India is one of the most promising countries for online education businesses. The country has a large population of young people and a rapidly growing economy.
India also has a strong education culture, and many middle-class families are willing to pay for quality education.
Starting an online education business in India can be a very successful venture. When starting such a business, there are a few things to remember. And this guide will cover all you need to know.
What is an online education business?
As its name suggests, an online education business is a business that provides educational resources and services online.
This can include anything from online courses to tutoring services. Online education businesses are growing in popularity due to their flexibility and convenience.
The current state of online education in India.
The current state of online education in India is very good. The number of students taking online courses is increasing every year. The quality of online courses is also improving.
In fact, according to PRNEWSWIRE.com, the online education market in India is projected to grow to $2.28 billion USD between 2021 and 2025. That is around 19.02 percent YoY growth.
There are many reasons for the popularity of online education in India. One reason is that it is very convenient. Students can study at their own pace and time. They can also choose from a wide range of courses.
Another reason for the popularity of online education is that it is very affordable. Many students cannot afford to attend traditional schools, so they opt for online education.
And then, there is the emergence of cloud computing. The Indian government, for example, has established the National Digital Library and the National Academic Repository to help keep the education sector up to date in the technology field.
The National Digital Library attempts to provide a collection of approximately 6.5 million popular books, and the National Academic Repository encrypts and validates documents.
As a result, adopting cloud-based learning platforms for the online learning market in India will assist in solving the lack of infrastructure and security, leading to the expanded use of cloud-based learning platforms.
The potential for online education businesses in India.
The country has a large population and a growing economy. Additionally, the government is investing in education and infrastructure, as we’ve already mentioned.
We will look at some of India’s leading online education platforms to give you a clear picture.
1. Byju’s
Byju’s is an E-learning company and has headquarters in Bangalore, Karnataka. Byju’s has 10,001+ employees. It is a privately held company, and it recently raised $5.7B.
This platform aims to devise games and applications for EdTech to use fun interactions with their team of experts to boost understanding among learners and Indian teachers.
In fact, Byju is one of the top EdTech companies supplying certified learning and customized applications.
In partnership with Disney, they’ve launched Byju ‘s Early preschool classes, and in partnership with Aakash Institute, they’ve developed customized JEE and NEET preparation materials.
They offer IAS preparation courses as well.
Due to the upcoming technology startup in India, Byju now holds the first position among EdTech companies in the country.
2. Unacademy
Unacademy began its journey as a YouTube channel in 2010 by Hemesh Singh. This company is currently known for being one of the top EdTech corporations in India, thanks to more than 30,000,000 learners each year.
Unacademy’s goal is to provide educational information on every possible topic in multiple languages. The company has also expanded into a broad selection of industries, including pre-med, banking, Casablanca Premier Account, CAPF, CA, Unist’ot’en style, CAT, CLAT, and more.
Students can follow instructors to receive live teaching by watching video tutorials for beginners, which are available in various languages.
Unacademy has raised $838.5M!
3. Classplus.
Classplus is another Indian company that specializes in E-learning. It has 201-500 employees and is based in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Classplus was founded in 2017 by Mukul Rustagi, and just like Byju’s, it is a privately held company.
The edTech has raised $129.5M.
A single information management software known as Classplus allows educational organizations, tuition centers, and online instructors to standardize interaction, payments, and distribution of content for their clients.
4. Embibe
The Mumbai company Embibe was founded in 2012 by Aditi Avasthi. Reliance Industries Ltd. is actually the one providing monetary support for this project.
The Embibe project intends to provide specialized help to learners. Operates a freemium business model, where all teaching materials are free, but the consultation sessions are only available for a fee.
It has 501-1000 employees and has raised ₹900M.
This gives you an idea of how lucrative the online education market is here in India.
How To Start An Online Education Business In India.
If that sounds interesting, here are some steps you can take to launch your next edTech startup in India.
The basics: what you need to get started.
Firstly, you’ll need to obtain a license from the Indian government. This can be done by applying for a business license and providing all the required documents.
Once you have your license, you’ll need to set up office space and hire staff.
Next, you’ll need to create a website and marketing strategy. Your website should be designed to attract students and parents, and your marketing strategy should focus on promoting your business online.
Finally, you’ll need to put together a curriculum and teaching materials. It’s important that you provide high-quality materials that will help your students succeed online.
Once you have all these things in place, you’ll need to get the word out about your business. We will discuss some of the most effective ways to get your first 1K users!
Step 1: Finding your niche.
What is a niche? A niche is a small piece of a larger market. If you are interested in teaching English, you could create a niche by focusing on teaching students with accents.
This would make your classes more interesting and help you stand out from other teachers.
There are a few ways to find your niche in the online education business in India.
The first step is to consider what you are passionate about and what you have experience in. Once you have a general idea, you can start researching specific markets and target audiences.
Another way to find your niche is to look at what other online educators are doing. See what topics are popular and where there might be gaps in the market.
Another approach is to think about what problems you can solve for students. What knowledge or skills can you offer to make someone’s life easier?
Once you have a few ideas, it is time to start testing them out. Create some content around your chosen topic and see how it resonates with potential students.
If you see some potential, move to step 2 to start an online education business in India.
Step 2: Develop the technology
Technology is critical for online education businesses. Invest in the best technology you can afford and ensure your team is trained on how to use it effectively.
When choosing technology for your online education business, a few important factors to consider are:
- Ease of use for both teachers and students
- Integration with other systems (such as your website or CRM)
- Cost. It should be affordable to all social backgrounds.
Many different types of technology are available for online education businesses in India, so it’s important to research and choose the right one for your needs. Here are a few popular options:
- Learning management systems (LMS): These are used to deliver course content, track student progress, and manage administrative tasks. Popular LMS options include Blackboard, Canvas, and Moodle.
- Web conferencing software: This is used for live lectures or presentations.
- E-learning platforms: These are used to create and deliver online courses. Popular eLearning platforms include Articulate, Adobe Captivate, and iSpring.
- Assessment tools: These are used to test students’ knowledge and assess their progress. Popular assessment tools include Quizlet, Testmoz, and ExamSoft.
If you can’t find what works for you, consider creating one from scratch. It might sound daunting, but with the right team in place, anything is possible.
You have to figure out the problem/challenge you are trying to fix and get your team to start thinking of potential solutions.
Step 3: Come up with a killer business plan
The third step to starting an online education business in India is to develop a killer business plan. This includes researching, knowing your target market, and having a solid marketing strategy.
First, you need to research and understand India’s online education landscape. What are the current trends? What is the competition like? Who is your target market? Once you understand the industry well, you can start putting together your business plan.
Next, you need to know who your target market is. Who are you trying to reach with your online education courses? Once you know your target market, you can start developing a marketing strategy to reach them.
Finally, you need to have a solid marketing strategy in place. How are you going to reach your target market?
This business plan will be handy when looking for investors or partners to help you get your online education business.
Step 4: Get funding
This can be difficult, as many investors are risk-averse regarding new businesses. However, there are a few ways to overcome this obstacle.
One way is to bootstrap your business. This means using your own personal savings or taking out loans from friends and family. This option can be risky, as you may not have enough capital to sustain your business in the long run.
Another option is to seek out angel investors or venture capitalists. These are individuals or firms that invest in early-stage companies. They typically have a higher tolerance for risk than traditional investors, which makes them more likely to invest in your business.
You could also apply for government grants or loans. Grant programs like the MUDRA loans are sanctioned by the Micro-Units Development and Refinance Agency organization established by the government of India to provide finance to units of micro-business.
Government loans are another option, but they’re usually only available if you have a proven track record in business.
Step 5: Marketing your online education business in India
Now that you clearly understand your vision and values, it’s time to start marketing your online education business in India.
Marketing is vital for any venture, especially when launching an online educational platform, as there are many other options competing for students’ attention.
You need to be able to stand out from the crowd and attract students who are looking for quality education.
There are many different marketing channels that you can use to reach your target audience, but some of the most effective methods include the following:
1) Creating a strong social media presence.
Social media is one of the most powerful marketing tools available and can be used to reach a large number of people at little cost.
Create profiles on popular platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and start sharing engaging content that will capture attention and generate interest in your online education business.
Read also: How to Start Blogging on Social Media in India (and Make Money).
2) Developing an SEO-friendly website.
Your website is one of your most important marketing assets, so it’s important to ensure that it is optimized for search engines.
This means incorporating relevant keywords into your content, using eye-catching visuals, and creating an easy-to-navigate user interface.
3) Creating informative blog posts.
Informative blog posts can be a great way to attract attention to your website and generate interest in your online education business.
Write helpful articles that offer advice or information on topics related to your courses and include links to your website.
4) Utilizing email marketing campaigns.
Email marketing can be an effective way to reach potential students who may be interested in taking one of your courses.
Develop a list of targeted recipients and send them periodic emails with updates about new course offerings, special promotions, or other relevant information.
5) Investing in online advertising.
Online advertising is another great way to reach potential students and promote your online education business.
Platforms like Google AdWords allow you to create targeted ads that will be displayed to users searching for keywords related to your courses or educational services.
You can reach many potential students and generate interest in your online education business by utilizing some or all of these marketing channels.
Read also: 11 Proven Strategies to Grow Your Online Business in India.
The challenges of starting an online education business in India
Yes, the online education business in India is growing rapidly, with new players and investors coming into the market.
However, various challenges need to be addressed before starting an online education business in India.
One of the major challenges is the lack of quality infrastructure and internet connectivity in India. This makes it difficult to provide a seamless online learning experience to students.
Secondly, there is a lack of awareness about online education among parents and students. This makes it difficult to promote and sell online courses.
Thirdly, there is stiff competition from established offline educational institutions. These institutes have deep pockets and can afford to spend on marketing and advertising to attract students.
Fourthly, setting up an effective customer support system is crucial for any online business, and this can be challenging in India due to the lack of trained personnel.
However, despite the challenges, the online education market in India is expected to grow rapidly. The government of India has been promoting online education, and some of its initiatives have already shown results.
The future of online education in India
As the world progresses, so does the field of education. India has always been a country that highly prioritizes education, and with the rise of online education, more and more students are turning to this type of learning.
While there are many reasons why online education is becoming popular in India, some of the most notable ones include the flexibility it offers and the fact that it is often more affordable than traditional learning methods.
In addition, online education provides students with a wider range of choices regarding courses and programs.
Looking into the future, it is evident that online education in India is here to stay. More and more students will continue to turn to this type of learning to gain the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their chosen careers. Furthermore, as technology improves, so will online education quality.
Either way, here are a few things to remember when starting an online education business. First, you need to identify your target market. Who are you trying to reach with your services? Once you know your target market, you can start creating content and marketing your business to them.
It’s also important to clearly understand what you’re offering. What type of services or resources will you provide? What format will they be in? Will they be video-based, text-based, or something else? Having a clear vision for your business will help you create a successful marketing strategy and attract the right customers.
Read also: 7 Easy Steps To Start A Digital Marketing Business In India.