Rahul Raj

Indian edtech pioneer bridging rural-urban education gaps through mobile learning platforms

About Rahul Raj

Rahul Raj is the founder of Shiksha Connect, an Indian social enterprise providing low-cost mobile education solutions to rural students. Born in a small village in Bihar in 1995, he recognized the vast educational disparities during his studies at IIT Kanpur. In 2020, he launched Shiksha Connect with a mission to 'democratize education through technology.'

The company's flagship app offers free access to over 12,000+ video lectures, interactive quizzes, and live tutoring sessions. With 5 million+ users across 22 states, Shiksha Connect has reduced school dropout rates by 60% in partner districts. Its 'Offline Learning Mode' works on basic feature phones, reaching areas with limited connectivity.

Raj's innovation earned the 2022 Google Impact Challenge Award ($1M grant) and partnerships with Microsoft's AI for Accessibility program. He developed the 'Digital Mentorship Program' connecting rural students with corporate professionals for career guidance, impacting 200,000+ youth since 2021.

In 2023, he launched the ScholarSphere platform, a free resource hub for government school teachers. His TED Talk 'Closing the Education Divide with Smartphones' has 3.2 million views. Rahul's work was recognized in Time Magazine's 2023 '25 Most Influential Social Entrepreneurs.'