Edtech

PhysicsWallah Launches School of Startups with $5 Million Fund to Support 100 Startups

• ByStartupStory     |    August 22, 2024

Edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah (PW) has announced the launch of its PW School of Startups (SOS) initiative, designed to foster entrepreneurial skills across the country. As part of this ambitious program, PW has established a $5 million fund aimed at supporting at least 100 startups over the next five years.

The PW School of Startups, a new initiative under the PW Foundation, aims to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with a comprehensive platform to turn their innovative ideas into successful businesses. The program will offer cost-effective courses, practical training, strategic mentorship, and access to crucial capital.

“I believe that progressing Bharat’s startup ecosystem can significantly contribute to our nation’s economic growth and see immense potential in the startups emerging from Tier 2 and 3 cities,” said Alakh Pandey, Founder and CEO of PW. “While these aspiring entrepreneurs possess incredible business ideas, they often struggle due to a lack of guidance and the absence of a supportive community,” he added.

India, the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, created one million jobs through startups in 2023, according to the latest Economic Survey. Notably, 48% of these startups originate from Tier II and beyond cities, addressing critical challenges in sectors such as healthcare, education, and agriculture.

PW SOS will offer three tailored programs—Aarambh, Prarambh, and Hopes Alive—catering to various stages of the entrepreneurial journey. Aarambh is a five-day offline program targeting school students, college students, and early professionals. Prarambh, a more extensive five-month offline program, is designed for college students, early professionals, small family business owners, second-generation entrepreneurs, and social impact enthusiasts. This program will emphasize business model development, branding, and budgeting, aiming to refine ideas and help participants manage startups more effectively.

The Hopes Alive program is a free five-month hybrid initiative, specifically for seed-funded or bootstrapped startups across Bharat. This program will offer participants financial resources, expert counseling, and critical connections to help scale their businesses and achieve long-term success.

Over the next year, PW SOS aims to enroll 1,000 aspiring entrepreneurs in Aarambh and 100 budding entrepreneurs in Prarambh.

“Through PW SOS, we aim to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with access to mentorship from seasoned startup founders and key figures who have successfully scaled organizations,” remarked Prateek Maheshwari, Co-founder of PW.

This latest initiative comes as PW continues to diversify its offerings beyond the test-prep segment, where it initially found success. Earlier this month, PW announced its expansion into healthcare, following the launch of its PW Gurukulam Schools in Gurugram and Varanasi.

Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Noida, PhysicsWallah aspires to be a lifelong learning partner for its students, offering programs across various educational segments, including test preparation in over 43 categories, skilling, higher education, and study abroad programs. The company’s continued expansion efforts are highlighted by a recent report that Lightspeed Venture Partners is set to lead a $150 million funding round for PW.

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