Our K-12 business was driven purely by FOMO: Gaurav Munjal

Why read this story?

Editor's note: Gaurav Munjal and I reach Maruthi Infotech Centre almost simultaneously. The commercial building in Domlur, Bengaluru, houses the offices of Unacademy, India’s second-largest edtech startup, with a valuation of around $3.5 billion. I am just about to enter the building when I receive a call, turn around to take it and see Munjal getting out of his black SUV.  A man rushes past me to take his bag and then runs back to call the elevator. We head to the fifth floor through good morning greetings, an empty corridor in an almost empty office to the meeting room. Munjal is wearing his trademark black T-shirt and a black windcheater—its sleeves pushed up like he means business—over a pair of blue jeans and white sneakers. There’s also a 5 o’clock shadow, making him look older than his 31 years. As we settle down—he is on a yellow sofa next to Hedwig, and I am on the chair opposite him—the first thing he asks is why I said yes to this interview. “Why would anyone say no to it?” I ask back. …