My second inning with education startup
I failed at my first startup but…
… getting back to job was a nightmare for me. I was not sure if I would start my own company or join some other startup.
I was meeting with lot of entrepreneurs, startup founders, wannapreneurs and like minded people. It was then I met Vineesh at one of Morpheus Gang’s meet-ups in Delhi.
Failure was the best thing that happened to me at my first startup.
Vineesh built a mobile app for class-x students with intent of evoking curiosity while helping them master their science curriculum. He was the sole founder of an education startup called PocketScience. Smart guy — he converted the NCERT textbook into addictive games like Crossword & Anagrams.
Have you ever solved word games? I used to play crosswords printed in newspaper for improving my English. I never thought that same game can be used to improve in science.
When I met Vineesh, at first I thought he is a first time entrepreneur like me. But, he not only founded his first startup just after graduating from IIT-D, he was working on designing an iPad like tab in the final year of engineering.
Some people jump out of rat race once bitten by startup bug, those are called Entrepreneurs
Pocket Science is his second startup and in between his two startups he worked with Aakash institute on their tablet learning initiative, iTutor. He was the mastermind behind all the planning and execution of this multi-million idea.
I wondered — why the hell did he quit iTutor project where he could have earned a lot of money!! For running a Startup?!?
More chapters started to unfold when we debated about startups, schools, students, education system, learning, how education is, how it should be. Some points stuck in my mind.
Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. — W. Yeats
He shared the core purpose of his startup and why he wants to be in education business only.
Learning to Learn
Break the barriers of traditional education system and help children to learn naturally — be it games, discussions, experiments and explorations. Making people aware that getting marks is not goal of education, the whole purpose is learning by experience.
Spark curiosity in kid’s mind and inspire them for thinking innovative.
Every Kid is a Genius
Our education system pushes every child to study with the aim of coming first in class. But the reality is that only one child can come first. Isn’t every child special in his or her own way? Why do we celebrate just one?
Students should focus on one thing — Excellence!!
Truth is that only one child can stand first but every child can be excellent student. Can we make something to build an excellence focused generation?
Evolution of Education System
Vineesh shared that as a kid he enjoyed learning, discovering and exploring but Education System dragged him into race of being in IIT. He wrote a book for NTSE scholarship exam which put him in touch with parents, students and teachers. He interacted with even more students and parents during his career with Aakash Institute. He learned that kids everywhere are looking for direction, support and meaning.
My previous startup was also solving pain points of educational institutes. I shared my thoughts with him and wrote an article on how I started my venture in education domain. Our thought process was resonating with each other.
I shared a few of my startup learnings and experiences with Vineesh.
Priorities
Family > Organization > Self Goals > Everything else in this world
I feel that Money is essential for survival but not my primary goal of running a startup. My real earning from a startup is the satisfaction of what I am doing, a sense of happiness that comes by solving pain points of customer. Life becomes worth it, when my efforts touch human lives, ofcourse in positive manner.
We have to work really hard in startup. I am lucky to have supportive family otherwise how anyone can dare to work 80 hours a week without any paycheck. If basic needs of family are taken care of, then all energies must be invested in building startup. I hardly get time to think for my self goals or anything else in this world.
Transparency
I believe that transparency is core of Trust and great teams can only be built with trust not by signing policies. Any relationship gets stronger with more trust and gets weaker by not being transparent with each other. Transparency -> Trust -> Better outcomes.
Great teams are built with trust and trust is built by transparency
I learned this in my previous startup where we used to hide information from employees. There was lack of trust on founders, miscommunications, delay in decisions and even co-founders doubted each other. I believe we should open up with team and keep them informed about the startup progress (and hurdles).
Team will stay, even in bad times because they know founders are not hiding any bomb in their pocket.
Clear Vision
Startups operate in very dynamic environment. Things change very rapidly depending on availability of resources, market conditions, technology changes and with team growth (upwards or downwards). It is very important to understand why founders are building startup. Vision is something which keeps us motivated in swinging time and give strength to get going on bumpy road.
Products can pivot, Strategies can change but Vision remains intact
In this journey, startups have to change strategies — business model B2C vs. B2B, product offering online vs. offline, monetization with Ads vs. selling services. Startups often change product known as pivot — web based product vs. mobile app, selling own product vs. making market place, product vs. services. No matter what you doing, WHY you are doing should be crystal clear, and this WHY changes rarely.
We are building startup to inspire children to learn through experience and we will continue to do so — now with mobile app, may be later with web app or videos or exhibitions or workshops.
It was an awesome experience meeting with Vineesh.
I worked with him in no-strings-attached model which means any of us can say good-bye at any time and there will be no questions. It worked very well for us to understand each other.
I joined him as co-founder after around one month. We are moving fast towards our goals.
I would love to hear from you. Contact me @pardeepg
