Alakh Pandey, popularly known as Physics Wallah, is one of India’s most loved teachers. What started as a small YouTube channel to help students understand science has now grown into a ₹8,000 crore EdTech company. His journey is a true inspiration for every student, teacher, and entrepreneur.
Let’s take a closer look at how a small-town boy from Prayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh became the founder of one of India’s biggest EdTech startups.
Early Life of Alakh Pandey
Alakh Pandey was born on October 2, 1991, in Prayagraj. Coming from a middle-class family, he faced financial difficulties from a young age. His father worked at a private firm, and his mother was a homemaker.
He loved science and teaching since childhood. Due to financial pressure, Alakh started giving tuition when he was just in Class 8 to support his family.
Education Journey
Alakh was a bright student. He cracked UPTU entrance exam and got admission to Harcourt Butler Technical University (HBTI), Kanpur for Mechanical Engineering.
But during college, he realized that engineering wasn’t his passion – teaching was. So, in his third year, he dropped out of college to pursue his dream of teaching full-time.
Beginning of Physics Wallah
In 2016, Alakh Pandey launched his YouTube channel – Physics Wallah. His aim was to provide free quality education to students, especially for classes 10–12 and NEET/JEE aspirants.
He taught complex physics topics in very simple Hindi, using real-life examples, jokes, and energy that made learning fun.
Slowly, his channel started growing, and within 2–3 years, he had millions of subscribers. Students loved his teaching style and saw great improvement in their understanding.
The Rise of the Brand – Physics Wallah App
In 2020, during the COVID lockdown, Alakh saw that more students were coming online. He decided to launch the Physics Wallah App.
The app offered affordable online courses, test series, notes, and live classes. While other EdTech platforms charged ₹30,000 to ₹1 lakh, Physics Wallah courses started from just ₹999.
This pricing made quality education accessible to all, especially students from small towns and rural areas.
Physics Wallah Becomes a Unicorn
In June 2022, Physics Wallah raised $100 million funding from investors like WestBridge Capital and GSV Ventures. With this, it became India’s 101st unicorn (a startup valued over $1 billion).
It was the first EdTech startup in India to reach unicorn status profitably, without burning cash like others.
Today, Physics Wallah has:
- Over 12 million+ YouTube subscribers
- More than 10 million app downloads
- 50+ offline coaching centers across India
- Thousands of students cracking NEET, JEE, and board exams
Why Students Love Alakh Pandey
Alakh Pandey is not just a teacher — he’s a mentor, motivator, and friend to millions of students. His energy, honest advice, and passion to help students makes him stand out.
He always says:
“Education should not be a business. It should be a mission.”
Key Learnings from Alakh Pandey’s Journey
- Start small, but dream big
- Follow your passion, even if the road is tough
- Solve real problems for people
- Stay humble and never forget your roots
- Focus on value, not just money
Conclusion
The story of Alakh Pandey proves that you don’t need a big office or huge money to succeed. All you need is passion, purpose, and the courage to do something different.
From a small YouTube teacher to India’s EdTech icon — Physics Wallah’s journey is a lesson for all of us.