Biography of Karanvir Singh: Co-Founder & CEO of Pariksha-EdTech Startup
Story of Karanvir Singh: A Journey from Visionary to EdTech Leader
Early Aspirations and Education
Karanvir Singh’s journey into the world of education
technology began with a solid academic foundation. He completed his MA in
International Relations and Affairs from Symbiosis International University and
later pursued a Master of Laws in Banking, Corporate, Finance, and Securities
Law from Symbiosis Law School, Pune. This diverse educational background
equipped him with a broad perspective on global affairs and financial systems,
setting the stage for his entrepreneurial ventures.
The Spark of Entrepreneurship
Before founding Pariksha, Karanvir Singh dabbled in various
entrepreneurial ventures. His first significant foray into the education sector
was through a company called The Learning Mantra. This initiative aimed to
provide high-quality preparation materials for civil services exams across
India, addressing the lack of accessible resources. His experience with The
Learning Mantra laid the groundwork for his future success in the EdTech space.
The Birth of Pariksha
In 2015, Karanvir Singh, along with his brother Vikram Singh
Shekhawat and two IIT Kanpur graduates, Utkarsh Bagri and Deepak Choudhary,
co-founded Pariksha. The idea for Pariksha emerged from a shared vision to
tackle the issues of accessibility and affordability in education, particularly
for aspirants from tier-2 and tier-3 towns. Pariksha was designed to cater to
the mobile-first internet users in Bharat, aiming to democratize quality
education for all.
Navigating the Early Challenges
Initially, Pariksha operated with a Software as a Service
(SaaS) model through a B2B approach, focusing on providing campus recruitment
training for educational institutions. However, this model shifted in 2018 to a
more direct-to-consumer (B2C) approach. The company began concentrating on
state government job exam preparation, aligning its services with the needs of
its target audience – students who primarily use mobile devices and have
limited access to traditional learning resources.
Biography of Karanvir Singh: Co-Founder & CEO of Pariksha-EdTech Startup/Exam Preparation app/Success story of Karanvir Singh & Pariksha/Age/Net worth
Addressing the Accessibility Gap
Pariksha’s core mission is to bridge the educational gap for
aspirants who face challenges due to limited resources and financial
constraints. The platform offers mock tests and preparation materials in
vernacular languages, replicating the interface and experience of actual exams.
This approach helps students become familiar with the exam process and reduces
the competitive disadvantage faced by those with less access to quality
preparation.
Securing Investment and Growth
In the early stages, Pariksha received funding from friends,
family, and early-stage angel investors, including notable figures such as
Aqueel Merchant and Ameya Chandavarkar. Recently, the company successfully
raised $3 million and is in discussions to secure an additional $10 million
from international investors. This financial support has enabled Pariksha to
expand its reach and enhance its offerings.
Future Plans and Expansion
Looking ahead, Karanvir Singh envisions Pariksha growing
both deeper and wider within its market. The company plans to increase its
presence in more states and broaden its range of test preparation materials.
Long-term goals include potentially expanding internationally, continuing to
provide affordable and accessible education solutions to a global audience.
Legacy and Impact
Karanvir Singh’s journey with Pariksha exemplifies his
dedication to leveraging education and technology to create meaningful change.
By addressing key issues of accessibility and affordability, he has positioned
Pariksha as a leader in the EdTech sector. His work not only impacts millions
of students but also sets a precedent for how technology can be harnessed to
address systemic educational challenges.
Karanvir Singh: A Brief Timeline
2005: Graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering from
Dr. K.N. Modi Institute.
2008: Completed Post Graduate Diploma in Finance from ICFAI
Business School.
2007: Began career as a Business Analyst at Tata Consultancy
Services.
2008-2012: Worked at TechProcess Solutions Ltd on payment
gateway services.
2013-2015: Vice President of Product and Alliances at
E-Billing Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (EBS).
2015: Co-founded Pariksha to improve access to education for
tier-2 and tier-3 towns.
2018: Shifted Pariksha’s focus to direct-to-consumer model
for state government exam preparation.
2021: Raised $3 million and sought additional $10 million
for Pariksha’s expansion.
