Roman Saini has reviewed his journey with Unacademy as the edtech platform becomes part of upGrad. This reflection brings to light how a pivotal phone call with co-founder Gaurav Munjal prompted him to leave his position within the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) to create an online education enterprise. On September 1, Saini shared his thoughts via a post on X, detailing the various stages of this transformative journey.

During his time at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Saini had a conversation with Munjal that led to the realisation that he wanted to pursue something different. His decision to resign from the IAS was not made lightly, but it was motivated by the ambition to innovate in the field of education.

The inception of Unacademy transformed the landscape of online learning in India. Initially viewed with scepticism, online teaching gradually gained traction, primarily due to their pioneering efforts to offer quality educational content remotely.

Building the Platform from Ground Up

Saini reminisced about the early days of Unacademy, noting that when they began uploading educational videos on YouTube, very few educators chose to teach online. Despite the cultural bias against the profession, he actively reached out to potential teachers, making over 200 calls in the first month alone, to establish a community of educators for the platform.

The growth of Unacademy exceeded expectations, as Saini mentioned that the platform quickly evolved into a significant player in the education sector. Millions of views were soon achieved, growing into billions as more educators joined the movement.

Unacademy’s impact on the educational ecosystem has been profound, with a majority of top educators in India having taught on their platform at some point. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the scale of their operations became particularly evident, with over 100,000 live classes held monthly, attracting nearly 1 million paid subscribers.

Challenges Overcome on the Journey

Saini did not shy away from discussing the numerous challenges faced along the way. He described sleepless nights spent producing content when the platform’s engagement dropped, revealing his determination to maintain positive growth.

Reflecting on these tough moments, he recounted an instance where he and Munjal travelled to China to meet an investor who ultimately did not attend the scheduled meeting. Such experiences underscored the unpredictability of entrepreneurial ventures, characterised by both successes and setbacks.

According to Saini, the venture was more than just numbers. He shared a poignant moment when a CISF officer expressed gratitude for the accessibility of online learning, which allowed him to study while fulfilling his job responsibilities. Stories such as this highlighted the broader impact of Unacademy on individual lives.

Looking Towards the Future

With Unacademy now a part of upGrad, Saini expressed enthusiasm for future developments. He acknowledged the support he received from his family, friends, and co-founder Munjal, thanking them for their contributions to the venture’s success.

Saini stated that opportunities to create significant societal impact are rare and reiterated his pride in what Unacademy has achieved so far. He mentioned that the focus ahead would be on making an even greater difference alongside Ronnie Screwvala, co-founder of upGrad.

Ultimately, the journey from a career in the IAS to founding a leading online education platform had its roots in that crucial conversation at LBSNAA, where a new vision for learning began to take shape.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share