AAS Vidyalaya: Revolutionizing Education in Rural India

AAS Vidyalaya is a startup founded by Vikas Kakwan and Leena Kakwani, with the aim of providing schooling to every student in India, regardless of their location or economic background. Vikas Kakwan is a 50-year-old entrepreneur from Meerut, who completed his schooling from a convent school and went on to graduate from IIT Roorkee and IIM Lucknow. He has worked for 20 years in the corporate sector. Leena Kakwani, on the other hand, is from Kanpur and has knowledge in child psychology.

The startup is based on the idea that a large number of students in India do not have access to quality education due to various reasons such as lack of resources, infrastructure, and qualified teachers. The country has 8 lakh primary schools, 4 lakh middle schools, and 1.5 lakh secondary schools, but the average attendance is only around 50%, and only 30 out of 100 students pass the 10th-grade examination.

AIM

The aim of the AAS Vidyalaya startup is to provide access to quality education to every student in India, regardless of their location or economic background. The founders recognized that a large number of students in the country do not have access to quality education due to various reasons such as lack of resources, infrastructure, and qualified teachers. The startup uses technology to reach students in every corner of the country and provide schooling through an app that has all the curriculum like a school, which can be accessed anytime, anywhere. The startup is following the NCERT curriculum and has introduced Marathi medium in recent years, aiming to provide education to class 6-10 students. Their target customer base is middle-class families who may not have the necessary setup for education.

BUSINESS MODEL

The business model of AAS Vidyalaya is primarily focused on providing anytime, anywhere schooling to students who may not have access to traditional schools due to financial, geographical, or other constraints. The startup aims to use technology to reach students in every corner of the country and provide quality education to every student.

The startup offers its services through an app that has all the necessary curriculum for students from classes 6 to 10, following the NCERT curriculum. The app allows students to attend classes, take tests, and generate report cards, and parents-teacher meetings can also be held through the application. AAS Vidyalaya also has its own cyber cafe where only their classes are held for students who may not have access to a smartphone or an internet connection.

The target customer of AAS Vidyalaya is primarily the middle-class family, who may not have the necessary resources to afford traditional schooling for their children. The startup also offers a B2C model and has partnered with companies who have their industries set up in remote or small villages to provide capital to set up AAS Vidyalaya cafes in their campuses.

TARGET MARKET

The target market of AAS Vidyalaya is middle-class families in India who may not have the necessary resources or setup for traditional education. This includes families who live in rural areas, where the infrastructure for education may be limited or non-existent, as well as families who may not be able to afford private schooling or traditional coaching classes.

AAS Vidyalaya is targeting students in classes 6-10, which is typically the age range where students start to prepare for their board exams. By offering an accessible and affordable alternative to traditional education, the startup aims to improve the pass rates for these exams, which are currently quite low in India.

The startup is also targeting students who may not have access to smartphones or the internet, by setting up its own AAS Vidyalaya cyber cafe where students can access their classes. This strategy enables the startup to target a broader range of students who may not have access to traditional educational infrastructure, while also providing an additional revenue stream for the business.

SALES AND REVENUE

AAS Vidyalaya had a revenue of 70 lakhs in the financial year 20-21. The current revenue of the startup is about 1.50 crore, which represents a significant increase from the previous year. The projected revenue for the future is around 5 crore, indicating the potential for further growth and expansion.

AAS Vidyalaya's business model includes both a B2C and a B2B model, which allows the startup to reach a wide range of customers and generate revenue from multiple sources. Companies who have their industries set up in remote or small villages provide capital to set up AAS Vidyalaya cafes in their campuses, which helps to expand the startup's reach and generate revenue from the B2B model.

The startup's equity is divided into three divisions, with Vikas and other directors owning 70% equity, while Nidhi programme and other friends owning 7% and 23% equity respectively. The valuation of the company is 50 crores, indicating that the startup has achieved significant growth and has a strong market position.

FUNDING IN SHARK TANKS INDIA

When the pitchers of AAS Vidyalaya approached Shark Tanks India, they asked for 1.5 crore in return for 3% equity in the company. However, the counter offers made by Peyush, Namita, and Ashneer jointly was for 1.5 crore in return for 15% equity in the company.

The pitchers countered with 7.5% equity for 1.5 crore, which was later changed to 10% for 1.5 crore. However, Namita Thapar made it clear that the deal was non-negotiable. In the end, the final offer for AAS Vidyalaya was 15% equity for 1.5 crore rupees, which is the highest investment in Shark Tank India till date.

This means that AAS Vidyalaya was able to secure significant funding to further grow and expand their business. The 15% equity will give the investors a stake in the company and also provide the startup with the necessary capital to continue innovating and expanding their services. Overall, the funding received from Shark Tank India is likely to help AAS Vidyalaya achieve their goals and take their business to the next level.