Physics Wallah, an EdTech platform founded by Alakh Pandey (CEO of PW) in 2014. Their passion for teaching has pushed him to start his own YouTube channel which today become the 101st Unicorn startup in India. Physics Wallah raised $100 million from WestBridge Capital and GSV Ventures and reached a valuation of $1.1 billion. What began as a humble YouTube channel dedicated to providing in-depth lessons for JEE and NEET preparation quickly grew into a nationwide phenomenon. Alakh’s passion for teaching and his ability to connect with students transformed Physics Wallah into one of the most trusted names in online education. In this article, we will discuss the story of Alakh Pandey the guy behind Physics Wallah.
Early Life of Alakh Pandey
Alakh Pandey was born and brought up in Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh). He was excellent in his studies since childhood to support his family he started giving private tuition when he was in 8th standard. He wanted to go to IIT but could not crack JEE and later was admitted to Harcourt Butler Technical Institute (HBTI) in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh in Mechanical Engineering. His family had to sell their house to pay the college fees. Alakh developed an interest in acting and want to become an actor in his college days.
In the third year, he chose to drop out of college, went back to Prayagraj, and started teaching physics in a coaching institute at Rs 5,000 per month. His love for acting was even reflected in his teaching style and later students started liking the teaching style of Alakh Pandey and he became the favorite of many students. However, he knew that he could not teach a huge number of students and create an impact just by teaching in a small institute. That’s when he decided to start his Channel on YouTube.
Alakh Pandey recognized a significant gap in the education market and there was a need for affordable, high-quality educational content that could reach students from all backgrounds. While many platforms were available, they were either too expensive or lacked the engaging, personalized approach that students needed. Alakh decided to fill this void by offering accessible and interactive content, particularly for competitive exams like JEE and NEET.
He made learning enjoyable and relatable by simplifying complex concepts with humor and real-life examples. By leveraging YouTube, Alakh was able to reach millions of students across India, breaking the geographical and financial barriers that often made education inaccessible.
His unique teaching style quickly gained popularity, and the success of his YouTube channel laid the foundation for Physics Wallah. Alakh’s approach revolutionized online education which makes learning affordable and fun and engaging, ultimately helping millions of students achieve their academic goals.
Youtube Channel of Alakh Pandey
In 2016, Alakh Pandey started his YouTube channel Physics Wallah. He thought of doing something different from other channels and he noticed a gap that no one was teaching ICSE board class 10th students then he started to help them by making videos and gaining ten thousand subscribers. Later, he quit the coaching institute to focus on growing his YouTube channel, and in just two years channel grew to 2 million subscribers.
However, the unique approach to teaching and the personalized, approachable style soon began to attract more and more viewers. Realizing the potential of his YouTube channel and the growing demand for his lessons, Alakh made the bold decision to quit his job at the coaching institute and dedicate himself fully to Physics Wallah. Later, he quit the coaching institute to focus on growing his YouTube channel, and in just two years channel grew to 2 million subscribers.
Alakh’s success story was built on his commitment to making learning accessible, affordable, and enjoyable. His engaging teaching methods, combined with his passion for helping students succeed, resonated deeply with his audience. He also built a sense of community among students, which further fueled the growth of his channel. This milestone marked the beginning of Physics Wallah’s transformation from a small YouTube channel into one of India’s leading EdTech platforms.
Journey from a YouTube channel to a Unicorn Startup
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it became a challenging task for Alakh to handle all the work individually as the number of subscribers was increasing. So in 2020, Alakh Pandey joined hands with Prateek Maheshwari to scale up the Business. Prateek joined as the Co-founder of PW, he has 14 years of experience in establishing tech-based companies like NightPanda, PenPencil, and Moon2Noon.
He transformed his YouTube channel into an EdTech Business. Alakh Pandey manages education and branding matters, and Prateek Maheshwari leads the charge on the product and technology of Physics Wallah. After live classes, they also work on features like doubts, revision, and tests and then add more teachers. On student demand, they also launched their offline institute in Kota, Rajasthan.
In just a few years, Physics Wallah raised $100 million from GSV ventures and WestBridge capital reached a valuation of $1.1 billion (equal to over Rs 9,000 crore today), and became the 101st unicorn startup in India. Currently, Physics Wallah has 6.9 million subscribers on YouTube and 5.2 million downloads on Play Store “Physics Wallah” has become a force to reckon with in the Indian EdTech space. The platform continues to inspire millions of students, offering affordable and top-notch educational content.
Future Plans
Physics Wallah always listens to his student’s feedback and demands. However, due to the demands of many students to open one-on-one coaching at a reasonable price, they are working on it. Alakh Pandey and his team recognize that their growth is largely driven by the support and trust of their student community. This student-first approach has played an important role in shaping the platform’s evolution.
One of the key demands that emerged from their ever-growing base of students was the desire for more personalized learning experiences. In response to this, Physics Wallah has been working diligently to introduce one-on-one coaching options at a reasonable price. This initiative is aimed at providing students with personalized attention which helps them overcome individual academic challenges while ensures affordability. Physics Wallah is actively developing a solution that balances high-quality tutoring with accessibility.
As the platform continues to expand its reach, Physics Wallah has set its sights on the offline education space. Plans are in motion to establish offline centers across India that ensure students from every corner of the country can benefit from the high-quality, affordable education that Physics Wallah offers. This move will bridge the gap for students who may not have access to digital learning tools or who prefer face-to-face interactions for more hands-on learning.
They are also planning to open their offline centers in every corner of India. Also, they are planning to launch courses for PG students to prepare for exams like the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) and the National Exit Test (NEXT).
Conclusion
Started with a YouTube channel with a vision to provide quality education for students and now became the 101st unicorn startup in India. Success Story of Physics Wallah inspires all of us to believe in ourselves no matter what happens, what you make out of it is up to you. May this story of Physics Wallah inspire you to achieve your goals.
His story teaches us that success is not determined by your background or circumstances but by your dedication and willingness to keep moving forward. May this story of Physics Wallah inspire you to believe in yourself, stay committed to your dreams and work tirelessly toward achieving your goals, no matter the obstacles.
