Alakh Pandey, the 32-year-old founder of Physics Wallah, has emerged as a trailblazing entrepreneur in the education technology sector. His journey from a humble tutor in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) to the helm of a $2.8 billion education empire is a testament to his passion and perseverance.
From Classroom to YouTube
Alakh's journey began in the classrooms of Allahabad, where he tutored younger students while still in school himself. By the time he was in 11th grade, he was already giving demo classes at local coaching centres. In 2016, armed with just a camera and a passion for teaching, he launched the YouTube channel 'Physics Wallah Alakh Pandey.' Initially, it was a solitary effort, but he continued to improve his content and connect with students, laying the foundation for an EdTech revolution.
The Big Break
The real breakthrough came in 2018 when Alakh launched the Physics Wallah app, which quickly gained over 35,000 users. This success was further amplified during the 2020 pandemic, as students turned to online learning en masse, making Physics Wallah their digital classroom. By August 2022, Physics Wallah achieved unicorn status with a valuation of $1.1 billion. Recently, in September 2024, the company raised another $210 million, boosting its valuation to $2.8 billion.
Expansion and Innovation
Today, Physics Wallah is not just a YouTube channel or an app; it is an extensive education ecosystem with 31 million subscribers across 61 channels and 180 offline centres in 105 cities. The company plans to add another 50 centres this year, focusing on expansion in regions like South India. Despite the challenges faced by other edtech firms, Physics Wallah has seen no slowdown in its business, with 55% of its revenue coming from online and the rest from offline centres.
Advocacy and Legal Battles
Alakh Pandey has also been at the forefront of advocating for student rights, particularly in the controversy surrounding the NEET-UG 2024 examination. He has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) with the Supreme Court, challenging the alleged arbitrary awarding of grace marks to over 1,500 candidates by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Pandey has called for an expert panel to scrutinize the examination process and its results, highlighting discrepancies in scoring and the need for more medical college seats.
Recognition and Personal Life
Alakh Pandey's efforts have not gone unnoticed. He has been named in the prestigious Hurun List of top young entrepreneurs under 35 and has received several accolades, including the 'Rising EdTech Startup of India' award and a spot in the Times' 40 Under 40 list. With a net worth estimated at Rs 4,500 crore (approximately $240 million), Alakh remains committed to his mission of making quality education accessible to every student in India. He is also set to tie the knot with journalist Shivani Dubey, whom he got engaged to in May last year.
