Schoolnet India Ltd, an EdTech firm that offers digital and digitally-led education services to schools and students, has acquired NextSteps AI, a Hyderabad-based deep-tech startup incubated at T-Hub.
With this acquisition, the team of NextSteps AI will be joining the Schoolnet’s team to enhance the latter’s deep-tech capabilities to personalize education at scale.
Founded by Gowtham Kumar and Srinivas Adepu, and mentored by Prof Shailesh Kumar, an expert on AI and Data Science, NextSteps AI is building scalable EdTech for India. The company is in the process of transforming the way learning happens at scale.
According to a press statement, NextSteps AI has been working with Schoolnet since its inception in 2016. The NextSteps team has also been integral in the development of the Geneo platform, Schoolnet’s K12 learning app-based ecosystem to enhance the learning outcomes of students in the middle and the bottom of the pyramid segment.
Commenting on the acquisition, Co-founder of NextStep AI, Gowtham Kumar R, said in a statement, “The opportunity to become part of Schoolnet India will enable us to be integrally part of the revolutionary phase that our nation is witnessing now in the education technology space. At NextSteps AI, we always believed in being a cohesive bunch of product innovators and we have been committed in building AI based solutions that are intuitively personalized for the Indian education community.”
Schoolnet India Limited is one of India’s largest education and skilling companies with two decades of rich experience. The platform offers comprehensive learning and capacity building solutions for stakeholders ranging from children in schools and in informal settings, to youth, teachers, adult learners, and professionals. It focuses on the global demographic dividend opportunity with its 3Es agenda, Education, Employability and Employment.
The Noida-based Schoolnet’s vision is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
RCM Reddy, MD & CEO of Schoolnet, added, “As we sharpen digital transformation of our K12 business,as two primary and synchronized offerings: Geneo School (digital classroom solution for in-school learning) and Geneo (for seamless after-school learning), we have decided to integrate the Next Steps team within Schoolnet to strengthen our deep-tech capability. With this transition we would be able to work as ‘one team’ and develop a cutting edge and differentiated product of Geneo which will help in realizing our dream of building a sustainable digital business, integrating profit with purpose.”
Schoolnet, which has not raised any funds so far, claims to have about 300 employees. It has a presence in 40,000 schools, covering over 15 million learners.
The company believes that human resource is unique and most critical for the success of any venture. While encouraging each one to work towards the vision it ensures there is continuous capacity building and upscaling of skillsets. Schoolnet also believes that learning and development is a constant process.
