Gaurav Munjal’s journey from a coding enthusiast to the CEO of one of India’s leading EdTech companies, Unacademy, is a testament to his relentless passion for technology. Munjal’s coding journey commenced in grade 12, setting the stage for a remarkable career in the tech industry.
Attending St. Xavier’s Secondary School, Munjal’s active involvement in the Science club foreshadowed his future in the tech world. This trajectory continued as he pursued a computer engineering degree at NMIMS University, solidifying his foundation in the field.
During his college years, Munjal established a YouTube channel, originally focused on Java programming tutorials, which later evolved into the renowned platform, Unacademy. This transformation showcased Munjal’s knack for innovative education solutions.
After graduation, Munjal embarked on a multi-faceted career. He founded Flatchat, a platform dedicated to helping people find compatible flatmates. Concurrently, Munjal worked as a software developer at Directi while managing his burgeoning YouTube channel.
In 2015, Flatchat found success in its acquisition by CommonFloor, marking a significant milestone in Munjal’s entrepreneurial journey.
The inception of Unacademy was a collaborative effort with co-founders Roman Saini and Hemesh Singh. Saini, an accomplished academician and former IAS officer, complemented Munjal’s vision perfectly. Together, they launched Unacademy, an online educational platform targeting competitive exam preparation.
Unacademy swiftly gained traction, offering free educational content and building a thriving community of learners and educators. Recognizing the need for a streamlined learning experience, Munjal introduced Unacademy Plus, a subscription-based product. This innovation revolutionized the platform, leading to exponential growth and setting Unacademy on a trajectory towards becoming an EdTech unicorn.
Unacademy’s meteoric rise was further propelled by substantial investments, with Softbank, Tiger Global, and General Atlantic among the key backers. By 2021, Unacademy achieved a valuation of $3.4 billion.
Despite Unacademy’s monumental success, Gaurav Munjal remains an astute investor, channeling over INR 370 million into ventures like One Code, Pepper Content, Avalon Meta, and Airmeet. This reflects Munjal’s unwavering commitment to advancing innovation in the broader tech landscape.
As the driving force behind Unacademy, Gaurav Munjal continues to shape the future of education, leaving an indelible mark on the EdTech industry.
Check out his Instagram profile.
