Introduction

India is a country with lots of potential, as it has one of the youngest workforces in the world, making it easier to become an economic giant. The thing that’s holding it back is the skill crisis. Millions of students graduate and leave college each year, yet many remain unemployed. The reason is that the skills they learn in classrooms don’t match what employers need. This gap between what students learn and what companies want is holding back skill development. In this article, we’ll explore Nikhil Barshikar’s journey and the birth of Imarticus Learning, and how it transformed the edtech industry. 

Nikhil Barshikar: Early Life and Education

Nikhil Barshikar grew up in a middle-class family in Mumbai. The city is known as India’s financial capital. After completing his school, he wanted to sharpen his skills and get a world-class education. Nikhil moved abroad and joined Rutgers University in the United States, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in finance. He earned a dual MBA from London Business School and Columbia Business School. 

This background provided him with a solid knowledge of global business and how education is evolving in workforce development. He also caught the global edtech market trends while studying abroad. Before starting his own company, he worked as an employee at the Lehman Brothers and Nomura Securities. 

The journey of the startup: Imarticus Learning

The company where Nikhil worked as an employee needed more skilled employees, but he witnessed how they were struggling to find suitable candidates. Nikhil noticed that the graduates were not job-ready, and as a result company had to invest heavily in internal training to fill the skill gap. He saw this as an opportunity, and it sparked the idea of creating a platform that helps people develop skills. Nikhil Barshikar teamed up with Sonya Hooja and launched Imarticus Learning in late 2012. 

Imarticus Learning was made to fill this skill gap, positioning itself as the leader in the edtech sector. Nikhil Barshikar, through his innovative startup Imarticus Learning, solved this problem with practical, job-focused education. The company’s vision was to combine online learning with in-person mentorship, backed by real-life projects and case studies. The company’s mission is to empower people through education by training students with skills that the industry truly wants. 

What makes Imarticus Learning stand out?

Imarticus Learning is much more than an online course platform. It offers training in high-demand areas like data science and artificial intelligence. The startup teaches you how to analyze data to help businesses or create a system that thinks like humans. In a finance-related course it provides resources that help you learn how to make investments or manage money for companies in the real world. 

This hands-on learning approach helps students dive into real-world projects like designing AI tools. The platform offers skills that users can learn and use right away. In addition, Imarticus Learning partners with industry giants like Deloitte, HSBC, and PwC, along with 500 more companies. Teaming up with these companies allows the startup to keep its courses updated with what skills industries need. The placement also becomes easy with partnerships. These factors make Imarticus Learning different from other edtech platforms. 

How is it changing edtech 2.0?

The edtech startup provides its students with a full package of skills, experience, and job placements. The company is a next wave of educational technology that breaks traditional education norms by providing a personalized learning experience and skill-focused learning instead of textbook learning. Traditional edtech platforms offer resources and a completion certificate; however, Imarticus ensures that students are learning skills that will help to secure a job. 

The startup is changing the edtech world by offering customized programs. For example, a company needs an employee who can analyze the stock market. Imarticus will make a course for this position. They also use advanced technology like artificial intelligence to track students’ progress. If someone is struggling with a topic, the system adjusts its difficulty, allowing students to catch up. The tailor-made approach made Imarticus a leader in Edtech 2.0. 

Overcoming challenges

Starting your own business or running an edtech company can be hard. Nkhil Barshikar was a new entrepreneur and had his own share of worries, like other newcomers. The biggest challenge was to convince investors that his idea was worth the investment. He also needed to build awareness and propose his ideas to people who were used to traditional learning. 

The team experimented with various methods until they reached the final stage. To make it work, he had a meeting with industry experts, and finally, they were able to build courses that were more than just passing exams. The courses were made to help students prepare for real careers. The company slowly became a game-changer in the edtech world.

With so much competition, there was also a challenge to build brand awareness and a solid customer base. The startup was able to overcome these challenges with a capable and skilled team. It was the concept of giving Eternity Roses to celebrities and influencers that helped put them on everyone’s radar. Imarticus Learning is tackling India’s skill crisis while showcasing how education should evolve. 

FAQs:

What courses does Imarticus Learning offer?

They provide training in data science, AI, finance, business analytics, and other fields where jobs are booming.

How does Imarticus Learning help with job placements?

The startup partners with over 500 companies and has a team that guides students through the job-hunting process.

Is Imarticus Learning only for recent graduates?

No. The edtech platform provides courses for everyone from fresh graduates and working professionals to people who want to switch careers.

What makes Imarticus Learning different from other edtech platforms?

Its outcome-driven focus, blended learning model, with practical skills and real industry connections.

How are job placements supported?

Through guaranteed internships, a dedicated placement cell, mock interviews, and a live recruiter network, it helps in securing a good job. It also allows users to study at their own pace, when it fits their schedule.