Physics Wallah (PW) and its founder Alakh Pandey have become central figures in India's edtech sector, standing out even in a challenging funding environment. Pandey, with his relatable and inspirational backstory, has built a reputation as an educator, mentor, and influencer, resonating with students aiming for engineering or medical careers regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds. However, beneath this image lies a rapidly growing business.
In an earlier interview with The Ken, Pandey frequently deferred questions about growth and funding to his co-founder, Prateek Maheshwari, signaling a clear division of roles—Pandey as the visionary and Maheshwari as the strategist executing the business operations.
PW’s recent international expansion into the UAE, marked by the acquisition of local test-prep startup Knowledge Planet in March, raises questions about whether this move aligns with Pandey’s mission to uplift underserved Indian students or reflects Maheshwari’s business acumen.
The UAE is a known market for Indian edtech, with Byju’s having already established a presence targeting the Indian diaspora with premium educational products. However, PW’s strength lies in offering free or low-cost content, focusing on students who might otherwise not afford traditional coaching. Its premium offerings in the UAE, as highlighted on PW Gulf’s website, suggest a potential shift, expanding their reach from school prep to advanced coaching for engineering and medical exams. This move could signal a shift toward a more lucrative business model, tailored to the wealthier expatriate community in the region.
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