Biography of Ruchir Arora: Co-Founder and CEO of CollegeDekho
Story of Ruchir Arora: Pioneering Higher Education Access
Ruchir Arora is the Co-Founder and CEO of CollegeDekho,
India’s largest higher education ecosystem. The platform connects students with
colleges and universities, offering comprehensive information on admissions,
entrance tests, infrastructure, courses, and career options. CollegeDekho
serves as a crucial resource for over 4 million students annually, aiming to
bridge the information gap and enhance access to higher education across India.
Biography of Ruchir Arora: Co-Founder and CEO of CollegeDekho- Entrepreneur/ Investor/HTCampus/Success story of Ruchir Arora & CollegeDekho/Life story
Early Career and Educational Background
Before CollegeDekho, Ruchir founded HTCampus in 2010, a
pioneering platform in the education services and advertising market. HTCampus
was notable for being the first and largest in its category, comprising a
portfolio of six websites, a mobile app, and a services business. Ruchir’s
academic background includes an MBA in Information Technology & Finance
from the Indian School of Business and a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from
Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology.
Expertise and Achievements
Ruchir’s expertise spans entrepreneurship, online marketing,
product management, and business strategy. He has significant experience in
P&L management, sales, and technology management. His role in founding and
leading HTCampus laid the groundwork for his later success with CollegeDekho.
Vision for Higher Education
At CollegeDekho, Ruchir’s vision is to bridge the gap in
higher education access and provide students with accurate information and
guidance. This aligns with his broader goal of making quality education
accessible to all, especially those who are the first in their families to
pursue higher education.
Early Career and Foundational Roles:
Ruchir's career also includes significant roles at TechM,
CSC, IBM, and Birlasoft Limited. At TechM, he managed end-to-end M&A and
investment activities. At CSC, he was responsible for post-merger application
integration, and at IBM, he worked on Partner World products for IBM Global.
His early career at Birlasoft Limited involved general software engineering
responsibilities, laying the groundwork for his future achievements.
Roles at Firefly e-Ventures Ltd:
Prior to HTCampus, Ruchir held roles in sales operations and
strategic planning at Firefly e-Ventures Ltd. Here, he managed sales operations
for Shine.com and led efforts in business development, including M&A and
partnerships. His role involved overseeing a team of over 200 sales executives
and driving new business initiatives.
Previous Experience at HT Media:
Before founding CollegeDekho, Ruchir Arora had a notable
career at HT Media. As the Founder and Business Head of HTCampus, he
established HTCampus.com in 2010, focusing on education advertising and
admissions services. This venture became the largest in its category, offering
a suite of platforms such as mycollegeform and mycollegesabroad. HTCampus.com
processed over 600,000 applications through mycollegeform and provided detailed
information on more than 35,000 colleges and 100,000 courses. Ruchir’s
strategic vision and leadership contributed to its rapid growth and success.
Current Role at CollegeDekho:
Ruchir Arora is the Co-founder and CEO of CollegeDekho, a
prominent education platform based in Gurgaon, India. Since July 2015, he has
been leading the company, which connects students with colleges and career
opportunities. CollegeDekho offers a comprehensive range of services, including
college admissions guidance, career counseling, and educational resources.
Under his leadership, the platform has grown significantly, helping students
navigate their educational paths more effectively.
Entrepreneurial Journey
His entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish
CollegeDekho, focusing on creating a comprehensive higher education platform.
Under his leadership, the company has achieved remarkable milestones, including
over 225 million website sessions and handling nearly 50% of all student
counseling requests in India.
Vision and Impact
Ruchir Arora’s vision for CollegeDekho is to enhance access
to higher education information and guidance, addressing the needs of students
from diverse backgrounds. With India’s Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) at 27.4%,
CollegeDekho offers free access to essential resources such as college and
course information, career counseling, and a common application form. The
platform’s “Assured” offering aims to ensure better career outcomes by
collaborating with universities to provide advanced learning and
specializations in emerging fields.
Platform Reach and Impact
CollegeDekho has become a pivotal resource for college
aspirants, with nearly 200 million website sessions annually. The platform is
utilized by approximately 60% of students seeking private college education in
India. Through its robust guidance system, CollegeDekho helps students navigate
their higher education journey and supports colleges in improving their
educational offerings.
Enhancing Accessibility and Guidance
The platform’s focus is on bridging the information gap and
providing personalized guidance to ensure students make informed decisions
about their higher education. CollegeDekho’s efforts are geared towards making
high-quality college guidance accessible to all, thereby facilitating better
educational outcomes and helping students achieve their academic and career
goals.
A timeline and explanation of Ruchir Arora’s career and
achievements:
2010: Founded HTCampus, India’s first and largest education
services platform.
2011: HTCampus.com processed over 600,000 applications and
provided information on 35,000 colleges and 100,000 courses.
July 2015: Co-founded CollegeDekho, aiming to enhance access
to higher education and career guidance.
2019: CollegeDekho achieved over 225 million website
sessions and became a major player in student counseling in India.
2020: CollegeDekho reached approximately 60% of students
seeking private college education in India.
Current: Ruchir Arora continues to lead CollegeDekho in its
mission to bridge the higher education information gap and provide
comprehensive guidance to students.
