PhysicsWallah (PW), the edtech unicorn led by Alakh Pandey, has embarked on a new journey into offline education for primary classes with the inauguration of PW Gurukulam School in Gurugram. The school, catering to students from play school to seventh grade, marks a significant expansion of PW’s educational offerings beyond online coaching.
The inaugural batch of PW Gurukulam School has already seen enrollment from 400 students, with its curriculum aligned with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), according to a statement by PW. The school aims to revolutionize education by emphasizing experiential learning, with a particular focus on fostering financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills among students. Programs like Model United Nations (MUN) will further enrich the learning experience for students.
Alakh Pandey, commenting on the launch of PW Gurukulam, expressed his vision for the school as a platform for students to shape their futures through immersive and transformative learning experiences. He emphasized PW’s commitment to offering education that transcends conventional boundaries, empowering students to explore diverse career paths beyond traditional academia.
Founded in 2020 by Alakh Pandey and Prateek Maheshwari, PW initially gained prominence for its online coaching programs for IIT/JEE and NEET aspirants. However, the expansion into offline primary education represents a strategic diversification of PW’s educational portfolio to cater to a broader segment of learners.
Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, PW has demonstrated resilience and adaptability by expanding its presence beyond the digital realm. The company’s foray into offline education began with the establishment of its first offline center in Kota, Rajasthan, in June 2022. Currently, PW operates 67 offline centers, known as PW Vidyapeeth, across 38 cities, serving nearly 1.5 lakh students. The company aims to scale up its offline presence to over 120 centers by 2024.
In December 2023, PW reported a remarkable 3.3X year-on-year increase in revenue from operations, reaching INR 771.76 crore in the financial year 2022-23 (FY23). As a member of the unicorn club since 2022, following a $100 million funding round, PW has continued to strengthen its position in the competitive edtech landscape.
The launch of PW Gurukulam School comes at a pivotal moment for the Indian edtech sector, which is navigating through a funding winter. While some prominent players like BYJU’S face challenges, PW’s strategic expansion underscores its resilience and commitment to innovation in education. Despite the funding constraints impacting the sector, PW remains steadfast in its mission to redefine learning and empower students with transformative educational experiences.