Toprankers Aims At Expanding Its Offline Centres

Education in India has taken a significant shift in the past few years with most of the institutes adopting emerging technologies including AI, metaverse and others to educate students as well as professionals who are in search of courses which enhances their skills so that they can get better job opportunities or one can start their business. These new technologies have given leverage to the big and small education technology institutes and platforms to make this practice smooth and enjoyable for the people who are availing their service for the betterment of their career and student life. Among all these institutes, there is Toprankers which has aimed at offering students comprehensive and exceptional learning experiences to help them embark on new age career opportunities. Speaking to Opportunity India, Gaurav Goel, Co-Founder and CEO of the company told various aspects of the education industry and new trends in the market. He also talks about challenges that lie in the industry which need to be addressed. Following are the excerpt from the conversations:

Could you share the story of Toprankers’ journey, including its founding and major milestones?

Gaurav: The basic idea was creating career and scope awareness for unconventional careers for both students and parents. We also aimed at overcoming the mindset towards deeply rooted domain subjects. Today a significant number of students are inclining towards new age careers, be it lawyer, corporate lawyer, IP lawyer, digital marketer, investment banker, UI/UX designer. We thought for all such careers there is no platform available and that’s what we wanted to start.  Toprankers has redefined edtech and has emerged as India’s largest super career platform Over the years. Renowned brands like LegalEdge, Supergrads, Judiciary Gold, Creative Edge, and Legaledge after College now operate under the Toprankers umbrella. With a dedicated team of around 400 individuals, Toprankers has achieved a significant milestone by operating in profit, a notable accomplishment in the edtech industry.

At Toprankers, Our goal is to democratize education and empower individuals to achieve their academic and professional dreams through innovative and effective learning experiences. We started in 2016 by three of us including Karan Mehta and Harsh Gagrani. 

The platform has trained more than 40 thousand students, where our team visits regional schools, counsels, students online and offline, meet parents, understand their perspective, share the scope and info about careers, solves their queries and a lot more. For non-conventional courses we have a couple of sub-brands under us that are strategically working here. If someone has decided to become a lawyer, they know they have to write an exam for that which is the CLAT or if someone has decided to pursue a career in arts, they know that in India the exam for that is the CUET, the same way for management there is an exam IPMAT, the same way to become a UI/UX designer there is an exam called UCEED.

• To help students prepare for law entrances, we have LegalEdge, it is a platform that offers under graduation exams like CLAT, AILET, LSLAT, SLAT, Post graduation exams like CLAT PG, AILET PG, UGC NET, as well as provide certificate master courses to provide specialized knowledge and skills to students in various legal domains.
• Judiciary Gold prepares students for more than 10 state judiciary exams. The results include Ranks 2, 5, 6, 7 in Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services (MPCJ) 2023, 4, 14, 23, 34 in Rajasthan Judicial Services (RJS) 2022.
• Creative edge ensures end to end assistance for NID, NIFT, UCEED, CEED, JEE BArch. The platform has achieved top ranks, including AIR 3 and 14 in NID MDes prelims and a host of students achieving 98+ percentiles in JEE B.Arch.
• Supergrads prepares students for management and central university examinations like CAT, CUET, IPMAT and other. AIR, 3, 5, 7 IN IPMAT Indore 2023, over 650 students achieved 100 percentile scores in the CUET UG 2023 exam and others.

What sets Toprankers apart from other players in the edtech space?

Gaurav: Toprankers has carved a distinctive niche in helping the student every single step of the way right from choosing the right career to excelling its base exam. We have collaborated with the Increasing Diversity by Increasing Access (IDIA), a renowned NGO committed to supporting CLAT aspirants from the EWS category by offering them teaching, financial and mentoring support. Recognising the significance of nurturing talent and enabling access to legal education across diverse sections of society, Toprankers, LegalEdge has proudly collaborated with IDIA since 2019. Over the years, LegalEdge has successfully trained numerous students for free and is devoted to continuing this support in the future.

What do you see as the key trends and challenges in the edtech industry today?

Gaurav: The Edtech industry is seeing transformative trends, focusing on personalized learning, hybrid and remote education, skill development, and AI integration. Personalized learning tools, adaptive technologies, and AI-driven platforms are suitable for individual students. The emergence of hybrid and remote learning persists in post-pandemic, offering flexible educational models. Skill development platforms addressing workforce needs to become more prominent. Gamification and immersive technologies enhance engagement, while AI and analytics enhance educational programmes.  In the edtech industry, there are several challenges including access and inclusiveness, ensuring quality content, adequate teacher training, and data privacy concerns. To overcome such challenges, we need to work together and make sure everyone has access to technology, maintain high educational standards, train teachers regularly, keep student data safe, and create a culture that welcomes new technology in education.

How has the edtech landscape evolved over the past few years, and what changes do you anticipate in the near future?

Gaurav: Over the past few years, Edtech has gone through many changes. We have seen a shift to more personalized learning, where students acquire lessons that match their needs. Also, with the rise of online and remote learning, studying has become more flexible. We’ve grown by focusing on helping students at every step, not just for specific exams.

Looking ahead, I think technology will play an even larger role. More interactive and engaging ways of learning, such as using virtual reality or games, could become common. Access to education might improve globally with better internet connections. We will likely see a continued emphasis on skills that are important for jobs, such as coding and problem-solving. The future of Edtech seems exciting, with innovations making learning more pleasant and accessible for everyone.

What have been the key factors contributing to Toprankers’ growth and success?

Gaurav: Toprankers’ growth and success can be attributed to several key factors. Our commitment to providing comprehensive support to students at every stage, rather than focusing solely on specific exams, has set us apart. The introduction of new products and services, coupled with a dedication to skill-based learning, has contributed to a diverse and dynamic offering. Our leadership and hard work of our team and students have played crucial roles. Expanding both digitally and physically with learning centres across India has broadened our reach. These factors collectively contribute to Toprankers’ sustained growth and success in the competitive edtech market. We are growing 2X, in FY 23, we were around 40 – 45 crores last year.

How does the company ensure a sustainable revenue model in the highly competitive edtech market?

Gaurav: Toprankers ensures a sustainable revenue model in the competitive edtech market by focusing on a few key strategies. Firstly, we distinguish ourselves by offering comprehensive guidance, going beyond just exam preparation. This unique approach sets us apart in a crowded market.

Secondly, our continuous growth and introduction of new products and services contribute to an expanding customer base and revenue streams. Additionally, our commitment to staying profitable demonstrates financial stability, and we strategically raise funds when needed. By diversifying our offerings and expanding both digitally and physically with learning centres, we broaden our market reach. Lastly, our dedication to skill-based learning aligns with the evolving needs of students and the job market, ensuring ongoing relevance and demand for our services. Through these measures, Toprankers maintains a resilient revenue model in the ever-changing and competitive landscape of edtech.

How is Toprankers contributing to the adoption of skill-based learning in the edtech ecosystem?

Gaurav: Toprankers is playing a key role in promoting skill-based learning within the edtech community. Our platform focuses not just on traditional education but also on practical skills that are important for various careers. We provide specialized courses in areas such as Law, Architecture, Design, and Management, enabling students to acquire skills that are relevant to their chosen fields.

By offering a diverse range of courses, Toprankers is contributing to a shift in the education landscape towards more practical and applicable knowledge. We understand that success in today’s world goes beyond just exams; it requires practical skills and real-world understanding. Our commitment to skill-based learning is reflected in our comprehensive approach, ensuring that students not only excel in exams but also develop the practical skills needed for success in their chosen careers.

What are the upcoming plans and initiatives that Toprankers is working on to stay at the forefront of the edtech industry? 

Gaurav: Toprankers is gearing up for an exciting future in the edtech industry with several strategic initiatives. Our plans include widening our course offerings to cater to a broader range of student needs. Expansion of offline centres is a key focus, ensuring accessibility and personalized support in various locations. Additionally, we are actively exploring acquisitions to further enhance our portfolio. The targeted acquisitions encompass domains such as UPSC preparation, skilling products for design aspirants, and opportunities in finance, including CA and CFA.

Edtech has appeared to be a challenging business model. How has Toprankers managed to create a profitable model?

Gaurav: Running an edtech business can be tricky, but Toprankers has found a way to make it work and be profitable. The thing which makes us stand out is, we focus on helping students and bringing end-to-end support strategies for them. Our success comes from a commitment to quality education and continuous improvement, making Toprankers a trusted and profitable choice in the edtech space. I would also like to send a message to young entrepreneurs to be more relilient, accept challenges, stay persistent, and learn from setbacks. Resilience is key in the ever-evolving world of edtech.

Make Data Your Priority: Base decisions on data-driven insights. Understanding user behaviour and market trends is crucial for effective strategies.

Don’t Doubt Yourself: Believe in your vision. Doubts are natural, but staying confident in your goals will help overcome obstacles.

Comprehensively Understand the Customer and Market Segment: Know your audience inside out. Tailor your offerings to meet the specific needs of your target market.

Pick a Niche: Specialize in a specific area rather than trying to cover everything. Focusing on a niche allows for deeper expertise and targeted solutions.