Biography of Dyumna Madan: Founder & CEO of Project Clay -Entrepreneur

Biography of Dyumna Madan: Founder & CEO of Project Clay -Entrepreneur

Biography of Dyumna Madan: 

Project Clay: A Vision to Transform Mentorship and Education

At just 15 years old, Dyumna Madan had a vision. She wanted to attend a summer school program, but the high costs made her realize that many students lacked access to affordable educational opportunities. This realization planted the seed for what would later become Project Clay, a mentorship platform designed to help students navigate college applications and build passion projects.

From an Online Baking Venture to a Startup Idea

Dyumna's entrepreneurial spirit wasn’t new. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she launched an online baking venture that generated ₹8 lakhs in revenue. Coming from a business-oriented family, this experience reinforced her belief in creating opportunities for young people. She wanted to build something bigger—something that would help students unlock their full potential.

Project Clay: A New Approach to College Mentorship

Applying to college can be overwhelming, with countless applications, essays, and scholarship processes to navigate. Project Clay simplifies this journey by providing one-on-one mentorship from students who have already made it into top universities. Instead of relying on traditional, expensive college counseling, students can now learn drectly from mentors who recently went through the same process.

More Than Just College Applications

Project Clay doesn’t just stop at college applications. It also helps students and young professionals explore and build their passions—whether it's writing a book, launching a startup, starting freelancing, or even developing a video game. The goal is to ensure students have the guidance they need to turn their ideas into reality.

A Gap Year That Changed Everything

Before diving fully into Project Clay, Dyumna took a gap year—a decision that shaped both her personal growth and the direction of her company. During this time, she moved to a new city, worked at two startups, freelanced for the first time, and even dabbled in filmmaking. These experiences taught her valuable lessons about failure, resilience, and finding the right path for Project Clay.

Expanding with a Strong Team

Dyumna wasn’t alone in this journey. She teamed up with Shivom Sood, her longtime friend and co-founder, who shared her passion for education and mentorship. Together, they built a platform that now has over 500 mentors from 10 countries, all dedicated to guiding students in their academic and professional pursuits.

The Evolution from Brooks Brainery

Before Project Clay, Dyumna and Shivom had launched Brooks Brainery, an initiative to provide affordable summer programs for students worldwide. With over 5,000 students from 30+ countries participating, they realized a deeper issue—students lacked proper mentorship to explore their passions. This led them to rebrand and pivot towards a more personalized mentorship model, ultimately creating Project Clay.

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Gaining Experience in the Startup Ecosystem

In addition to building Project Clay, Dyumna gained hands-on experience through internships in the startup world. She worked with Bluelearn, where she helped build partnerships and create projects that gamified the learning process for students. These experiences deepened her understanding of the edtech space and helped her refine Project Clay’s offerings.

Project Clay’s Unique Mentorship Model

Unlike traditional career counseling, Project Clay takes a peer-to-peer mentorship approach. Instead of advisors or older professionals, students are guided by mentors who are under 25 years old and currently studying at top universities. This allows for a more relatable and practical mentorship experience, where mentors act like an "elder sibling" to help students with everything from college essays to startup ideas.

Rapid Growth and Organic Success

In just five months, Project Clay has seen 65% organic growth, proving that their mentorship model is resonating with students. Their success has been largely driven by word-of-mouth recommendations and a community of engaged mentors and learners who actively support each other’s goals.

Taking the Idea to Shark Tank India

To take Project Clay to the next level, Dyumna and Shivom decided to pitch their idea on Shark Tank India (Season 4). They asked for ₹15 Lakhs in exchange for 10% equity, valuing the company at ₹1.5 Crores. Their clear vision and passion for education impressed the sharks, who saw the potential in their mission.

A Bold and Affordable Vision

Unlike many edtech companies that charge high fees for counseling, Project Clay remains focused on keeping mentorship affordable and accessible. By connecting students directly with young mentors who have recently walked the same path, they bridge the gap between guidance and real-world experience.

The Future of Project Clay

With a growing community, a strong mentorship network, and validation from Shark Tank India, Project Clay is poised to redefine how students prepare for college and careers. The team continues to expand, adding more mentors and refining their platform to ensure that every student has the support they need to achieve their dreams.

Empowering the Next Generation

At its core, Project Clay is more than just a mentorship platform—it’s a movement to empower students with knowledge, skills, and confidence. Dyumna and her team are proving that with the right guidance, anyone can turn their aspirations into achievements.

Timeline for story

2020 - Dyumna Madan launches an online baking venture, generating ₹8 lakhs.

2021 - Starts Brooks Brainery to provide affordable summer programs.

2022 - Takes a gap year, works at startups, and gains freelancing experience.

2023 - Rebrands Brooks Brainery into Project Clay, focusing on mentorship.

2023 (Mid) - Partners with Shivom Sood to expand Project Clay.

2023 (Late) - Grows to 500+ mentors from 10 countries.

2024 (Early) - Project Clay achieves 65% organic growth.

2024 - Pitches on Shark Tank India, seeking ₹15 Lakhs for 10% equity.

2025 (Planned) - Expands mentorship programs and platform reach.

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