Page 46 - EW-June-2025

People

New technologies edupreneur contemporary curriculums and
mentorship to make up for the
structural inefficiencies of Indian
education. Professionals in industry
succeed despite the education
system, not because of it. Even
at IIT-Roorkee, learning was
mostly theoretical with little focus
on workplace applications. This
awareness prompted promotion
of NS. Our curriculum teaches
problems-solving through project-
based learning and industry
mentorship rather than outdated
textbooks,” says Maheshwari.
The next step forward for the NS
promoters was to develop a neo-
university model to bridge the gap
between education and industry.
“Newton School of Technology,
promoted four years after NS, offers
class XII school-leavers a four-year
Maheshwari (centre left): success despite education system residential industry-integrated
B.Tech Computer Science Engineer-
he latest initiative of Bengalu- Organisation (DRDO). ing program focused on AI, ma-
ru-based serial entrepreneur History. Born in Gwalior, Mahesh- chine learning, and data science. By
TSIDDHARTH MAHESHWARI, wari transformed into a digital partnering with Rishihood and DY
co-founder of digital upskilling plat- native at early age. In class X of the Patil universities, we have devised
form Newton School (NS, estb.2019), ECS School, Gwalior, he started a a revenue model under which these
is the Newton School of Technology tech blog and established his own varsities provide the infrastructure
(NST, estb.2023). NST hosts 900 development studio. This early start — campus and hostel facilities —
students spread across two campuses conferred financial independence while we provide the curriculum and
in Rishihood University, Sonipat and enabling him to pay for his own edu- faculty. We award the degree jointly
DY Patil University, Pune. cation and tech gadgets. Later, while with these universities equipped with
NS provides graduates and a computer science engineering stu- excellent enabling infrastructure,”
working professionals an AI-driven dent at IIT-Roorkee (Uttarakhand), explains Maheshwari.
online data science course to prepare he often taught programming to NS course (14 months) fees:
them for quick career progression. children in rural schools. Rs.225,000; NST residential four
Since it was established six years ago, In 2013 Maheshwari began years: Rs.6 lakh per year.
NS has placed over 4,500 alumni in his career in InMobi, an Indian Future plans. With market response
over 800 tech companies including multinational tech company, as a having proved “excellent,” Mahesh-
Google, Target, Jio, Lenskart, software development engineer. Two wari has drawn up ambitious plans
Razorpay, Flipkart, Zomato, and years later, he went solo and together for both schools. “In NS, which
Deloitte. with a fellow-student at IIT-Roorkee, provides online education to post-
Newspeg. NST, Maheshwari’s new Maheshwari co-founded Flicksup, grad and working professionals, the
venture, is off the blocks to a good a content discovery platform which focus is on AI-powered upskilling,
start. Over 90 percent of second- “didn’t scale”. In 2017, together with developing more AI-driven learning
year NST Computer Science & Nishant Chandra, another IIT- products to enhance personalised
Artificial Intelligence students at the Roorkee batchmate, he launched a education and career progression.
Rishihood University campus have learning and mentorship platform For NST which is for higher second-
secured internships in blue-chip tech which transformed into the Newton ary school-leavers, we are all set to
companies — Razorpay, Sarvam AI, School in 2019 and attracted venture launch a standalone NST campus
Zoomcar, Allen Digital, Physics Wal- capital of $30 million (Rs.259 crore). in Electronic City, Bengaluru,” says
lah, as also the Union government’s Direct talk. “Working professionals Maheshwari.
Defence Research & Development in Indian industry require Paromita Sengupta (Bengaluru)

46 EDUCATIONWORLD JUNE 2025