021 to leverage the brand’s offline market share. Aakash institutes operated on ground before the pandemic and went online during the lockdowns. “We’ve figured out how to get the best of both worlds. Our classes are hybrid. We let the children choose whether they want to be in-class, in-person or join the same session via Zoom,” says Abhishek Maheshwari, CEO, Aakash Educational Services Limited, which provides coaching for competitive exams.
The institute live-telecasts and records every class while the teacher teaches in the classroom. “Our teachers are our biggest resource and our students value that. But geographical and other constraints might hamper a child’s ability to be taught by them. Our model lets children even in remote places be taught by the best teachers,” says Maheshwari.
Aakash has more than two lakh students enrolled in its centres and plans to reach close to four lakh with its hybrid strategy. It plans to expand its centres from 285 to 500 by 2023. “Having to deal with school syllabus along with test prep material, the kids can choose to be in class every day or alternatively or come for doubt sessions only,” says Maheshwari. “The blend of online and offline makes us pandemic- and crisis-proof.”
(This story appears in the 01 July, 2022 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)