Physics Wallah (PW), India’s leading EdTech company, has launched the PW School of Startups (SOS) under its PW Foundation, marking a significant step in its mission to democratise education across Bharat. The firm has also set up a $5 million fund to support at least 100 startups over the next five years.
PW SOS is designed to bridge the gap between traditional education and the dynamic startup ecosystem, emphasising entrepreneurial skill development. The initiative provides aspiring entrepreneurs with cost-effective programmes, practical training, strategic mentorship, and access to capital, offering a comprehensive platform to transform ideas into successful ventures.
According to an official statement, PW SOS is dedicated to preparing participants for the challenges of entrepreneurship by equipping them with essential skills, real-world experience, and a supportive community. The institution aims to foster innovation, creativity, and sustainable growth in the startup world. Participants gain access to a network of resources and opportunities crucial for entrepreneurial success.
Speaking about the latest development, Prateek Maheshwari, Co-Founder of Physics Wallah, said:
Through PW SOS, we aim to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with mentorship from seasoned startup founders and key figures who have successfully scaled organisations. Additionally, we’ve established a fund of USD 5 million to support at least 100 startups over the next 60 months.
PW SOS offers three distinct programmes: Aarambh, Prarambh, and Hopes Alive, each tailored for different stages of an entrepreneurial journey.
- Aarambh is a 5-day offline programme for school students, college students, and early professionals, focusing on accelerating growth through resources, networks, and expert advice.
- Prarambh is a 5-month offline programme, targets college students, early professionals, small family business owners, and social impact enthusiasts, emphasising business model development and budgeting.
- Hopes Alive is a 5-month hybrid programme for seed-funded or bootstrapped startups, offering financial resources, counselling, and valuable connections.
In the next 12 months, PW SOS aims to enrol 1,000 aspiring entrepreneurs in Aarambh and 100 in Prarambh.
Highlighting the potential of startups from Tier 2 and 3 cities in driving India’s economic growth, Alakh Pandey, Founder and CEO of Physics Wallah, stated:
These aspiring entrepreneurs possess incredible business ideas but often need more guidance and a supportive community.
Founded by Alakh Pandey and Prateek Maheshwari in 2020, PhysicsWallah entered the coveted unicorn club in 2022 by raising $100 Mn in its maiden funding round from Westbridge and GSV Ventures. Since then, it has expanded its offerings by entering the offline space and acquiring multiple startups and companies. It offers live courses for JEE and NEET across verticals like Gurukulam Schools, test preparation in more than 43 categories, skilling verticals, higher education and study abroad programmes.
Earlier this month, PW announced its expansion into healthcare, broadening its skilling offerings beyond technology and management. This follows its recent venture into physical schools with PW Gurukulam Schools in Gurugram and Varanasi.
