Soham Wani

Indian tech entrepreneur who revolutionized affordable education through AI-driven platforms

Soham Wani (born 1989) is the founder of Vedantu, an Indian edtech giant that pioneered the 'live tutoring' model. Growing up in a Mumbai slum, Wani recognized education inequity early - only 28% of India's rural students attend quality schools. His 2017 platform combined AI with live video lessons, reducing tuition costs by 70% while achieving 92% learning outcomes parity with traditional tutoring.

Vedantu's unique algorithm analyzes student performance to create personalized learning paths, now used by 12 million students across India. The company's 2020 launch of StudyUp brought these tools to Africa through partnerships with Kenya's BRCK Foundation, reaching 500,000 learners in 3 years. Wani's 2021 TED Talk 'Education as a Human Right' has garnered 8.3M views, inspiring similar platforms in Nigeria and Bangladesh.

His 2022 initiative <《Digital School Kits》》 provides offline-enabled tablets with preloaded courses to remote areas, currently deployed in 1,500 villages. Wani's work has directly contributed to India's 15% increase in secondary school enrollment since 2018. Critics argue his platforms sometimes lack teacher interaction, but supporters note they've made STEM education accessible to girls in conservative regions where only 34% previously enrolled.