PurpleTutor Company Profile

Background

Overview

Founded in 2019 by IIT Bombay alumni Gaurav Perti and Yatish Gupta, PurpleTutor is a Mumbai-based edtech startup specializing in live, online coding classes for children aged 6 to 16. The company's mission is to equip young learners with computational thinking skills, fostering problem-solving abilities and preparing them for future technological advancements. By offering courses in Python, Scratch, Artificial Intelligence, 3D game design, web development, Roblox, and data science, PurpleTutor aims to transform students from passive tech consumers into active tech creators.

Key Strategic Focus

Core Objectives

Personalized Learning: Utilizing AI-driven platforms to tailor educational experiences to individual student needs.

Comprehensive Curriculum: Offering a diverse range of courses, including Python, Scratch, AI, 3D game design, web development, Roblox, and data science.

Global Reach: Expanding services to international markets, with a significant presence in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and North America.

Key Technologies Utilized

Artificial Intelligence: Implementing AI to enhance live classes, providing real-time feedback to instructors and personalizing student learning paths.

Proprietary Scheduling System: Matching students with appropriate teachers to optimize learning outcomes.

Primary Markets Targeted

International Expansion: Focusing on markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and North America to broaden the company's global footprint.

Financials and Funding

Funding History

Seed Round: In early 2021, PurpleTutor raised approximately $300,000 in a seed funding round led by IvyCap Ventures, with participation from investors including Krishna Kumar, Founder and CEO of Simplilearn.

Utilization of Capital

Technology Enhancement: Strengthening the AI-driven platform to improve personalized learning experiences.

Customer Acquisition: Expanding the user base through targeted marketing and outreach initiatives.

Operational Expansion: Scaling up teacher recruitment and training programs to meet growing demand.

Pipeline Development

Key Milestones

User Growth: Achieved over 100,000 registered users within 18 months of launch.

Project Completion: Students have completed more than 20,000 projects, including apps available on app stores.

Revenue Growth: Reported a 16-fold increase in revenues since inception, reaching an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of $1.5 million with positive gross margins.

Future Goals

User Base Expansion: Aiming to surpass one million users and achieve $25 million in ARR within the next year.

Teacher Recruitment: Planning to grow the teacher base to 2,200 to support scaling operations.

Long-Term Vision: Targeting an ARR of $1 billion within the next five years.

Technological Platform and Innovation

Proprietary Technologies

AI-Driven Live Classes: Developed an AI system that provides real-time feedback to instructors, enhancing teaching effectiveness and personalizing student learning experiences.

Significant Scientific Methods

Customized Learning Paths: Teachers design personalized learning journeys based on students' creativity, ability, and interests, facilitated by in-house training programs.

Leadership Team

Executive Profiles

Gaurav Perti, CEO: An alumnus of IIT Bombay and IIM Lucknow, Gaurav has over 16 years of industry experience, including leadership roles at Standard Chartered Bank. He co-founded PurpleTutor to revolutionize education through technology.

Yatish Gupta, CTO: Holding B.Tech and M.Tech degrees from IIT Bombay, Yatish has over 17 years of experience in technology, including startup ventures. He is passionate about technical education and believes in the transformative power of coding for children.

Rajat Dhariwal, Chief Product Officer: With a background in Computer Science from IIT Bombay and Carnegie Mellon University, Rajat has experience in teaching, curriculum development, and entrepreneurship. He joined PurpleTutor to enhance product and curriculum development.

Fatima Jilani, Head of Curriculum: An engineer by qualification and a teacher at heart, Fatima has extensive experience in teaching and curriculum development, focusing on K-12 education.

Leadership Changes

Recent Appointments

Rajat Dhariwal: Appointed as Chief Product Officer in March 2020, bringing expertise in education and product development to PurpleTutor.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

Market Size and Growth: The live learning market for K-12 students is estimated to be about $9-10 billion, with a population of over 280 million students.

Competitor Analysis

Key Competitors: PurpleTutor operates in a competitive segment with startups like WhiteHat Jr, Codingal, Tekie, Codeyoung, Tinker Coders, StayQrious, Camp K12, CodeVidhya, Dcoder, and Coding Ninjas.

Competitive Landscape: The market is characterized by rapid growth and innovation, with companies focusing on live coding classes and personalized learning experiences.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

Investor Relations

IvyCap Ventures: Led the seed funding round, providing capital and strategic support for technology enhancement and market expansion.

Operational Insights

Strategic Considerations

Teacher Recruitment: Emphasis on hiring teachers with formal Computer Science degrees, with a significant portion being women from tier 2 cities, aligning with sustainability goals.