Gyansrota

The e-learning industry is booming, offering students a flexible and convenient way to learn. However, a significant gap exists for students who prefer to learn in their native languages. Meet Gyansrota, a brainchild Was established in 1998 as a division of ACI Pvt Ltd. ACI was remaned to ASCOSYS in 2018.
Mondeep Sarma, a passionate entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in technology, saw a need for regional language e-learning solutions. Driven by this vision, he created Gyansrota, aiming to bridge the educational divide and empower learners across India.
Gyansrota offers a comprehensive e-learning platform for K12 students. They have experience in serving more than 2.40 lakh students with content prepared in 4 different languages for students from classes 9 to 12 in both online and preloaded mode. Their unique value proposition lies in catering to students in 9 languages, covering 14 boards, with plans to expand to all boards and 26 languages!
Their content goes beyond just video lectures. Gyansrota provides downloadable eBooks aligned with school syllabi, question banks, and practice apps for mathematics, English grammar, and spoken English, all designed to create a holistic learning experience. We started another app in the name of Gyansrota Entrance, which was Gyansrota NEET at the time of launching, which provides coaching for NEET free of charge.
But Gyansrota is more than just features. They prioritize building trust with their users. They offer pre-loaded content, eliminating concerns about missed live classes or internet connectivity issues. Additionally, they actively address user concerns and provide value-added services like free live classes and crash courses.
In an exclusive interview for the “Most Trusted Brand Of The Year 2024” edition, Mr. Sarma will share his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges he faced, and the valuable lessons learned. Are you curious to learn how Gyansrota is revolutionizing education and empowering students throughout India? Stay Tuned!

Prime Insights: Kindly give us a brief about the company’s inception story.

It all began over 25 years ago with a passion for technology. We started by building websites and software, then branched out to mobile apps and IT training for businesses and government agencies.
In 2012, we saw a gap in the social media landscape. One of our proudest moments was building one of the first regional language social networking sites in India, featured in Hindustan Times!
Our expertise extends beyond websites. We can create regional language eBooks, with hundreds already under our belt—some even on Google Books.
But technology isn’t just about business for us. We’re working with the Bodo Sahitya Sabha to digitally preserve and revitalize the Bodo language and culture through a project called E-thunlai. It’s a truly unique privilege to contribute to a language’s future.
Now, we’re excited about new platforms like Pujasamogri.com and Neo-Bookman, an innovative space for readers and writers. We’re constantly evolving, using technology to bridge divides and empower communities.

Prime Insights: What was the motivating force behind its inception?

The birth of Gyansrota was driven by a disparity in the e-learning landscape. In 2018, I noticed a gap: most students preferred to learn in their regional languages, yet the market was filled with English-medium courses. Existing platforms offered generic content at exorbitant costs, often requiring constant internet connectivity. This created an uneven playing field, excluding many potential learners.
Gyansrota was born out of a desire to bridge this divide. Our mission was clear: to make quality education accessible to all, regardless of language, location, or financial constraints. By offering locally relevant content, affordable pricing, and offline accessibility, we aimed to democratize education and empower learners across the country. Preloaded/downloadable content helped students study as per their own convenience.

Prime Insights: What were the initial challenges faced by your business?

Our initial journey was fraught with challenges.
Due to some change in technology, we had to shift from only preloaded content to an online version. This shift delayed the full rollout by 2 years.
During the pandemic, the mushrooming of edutech companies providing poor quality content created a mistrust in the market. False promises, failure to provide online classes on time, and, as promised, adding to the same. Even a few big players contributed to it.
Additionally, reaching the students in tire 3 towns and in rural areas was a big problem for us as it was large, scattered, and digital penetration was low.

Prime Insights: How is the brand defining the “trust factor” in the market?

We never make false promises. We say what we offer and how it can help students, but we never make any promise on the impact of our courses on the result.
We provide the complete course we offer in preloaded mode at the time of purchase. So no issue like failing to provide live classes or students missing them does not arise. Like purchasing a book, you get what you have paid for at the time of purchase.
We have mechanisms to address very small issues that may be important for users.
We offer more than what we promise. Free live classes for subscribers, crash courses, additional question papers, etc. are common practices that are helping us to get the trust of the students.
Most importantly, we are available to address any issue of our audience.

Prime Insights: What services does the brand offer to its clients?

Presently, we are offering classes to

• Classes 9 & 10: Assam Board (English, Assamese, Bodo, Bengali), Maharashtra Board (Marathi), CBSE (English)
• Classes 11 & 12: Science stream
• Kindergarten: English And Assamese medium too

Our course components are:

• eBooks aligned with school syllabus
• Video lectures
• Model question papers and answers
• MCQ practice app
• Mathematics learning app
• English grammar app
• Spoken English (regional to English)
• Bilingual dictionaries
• Free downloadable content

Prime Insights: How does the brand evaluate the value of a customer?

As the brand is dealing with one of the most vital components of some’s life—education, our constant focus is to provide value to a customer.
Assessing how personalized learning paths and adaptive learning technologies affect user engagement and satisfaction. Continuously evaluating and updating the content to ensure it meets the users’ needs and keeps them engaged.
Implementing programs to help users achieve their learning goals, thereby increasing satisfaction and retention.
Building and nurturing a community around the platform to enhance user experience and loyalty. Gyansrota community in website and app, Facebook pages in local languages, etc. are helping to develop the Gyansrota community.
Offering rewards for milestones, referrals, and active participation to encourage continued use and advocacy. Online quizzes and contests are helping us in this regard. Our app has an inbuilt link to the quiz part, which is a regular feature.

Prime Insights: How well are the clients connected with the brand?

Gyansrota maintains strong client relationships. Our products are integral to a student’s learning journey, requiring continuous engagement. This fosters a deeper connection between our brand and our users.

Prime Insights: What are the most effective marketing initiatives or programs the brand has used to promote its initiatives, offerings, or services?

Social media, particularly Facebook, has been our primary marketing tool. Its wide reach and cost-efficiency have allowed us to connect effectively with our target audience.

Prime Insights: Are there any new categories or changes to be introduced this year?

Yes, we’ve expanded our offerings this year. We’ve introduced new categories focused on job information and competitive exams. These additions complement our existing educational content and aim to provide a comprehensive platform for students and professionals.

Prime Insights: What’s the first thing that enters a consumer’s mind when they see your brand?

When people think of Gyansrota, I want them to instantly connect it with knowledge. We’re more than just an e-learning platform; we’re a trusted source of information and learning. We’ve worked hard to position our brand as a synonym for knowledge accessibility and quality education.

Prime Insights: What targets and plans are to be achieved in the coming years?

We plan to grow Gyansrota by offering classes for more subjects and in different languages. We want to reach more students and help them learn better.

Prime Insights: What message does the company give to the young entrepreneurs reading this draft?

Young entrepreneurs should think outside the box to bring fresh, innovative ideas to the table. They should continuously learn, adapt, and evolve in a rapidly changing business environment. They should build a strong network and collaborate with others to achieve mutual success. They should maintain integrity, ethical practices, and social responsibility in business dealings. They should pursue their passions with a clear vision and dedication.