Biography of Manan Khurma: Founder and CEO of Cuemath -Entrepreneur
Journey of Manan Khurma:
Love for Numbers Begins Early
Manan Khurma’s story with mathematics started long before
Cuemath was born. A student of Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj, he always had
a deep connection with numbers. His passion for math only grew stronger during
his engineering days at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, where
he pursued Electronics and Communication Engineering between 2003 and 2007.
The Teaching Bug Bites
After graduating from IIT Delhi, instead of taking the
traditional job route, Manan began coaching students for the highly competitive
JEE entrance exams. His experience teaching math at this level not only
sharpened his understanding of the subject but also revealed how much students
struggled with learning math the right way.
Locus Education – The First Step
Manan’s first entrepreneurial venture was Locus Education, a
JEE test-prep company he started in 2007. Over four years, he taught thousands
of students, developed learning programs, and ran multiple coaching centers.
This early phase gave him a deep insight into the education space and students'
challenges in understanding math conceptually.
A Bigger Vision Emerges
By 2013, Manan’s experience had led him to a bigger
realization: the real problem wasn’t just exam prep, but how math was taught in
general. He saw a gap in how children learned math—relying heavily on
memorization and shortcuts rather than truly understanding the logic behind it.
That’s when the idea for Cuemath was born.
Founding Cuemath
In December 2013, Manan founded Cuemath with a bold
mission—to unlock every child’s inner math genius. He believed that with the
right guidance, every student could develop a deep love for math. The early
version of Cuemath’s program showed incredible results, reinforcing his belief
in personalized, concept-based learning.
A Different Kind of Learning Platform
Unlike other edtech companies that focused on flashy
marketing and rapid scaling, Cuemath prioritized learning outcomes. Manan
brought in a network of trained, mostly home-based women tutors who offered
one-on-one attention to each child. The focus was on helping students struggle
productively—learning through effort and discovery.
Scaling with Purpose
Cuemath quickly grew in size and ambition. By 2014, it had
onboarded 100 tutors. In 2015, the startup gained strong backing from investors
like CapitalG (Google’s investment arm) and Sequoia Capital, raising around USD
20 million. This fuelled its expansion across India and allowed more children
to benefit from its unique learning approach.
Going Global
By 2017, Cuemath had launched a live, interactive online
learning platform and stepped onto the global stage. The tutor base grew to
over 5,000 math experts, and by 2019, the company had established a presence in
over 20 countries, reaching children far beyond Indian borders.
Thriving Through Challenges
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it disrupted many education
companies—but Cuemath was ready. Its online-first model allowed it to continue
teaching seamlessly, and its focus on strong tutor-student relationships
ensured that students stayed engaged. The company expanded further during this
time, proving the strength of its foundation.
Biography of Manan Khurma: Founder and CEO of Cuemath -Entrepreneur# startup#age#net worth#investor#Cuemath story#Manan Khurma story#Cuemath story
Backed by Believers
Cuemath attracted continued investor confidence. In 2020,
Lightrock and Alpha Wave Global invested another USD 40 million. Then, in 2021,
Cuemath raised an additional USD 57 million in its Series C1 funding round. By
then, the platform was supporting over 200,000 students in more than 80
countries.
A New Era of Math Learning
Cuemath became the highest-rated math learning platform,
earning a 4.7+ rating on Trustpilot. With over 4,000 tutors and students across
the world, the platform helped kids build logical thinking and deep
understanding—not just prepare for exams, but develop a life skill that would
matter in any AI-powered future.
Tutor at Heart
In May, Manan took charge again to steer Cuemath through a
challenging phase in the edtech sector. Despite being the founder and CEO, he
continues to see himself as a teacher first. His empathy for tutors and belief
in their role in a child’s learning has become central to Cuemath’s philosophy.
Building a Culture of Thoughtfulness
Unlike many edtechs that focused on aggressive marketing and
sales, Cuemath focused on the product, the tutors, and the child’s experience.
Manan believes that real transformation happens when children are gently guided
to think, reflect, and persevere. That’s the heart of Cuemath’s teaching style.
A Mission That’s Just Beginning
From a single classroom in New Delhi to becoming a global
math learning platform, Manan Khurma’s journey reflects a commitment to
reimagining education. Cuemath isn’t just about solving equations—it’s about
helping kids fall in love with math and grow into confident, logical
problem-solvers. And for Manan, the mission is far from over.
A timeline of Manan Khurma’s journey:
2003–2007: Studied Electronics & Communication
Engineering at IIT Delhi
2007: Started Locus Education, a JEE coaching company
2007–2011: Taught thousands of students; gained deep
education insights
2013: Realized the need for conceptual math learning
December 2013: Founded Cuemath to transform how kids learn
math
2014: Onboarded 100 tutors; early success with personalized
learning
2015: Raised $20M from CapitalG and Sequoia; expanded across
India
2017: Launched live online classes; began global expansion
2019: Reached 20+ countries with 5,000+ tutors
2020: Raised $40M from Lightrock and Alpha Wave; thrived
during pandemic
2021: Raised $57M Series C1; reached 200,000+ students in
80+ countries
May 2023: Returned as CEO; focused on long-term vision and
product
Present: Leads Cuemath with a tutor-first, concept-driven
global mission
