How Physics Wallah is democratising education with an affordable, student-centered and tech-driven approach

Physics Wallah believes in making education available for everyone, irrespective of their background with the aid of technology

Physics Wallah is an incredibly popular EdTech company founded by Alakh Pandey. What started as a YouTube channel in 2016 has now grown into a thriving platform that achieved unicorn status in June 2022. The company raised $100 million at a valuation of $1.1 billion. Physics Wallah, renowned for its distribution model, operates more than 45 offline centers across 60 cities in India in addition to its online classes. The company is steadily progressing on its growth trajectory and has announced plans to invest INR 500 crores over the next three years to expand its presence in the southern Indian market. Vishwa Mohan, the Chief Information Officer at Physics Wallah, recently spoke to Dataquest to shed light on the company's success. Vishwa brings with him extensive industry experience, having worked with reputable companies such as LinkedIn, Walmart Labs, PayPal, and Oracle in the past.

Excerpts from the Interview

DQ: Can you provide an overview of Physics Wallah's mission and the specific role the company plays in the EdTech sector?

Vishwa Mohan: Before I delve into discussing the various aspects of education and ethics that our company encompasses, let me first outline the core principles that form the foundation of our organization. At the heart of everything we offer, all the programs we run, lies our unwavering focus on our students. We always place the student at the center of our efforts. This student-centered approach guides us in designing our courses and ensures that the learning experience is tailored to their needs. 

Moreover, we prioritize affordability as an essential factor in our services. We strive to ensure that financial constraints do not hinder anyone's pursuit of academic excellence, regardless of their background or geographic location in India. We believe that no matter where you come from, you should have the opportunity to realize your dreams of excelling academically, preparing for competitive examinations, and achieving success in the professional world. By placing students at the core and simultaneously providing high-quality education at affordable rates, we adhere to our guiding principles. These principles act as the guiding guardrails that steer us in offering our courses.

DQ: What differentiates Physics Wallah from other EdTech companies in the market?

Vishwa Mohan: Let's discuss the core philosophy that drives our organization. Our primary focus is on keeping the students at the center. To embark on a journey of learning and growth, we prioritize placing students at the forefront. Simultaneously, we aim to reach millions of students and provide affordable education, leveraging technology as a driving force. 

While quality is crucial, we also invest significant efforts in developing technological and engineering excellence. This enables us to create products that can reach every corner of the country and cater to the diverse needs of our learners. Thanks to our exceptional in-house engineering team, we have successfully blended technology into our offerings. Moreover, our dedicated staff, including great teachers, mentors, and 24/7 support teams, work tirelessly to ensure that our educational programs meet global standards and deliver on our promises at an affordable price.

We approach our operations with caution and frugality, minimizing costs wherever possible. This approach allows us to save our students' money and ensure that our courses remain accessible. By emphasizing technology, providing top-notch education, and adopting a frugal mindset, we have been able to reach millions of students across various fields. Our ability to offer notable courses at affordable prices is a testament to our commitment to excellence and accessibility.

DQ: How do you ensure that Physics Wallah’s educational content and resources are aligned with current educational standards and curriculum requirements?

Vishwa Mohan: We take multiple steps to ensure that we stay updated with the ever-changing landscape of education. For instance, with organizations like CBSE frequently altering their curriculum, we have a dedicated team that closely monitors the recommended changes by CBSE. Similarly, we have a team focused on publications. They constantly keep an eye on market trends and advancements in the field, ensuring that our curriculum remains current and aligned with industry standards.

In addition to these measures, we have a center of excellence team and an academic research team. These teams work at different levels to ensure that we are aware of the latest developments and relevant information in the market. Their efforts are directed towards teaching our students the most up-to-date content. By staying abreast of the latest changes in the educational sector, we strive to maintain our position as a forward-thinking and relevant educational institution.

DQ: In your opinion, what are the key technical challenges facing the EdTech industry today, and how would you address them?

Vishwa Mohan: On a lighter note, the challenge with EdTech is both Ed and Tech. I believe that the intersection of education and technology presents its own set of challenges. When it comes to education, there seems to be a race where everyone wants to be a teacher. However, it's crucial to recognize that teaching is a serious profession. Students place their trust and belief in educators, and we must uphold their confidence and the trust of their parents. Education has the potential to spark the most significant revolution in India, and at Physics Wallah, we truly believe in that.

Imparting the right education in the right way is of utmost importance, and it is a challenge we are determined to address. Another aspect is the issue of affordability. Many individuals in remote areas of India lack the financial resources to access quality education, even if they aspire to. Therefore, it is essential for us to ensure that our educational offerings are not only accessible but also affordable. At Physics Wallah, we offer a range of resources, from free YouTube videos to affordable options in various categories, catering to different affordability levels.

Now, let's discuss the challenge presented by technology. To reach millions of students, offline methods are not sufficient. Traditional classroom settings have limitations in terms of scalability. To expand our reach, both nationally and globally, we must leverage technology. It is crucial that the technology we employ is scalable and operates in real-time. However, in India, one of the challenges we face is the varying quality of internet connections and limited bandwidth in certain areas. We must consider and address these issues so that even individuals with slower internet speeds can access our content and live broadcasts seamlessly.

Addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach, encompassing both education and technology. Fortunately, our organization takes these challenges seriously. We strive to disrupt and improve the methods of providing high-quality education in an affordable manner. Additionally, we adopt a tech-first approach, investing in AI and exploring innovative ways to scale our offerings to reach millions of people. By combining our dedication to education and our commitment to technology, we are determined to make a positive impact in the field of education.

DQ: What are your thoughts on the future of education technology, and how do you envision your role in shaping that future?

Vishwa Mohan: Certainly, if we look back at the history of education, from the ancient Gurukul system to the present day, we can observe that the traditional approach of teaching, even in online classrooms with thousands of students, fails to account for individual differences. Each student has a unique learning style, emotional quotient, and level of intelligence. Unfortunately, the current education system often follows a one-size-fits-all model, unable to provide customized education for every learner. However, the emergence of AI, particularly large language models like ChatGPT, gives me great hope. 

In the coming years, with the advancement of AI technology, we will be able to offer personalized one-on-one mentorship, revolutionizing the learning experience. Imagine a virtual world where each student has their own mentor who understands their mental capabilities and tailor-fits the teaching to their needs. Though we are not yet at that stage, organizations like Physics Wallah are working diligently to bridge the gap. We are developing AI solutions to enhance the learning process until we achieve a fully customized educational experience. For instance, we envision providing virtual assistants to students, similar to how we interact with voice assistants like Google. These virtual assistants would be equipped to solve doubts and provide guidance in subjects like physics, chemistry, and mathematics. By utilizing AI, ChatGPT, and other generative AI models, we aim to address various challenges and significantly support our students on their learning journey.

DQ: Final Thoughts

Vishwa Mohan: I believe I have already emphasized the point, but I would like to reiterate that at Physics Wallah, we are committed to disrupting the traditional approach to education. We firmly believe that both education and technology need to go hand in hand. That's why we have adopted a two-pronged approach: investing in providing learners with everything they need for professional excellence and focusing on enhancing and leveraging technology to reach and scale to millions of individuals. While we initially started as a test prep category, we have now expanded our offerings to cover all educational stages. From school education to competitive exam preparation and even career upskilling, we have something for everyone. Our aim is to remove the financial barrier and ensure that money is not an obstacle for anyone striving to succeed in their career. All we ask of our listeners, students, and professionals is to have a genuine interest, dedication, and work hard towards their goals. With our affordable pricing, Physics Wallah is here to support you on your path to success.