Early Life
Alakh Pandey was born on October 2, 1991, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, into a middle-class family. His early life was marked by financial constraints, which instilled in him a strong work ethic. He started tutoring younger students in the 9th grade to support his family. This early exposure to teaching ignited his passion for education and laid the foundation for his future endeavors. He excelled in school, excelling in physics and mathematics. He later enrolled in Harcourt Butler Technical Institute (HBTI) Kanpur for Mechanical Engineering but dropped out in his third year.
Rise to Success
Alakh Pandey's career began in 2016 with a YouTube channel, 'Physics Wallah', where he uploaded physics lectures. His unique teaching style, which simplified complex concepts using real-life examples and relatable language, quickly gained popularity among students. The channel grew rapidly, and by 2019, it had over 2 million subscribers. In 2020, he co-founded Physics Wallah as an Edtech company along with Prateek Maheshwari. The platform offered affordable online courses and resources for students preparing for competitive exams like JEE and NEET. The company's growth was exponential, and it achieved unicorn status in 2022.
Key Business Strategies
The core of Physics Wallah's success lies in its commitment to affordability and accessibility. The platform offered high-quality courses at a fraction of the cost of traditional coaching centers, making it accessible to students from diverse economic backgrounds. The content was initially free, then priced courses at affordable rates, which attracted a large student base. Physics Wallah has adopted a hybrid approach. They have an online platform, offline centers, and hybrid programs. Physics Wallah acquired multiple startups to expand offerings and reach. This strategy included acquisitions of education technology companies like FreeCo and Xylem Learning.
Philanthropy
Alakh Pandey is committed to making education accessible to all. He founded the PW Foundation as the CSR arm, providing free education for the underprivileged. The mission is to democratize education. The Government of Andhra Pradesh and Physics Wallah have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the University of Innovation (UoI).
