Newton School Turns Small-Town Struggles into a Mission to Democratise Tech Education
Karan Kukreti began his career as a software developer but soon found himself yearning for something more fulfilling. The monotony of coding didn’t ignite his passion, but he discovered his true calling in analytics. He realised he was more drawn to the challenge of uncovering patterns in data and solving real-world business problems. However, pursuing his dream meant upgrading his skills and stepping out of his comfort zone. This was when he turned to Newton School, an edtech platform focused on providing real-world skills. Eventually, Karan successfully transitioned to a career in analytics and landed the role of a data analyst at Meesho. Newton School is a Bengaluru-based edtech startup founded in 2019 by Nishant Chandra and Siddharth Maheshwari. The four-year-old startup is a neo-university focused on empowering the next generation of tech leaders and entrepreneurs. In an exclusive interview with AIM, Chandra said, “The edtech startup’s journey begins with the background of the co-founders. Both Siddharth and I come from middle-class families and small towns. My parents migrated from Bihar to Delhi for better opportunities. My father was a government servant, and Siddharth’s family moved from a small town in Uttar Pradesh for similar reasons.” This upbringing shaped their perspective. They attended IIT Roorkee, where they received excellent education and guidance – opportunities not readily accessible in many parts of India. “Even during college, Siddharth and I were involved in teaching students in nearby villages. Our mission has always been about democratising access to outcomes. Getting a job, especially for students from non-tier-1 colleges, is often luck-driven and uncertain. We wanted to change that,” he mentioned. Initially, they launched online programs, including pay-after-placement models, which saw massive success, with participation from students from over 500 colleges. They continued to focus on outcomes, ensuring that learning translates directly into employment. This Education Platform is for You Between 2018 and 2019, the popular ed-tech players focused on K-12 education or competitive exams, such as Byju’s or Unacademy. These markets were quite distinct. Meanwhile, in the skilling segment, platforms like Coursera or Udemy provided learning materials but weren’t outcome-oriented. Their promise was more about self-paced learning rather than guaranteeing job placements. “From the outset, we were focused on outcomes. We designed cohort-based live learning programs to build strong communities where students could learn and grow together. This approach addressed the high dropout rates in platforms like Coursera, where only 4-5% of students typically complete courses,” Chandra explained. He mentioned that factors like Jio’s affordable internet access and the normalisation of live online learning due to COVID-19 played a crucial role. They used live and interactive classes, which made learning much more engaging and effective. AI and Education According to a report by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), 10 million students in rural India are using AI-powered learning tools. Meanwhile, 61% of educators are adopting AI tools for teaching, and student management, according to another report by TeamLease EdTech in January. India’s burgeoning edtech market has witnessed the AI transformation, and according to a LinkedIn report, the demand for AI skills in India is expected to grow by 50% in the next five years. The integration of technology into education presents both empowerment and cautionary tales. Personalised learning, real-time feedback, task automation, interactive experiences, and global access to resources are perfect examples of a transformative landscape. “We started investing in AI in 2022, even before tools like ChatGPT became mainstream. Initially, using GPT-3 APIs, we developed tools for doubt-solving, mock interviews, and resume evaluation. Back then, accuracy was around 30-40%, and improving it to 80-85% would take months,” Chandra said. However, with advancements like GPT-3.5 and GPT-4, they started at 80% accuracy. These models have been game-changers. For example, in September, their AI-powered doubt-solving tool handled over 1 lakh queries – a feat that would be impossible for human instructors alone. “We also have AI-powered mock interviewers, which have helped students overcome their fear of interviews. One student, for instance, used the AI interviewer to practice over 15 sessions, which built her confidence for real interviews. Other tools, like AI resume evaluators and skill assessments, ensure our students are well-prepared for the job market,” he explained. Newton School’s Partnership and More Newton School has forged impactful partnerships to drive education and technology initiatives. It conducted training sessions on generative AI for ISRO, sponsored the ICPC India Regionals, and contributed to the development and support of the ICPC website. Collaborating with the IIT Roorkee Foundation, the institution is working on a project to create a portal to aggregate scholarships, job opportunities, and resources for SC, ST, and OBC communities and improve visibility and accessibility for marginalised groups. In partnership with the Telangana government, Newton School supported the infrastructure setup for a coding school at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya in Gopalpet to allow class 9 students to learn Python coding through a three-month online course with interactive learning tools. Additionally, Newton School has collaborated with over 800 companies to facilitate hiring, mentorship, industry insights, and real-world projects, thereby making sure that students are equipped with practical skills and job-ready expertise. So, ultimately the edtech startup aims to embrace AI to democratise access to high-quality and outcome-driven education.
The four-year-old startup is a neo-university focused on empowering the next generation of tech leaders and entrepreneurs.
According to National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) report, 10 million students in rural India are using AI-powered learning tools.
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["AI", "ML", "analytics", "generative AI", "ChatGPT", "Aim", "Python", "R", "Go", "API"]
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