Man loses 2 jobs in one year, starts company to help others

Vaibhav Sisinty, Founder and CEO, GrowthSchool has created an innovative platform that enables professionals and founders to become the top one per cent by partnering with instructors from brands like Amazon, ShareChat, Meta, Swiggy, Hotstar, OLX, Dell, Google, Microsoft, and others. GrowthSchool creates high-impact cohort-based courses on personal and professional growth for learners from all over the world.

They also provide affordable workshops to give people a head-start and perspective on the field that is best suited for them. In an interview with Bizz Buzz, Vaibhav says, “It's an unfortunate reality that many bright individuals, despite their commendable academic achievements, struggle with unemployment due to a deficiency in hands-on, practical skills. We've designed our community-first programs with an eye towards imparting those precise skills that give people an edge in their jobs, thereby enhancing their employability”.

How did the concept of GrowthSchool come about?

There came a time in my life when I lost jobs twice within one year, and both times it was due to no fault of mine. The second instance was a result of the pandemic, and I became one of the millions of people who had lost jobs after the first lockdown in 2020. That’s when I decided that I wanted to do something to ensure that I didn’t have to undergo such a scenario again. It soon became clear that employability in the new normal would not be about qualifications alone, but acquiring real-world skills that can help people in achieving immediate results towards career growth. I realised during this time that during the phase of actively seeking employment, one does not have the luxury of spending several months attending long-term skill development programs. My attempt to help professionals navigate this trying time led me to train over 1,00,000 people in growth marketing in the following two years. This is how I formally launched GrowthSchool, to help people get the best skill upgradation from leading professionals in the industry in the shortest time period.

What is the USP of GrowthSchool? Tell us more about Growth School.

At GrowthSchool, we’re closing the gap that lies between the skills industry requires and the skills academia provides. It's an unfortunate reality that many bright individuals, despite their commendable academic achievements, struggle with unemployment due to a deficiency in hands-on, practical skills. We've designed our community-first programs with an eye towards imparting those precise skills that give people an edge in their jobs, thereby enhancing their employability. Our unique selling proposition lies in our collaborations with industry professionals who are the top one per cent in their respective domains. As a result, our learners gain knowledge from experienced professionals, not just from academicians with theoretical knowledge. Our programs vary, ranging from intensive two-day sessions to immersive six-month courses, but the common thread is that they all focus on cultivating those skills a candidate would utilize 80 per cent of the time in their current or future roles. These tailor-made programs come at an affordable price, further setting GrowthSchool apart in the field.

How is the establishment different from others in the market?

At GrowthSchool, we're on a different path. We don’t just want to train people, we're more about equipping them with practical skills that make them more employable in diverse industries. Our trainers aren't just any trainers; they’re the top players in their fields. This assures our students get a premium learning experience and become job-ready in a snap. And yes, we’ve taken a big leap into the future - GrowthSchool is the first Indian edtech platform to integrate the ChatGPT AI tool in all its courses. This is a major step towards getting our learners ready for the big changes in business operations that AI is going to bring.

How can GrowthSchool help one achieve their true potential?

Our programs are crafted with one aim – to deliver outcomes that count. Our students get to work on real-world projects that prepare them to confidently tackle industry challenges right from the get-go. This hands-on approach has already made a world of difference for thousands of students across various fields. We've seen our students transition into roles like UX design from diverse backgrounds such as architecture or mechanical engineering. Being a part of the GrowthSchool community, which is already 500K strong, gives our students a vibrant network that can support them throughout their career journey. We connect them with industry experts through live sessions and meetups across the country, helping them grow their professional network. At the end of the day, our courses are all about giving our students the knowledge and skills to quickly move up the career ladder and achieve their true potential.

How is the program connected with India's skilling program?

Though our courses are unique and we're not directly tied to the Skill India Mission of the government, our objectives align quite well with the vision of equipping Indian youth with market-relevant skills and hands-on industry expertise. Just like Skill India Mission, we’re all about preparing a vast pool of workforce that's ready to hit the ground running, equipped with skills that employers value, to ultimately boost employability and growth for job seekers.

Do you have international students?

Absolutely! We've built a solid foundation here in India, and we're already achieving tremendous acceptance among learners. We’ve piloted several successful programs in various Asian markets and we're pretty confident about our potential for global impact. As we move towards international expansion, we're bringing in seasoned professionals from international brands across a broad spectrum of industries. This global mentorship enriches the learning environment at GrowthSchool, prepping us for our next big leap into international markets.

What are your revenue streams?

Our revenue streams are quite diverse. First off, we have workshops - affordable, hands-on, and short-term programs (ranging from 2 days to a week) that teach specific skills in no time at all. These offer learners a taste of a skill, helping them decide if they want to pursue it further. Next, we have our Intensive & Career Accelerator Programs which are longer (4 weeks to 6 months) and focus on aiding participants to reach their long-term goals like career growth, business initiation or role transition. Another solid revenue contributor is our repeat user rate, with 30-40 per cent of our learners enrolling for more than one program. We also garner revenue from advertisements, our robust social media presence, channels of our mentors, affiliate partners, and through brand partnerships with industry stalwarts like Coin DCX, Writesonic, AiSensy, and others.

What kind of ROI can students expect after doing your course?

At GrowthSchool, we’re serious about delivering value. The hands-on experience from real-world projects equips our learners for industry challenges in a way that traditional educational practices simply can't match. We’re making our learners job-ready, enabling them to excel in their current roles and confidently tackle new opportunities. Plus, with a community of over 500K learners, we're giving them a platform to develop a lifelong network. Through regular live sessions and offline meetups with industry experts, we’re facilitating constant interaction opportunities. So, the return on investment for a GrowthSchool learner goes far beyond just a course certification. We're helping them climb the corporate ladder swiftly and unlock their maximum career potential.

What has been the business performance and what are your plans for the future?

Since our last funding round, GrowthSchool has expanded 5X in terms of both team size and revenue. Our strong unit economics puts us in a position where we can pivot to profitability at will, potentially even in a couple of months. Currently, our major expenditures are focused on future-oriented problems - tech development, new initiatives, experimental projects. If we were to halt these, we could be profitable in several months’ time. But, our vision as a growing startup is rooted in constant experimentation. As for the future, we're about to launch the ‘Outskill’ app and are gearing up for international expansion. Plus, we're always looking to innovate with and expand into new program categories.